Fruit Harvest from season to season

[!potatoes!]

I think she's growing my home-saved seed - variety unclear, as I've never noticed a difference between any of them (the annual ones, anyway).

[Lindsaylew82]

I am growing from Potatoes's seeds! The first ones have been tiny. About pea sized. I will go look at the little bag and see if it has an official name! The larger the plant gets, and it is getting VERY large, the larger the lanterns are getting!

[JONA]

This years red ruby seedless.

[JONA]

[rainbowgardener]

Oh wow, JONA! Amazing! So they will turn red yet?

Do you make wine? Or what happens to all those grapes?

[JONA]

Oh wow, JONA! Amazing! So they will turn red yet?

Do you make wine? Or what happens to all those grapes?

They are a lovely desert variety Rainbow..so we sell them in the local village shop.
We got them over forty years ago from a grower in California.

[Lindsaylew82]

WOW!!!

[applestar]

Haha my grapes are NOWHERE near like that. These are from a volunteer grape vine. Possibly "wild" muscadine -- originally thought they might be scuppernong but I'm seeing those described as white grapes.... They grow very sparse/loose clusters that do NOT ripen all at once. I have to feel them to see if they are ripe and harvest them individually.

Last year, I lost the entire lot to some problems -- they turned brown and rotted. I suspected problems triggered by insect damage -- like Japanese beetles and stinkbugs -- so I bagged the 6-8 clusters that set fruits this year, and they are finally starting to ripen -- they are incredibly yummy but astringent near the slip-skin if not allowed to ripen fully. One or two seeds per fruit.

(Maid of Orleans Arabian tea jasmine blossoms and last of the wild blueberries)

[Lindsaylew82]

Our muscadines here are black. I've never seen a variety that is red like that. They have a very distinct flavor that isn't REALLY grape-y. The closest in flavor that I can think of, is concord, and it's still far off. Are the skins REALLY tough on these?

[applestar]

Hmmm. Now I'm confused. Maybe this isn't a wild, bird-sown grape at all. Maybe it's from a spat out seed -- growing in the bed off the patio....?

I did a quick search at a table grape site and a likely candidate is Red Globe. Mine are not the 1 inch giants, but that -along with the poor and uneven fruitset in the cluster- might be explained by inadequate care and growing conditions? It's not in full sun for example. Maybe it's just not growing to its potential.

I'm going to start with this --
Causes of Poor Fruit Set in Grapes - eXtension
https://articles.extension.org/pages/331 ... -in-grapes

...and this --

Millerandage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millerandage

A grape cluster with signs of millerandage with small, immature berries scattered throughout the bunch.
Millerandage (or shot berries, hens and chicks and pumpkins and peas) is a potential viticultural hazard problem in which grape bunches contain berries that differ greatly in size and, most importantly, maturity. Its most common cause is cold, rainy or otherwise bad weather during the flowering stage of the vines though other factors, such as boron deficiency or fanleaf degeneration, may also play a role.[1]

...maybe pay a bit more attention to it this fall and winter, and see where this goes. I might also try to grow some cuttings and see if I can find it a better location since the flavor is outstanding. The trouble is growing zone for Red Globe is Zone 7 and up. Right now, next to the brick patio and against the SE wall, it's probably in one of the most protected location possible without more elaborate set up.

[Lindsaylew82]

They do resemble Red Globe!

I'm curious to see where this goes!

[applestar]

Bagging the grapes has been working beautifully to protect them. Except for some ants that found a loosely secured bag and got in -- problem solved by looping the string tightly around the stem and tying a fairly tight knot.



Subject: Applestar's 2016 Garden

First sheaf of shortgrain sweet rice today



... more grapes and a fig Petit Nigra.

...

Earlier, 8:30am, I saw from the window that a chipmunk was inspecting the pears but by-passed them and ate some Coyote. So I thought they were safe. Looked out the window around 5pm, and the biggest Magness pear was MISSING!

Rushed outside to find It was on the ground half-eaten. Critter had nibbled around the stem to drop it. Thats it! -- Harvested ALL the pears. They actually came off easily so they WERE ready to be harvested. I also harvested the last three apples (Enterprise) since we have a scanty harvest this year and I would rather not lose them to critters.



I trimmed away the gnawed part and we shared the rest of the prematurely "picked" pear. Although it was far from fully ripe, texture and taste are similar to Asian pears at this stage. Plenty sweet to enjoy.

Found this while researching what to do with these pears: https://usapears.org/pear-ripening-and-handling/

[!potatoes!]

our wild persimmons are starting to ripen, a few at a time. maybe a little early this year?

also getting figs from the plant I planted in the hoophouse in mid-summer sometime. maybe hardy chicago? not sure what variety. comes back with a bit of fruit after freezing back to nothing in a pot, so I figure even slightly coddled by a hoophouse, and in the ground, it should really start producing.

picking a lot of spicebush berries, too, for cooking and brewing.

[applestar]

I noticed my still green persimmons have a bit of blush on them now. I wonder how long from blush to ripe? I had a lot of little green fruits back in spring, but not seeing very many now -- I suppose they aborted, maybe due to the drought. The area has a lot of understory/ground growth so I can't tell when they drop -- just looking up and thinking "it seems like there are less fruits...."

I harvested one in-ground Chicago Hardy Fig fruit that had ripened early because it was touching a metal fence post.... The rest looks green and hard still. Potted Petit Negra is ripening one fruit at a time -- eagerly awaited by DH and DD .... DH and I alternate splitting a fruit with DD.

Spicebush -- there was a discussion somewhere that there are male and female plants, right? I only have one plant -- I need to determine which I have and get a mate for it. I mainly planted it hoping to attract a Spicebush swallowtail .... (No sign as yet)

[!potatoes!]

I guess they're probably dioecious, yes. that would explain why some have no fruit and others are covered! I'll have to look up what kind of handling they need, but I could send you spicebush seed or berries if you want. it's extremely widespread here, one of the most common shrubby forest plants. spicebush swallowtails are also our most common larger butterfly in this area.

[applestar]

Oooh, thank you !potatoes! I'll PM you.

[applestar]

...persimmons, figs, raspberries...

[applestar]

Wild and Alpine White Soul strawberries have started coming in, and Cherries! White Gold first, then Emperor Francis

The cherries are supposed to be trained into fan-shaped espalier... as you can see, I have let them get away from me I'm hoping it's not too late to cut those overgrown leaders down --- should I do this before or after harvest?





There is a robin's nest on the latch side of the gate in the Blackberry arch arbor. You can see the white blackberry blossoms starting to bloom. They don;t show interest in the white cherries but the red strawberries bear close watching and I will need to protect them with netting soon.

[JONA]

I would do them sooner rather than later applestar.
It will give the rest better light for next years fruit bud.
Looks like your going to have good feed through the coming months.

[applestar]

I spent all morning pruning the two cherry trees (White Gold and Emperor Francis) as JONA recommended, as well as two pear trees (Seckel and Magness) one apple tree (Arkansas Black), and one persimmon tree (Prok) -- all espalier -- as well as semi-dwarf Enterprise apple.

The persimmon was overgrown like the cherries and threatening to shade out not only its own branches but also the AB apple espalier next to it. The pear trees had developed some fireblighted branches, and JONA had recommended cutting them off as quickly as they are infected in another thread. They are also showing surprising number of cedar-apple rust spots this year. They are resistant, but I think it's the extra pressure from the new cedar tree my neighbor planted on the other side of the side fence. I will need to be more regimented about spraying them.

The Enterprise apple had a bunch of small twiggy growth that had wilted brown leaves -- I thought they are fireblight, but new growths have been growing way past the wilted leaves. I'm not sure if it's because Enterprise is one of the most fireblight resistant apple varieties, or if these were caused by something else -- maybe aphids. I went ahead and trimmed off almost all of the branches that had the wilted leaves, new growths and all.

Maybe the persimmon, but I think more due to when the Arkansas Black was blooming and having an unexpected cold snap with hard frost, the apple has only three fruits on it that I could find. I think the bees were not flying due to the weather.

On the other hand, MAGNESS is loaded this year. Very promising. Good number of fruits on the Seckel as well but not extraordinary.


Yesterday and today -- not a whole lot, but even so, my two DD's are actually already reaching the point of not finishing the day's harvest. This means DH and I get to eat some of the cherries, too. Extras will be frozen for cereals, baked goods, smoothies, etc. A few Emperor Francis were ready today.



I would have a lot more strawberries in my basket except something -- I think chipmunk -- has discovered the strawberries. And the idiot creature doesn't know when to pick them -- I'm finding dozens of bitten off unripe pale orange-red berries on the ground.

[applestar]

Cherry trees after pruning... (click to zoom)

[JONA]

Looking good Applestar.
Can you net it if you need to?

[applestar]

Between the mulberry which is located nearly at the opposite corner of the property beyond the house -- which is starting to ripen (red turning almost black) and all the wild and cultivated strawberries, only thing bothering these white/yellow cherries are excessive rain causing splits and that grey mold thing that I can't remember the name of. I'd say 1 in maybe 6 cherries are affected. Very rarely a bird peck but not taken as far as I can see.



So I don't think I need to net them. The cherries are almost all harvested as of today -- Emperor Francis cherries seem to ripen pretty close together.

I've pruned a bit more. There is long branch reaching for the sky that I want to stake down if I can....



It's the strawberries that need serious protection, though I don't mind sharing the wild strawberries -- they are June bearers, and although prolific, will dwindle in fruit size. Slightly larger elongated fruits are Sweet Charley, I think. Another June bearer -- that patch is being decimated by the chipmunk and/or vole nibbling not quite ripe berries. Netting doesn't help unless I can somehow tightly secure the bottom to the ground. (I may need to move them to a framed raised bed.)

The largest fruits I currently have are Seascape -- jut starting to ripen. I came up with a new method to protect them -- these clear clamshells. I cut a notch or two near the hinge to accept the fruit stalks. I have some that have ventilation holes and some that don't. So far so good. The heavy acrylic tube is from a broken birdfeeder. Not pictured, but I'm also trying a PET OJ jug with bottom cut off and a small notch for the stem.


About 4 ripe raspberries today. Temporarily put up last year's faded aluminum pan birdscares over the few clusters that are blushing. I need to get my DD's to draw and decorate fresh scary eyes and teeth, and hang them properly with string (I used grass seed stalks since that's what was available).

[JONA]

Your so lucky there Applestar.
We've a few cherry trees that we planted around our glasshouse as mainly decoration for their blossom. As a result we let them grow quite tall so we can't net them. The minute they start to take on colour......their gone!
We never manage to get one.
Starlings and blackbirds seem to be the major culprits.
The cheeky birds even get through the glasshouse vents to have a go at the peaches and apricots.

[applestar]

JONA -- Couldn't you at least protect lower branches somehow? Maybe net entire branches rather than tree.... That seems a shame. Any way to string or hang birdscares... or have the local birds learned about the seasonal bounty and won't be discouraged?


Steady harvest of the tiny, fragile, flavorful wild strawberries -- none of the patches are particularly big, some in full sun, some in shade, some even in dense shade, but results in slightly different harvest time. First to harvest patch has dwindled to what I call bird-size tiny berries the size of my pinky nails and I'm not even bothering to look there any more, but denser shaded ones are now producing what I call "the first berry" which is typically the largest fruit.

Also Sweet Charley are still producing though almost gone (Lost a large % of the Sweet Charley to chipmunk depredation of almost-but not quite full ripe berries until I started protecting them in clear clamshells, too -- but I found out the berries stop ripening or get cooked in the clamshell during the clear skies blazing sun mid-90's+ heatwave), Alpine White Soul, and Seascape make (and will continue) occasional contribution.

Occasional mulberries, red Prelude raspberries have been coming in. I need DD's to make more flashing and noise-maker birdscares and move the toy snakes and old black soaker hose piece "snakes" around more frequently.


-- see the lone cherry in the yellow basket positioned at an angle? It's an Emperor Francis that had been hidden undiscovered in the very middle of the tree. Look how red it is! I wonder if this means I HAVE been picking the cherries underripe? I'm going to try bagging them next year to see if that will protect them to ripen more on the tree.

Started to bag the blueberries that are showing color, but it looks like blackberries will be plentiful enough again this year as long as I bag the first berries that turn red to discourage the birds so the initial blackberry trusses will have chance to ripen to full black.

[applestar]

EVERYBODY likes blueberries!

Chipmunks and catbirds figured out they can enjoy the berries by chewing on them from outside of the mesh bag.


Netted the shrubs with DD's help on Sunday. Used the pop up hamper we use for keeping eclosed Monarch Butterflies to cover the Top Hat blueberries in the container.

[applestar]

Almost all of my varieties are bearing ripe fruits right now. I think 4 or 5 of them are represented here.
- Elizabeth (with the biggest somewhat rounded berries)
- Top Hat (small-flattened berries)
- Blue Jay? (Largest flattened berry)
- Low-bush wild species selected for larger fruit (larger round berries)
- standard Low-bush wild species (smallest round fruits)

[applestar]

Since I disqualified the 4 berries with sun scorched druplets yesterday, I declare these 5 to be the OFFICIAL first blackberry harvest of the season



...more to follow...


...this kind is NOT acceptable

[imafan26]

My strawberries are flowering again in July. Hey, better late than never. The lemon, calamondin, and kaffir lime have fruit and are flushing new leaves.
Now is the best time of year to get mangoes, tangerines, and lychee. Someone brought some nice Hadens and a bag of lychee to my orchid meeting.

[gumbo2176]

I only have one fruit tree left in my yard and it is an old fig tree that was mature when I bought my house in 92. I've had some great years and some not so great years of fig production from that thing. This is one of the not so great-----actually not so good years as the tree has produced very few edible figs this summer.

Last year at this time I was picking loads of ripe, sweet figs off my tree and having to get outside at daybreak to beat the birds to them. This year they are ripening at a much slower rate, not even close to sweet and production is way off. It is one of the worst years for figs I can remember since I've been in this house. There will be no fig preserves being made this year if counting on my tree alone to supply the figs.

Well, just like we say for the New Orleans Saints-------"Wait till next year."


Edited to add this: I checked on-line to see if I can find out how long fig trees can live and the range is pretty varying depending on which site I read. Some say 25-30 years and others say around 50 years. I know for sure my tree is over 25 years old since it was here and mature when I moved in my house in 92 and the widow lady I bought the house from is long deceased and she and her husband had no children.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has any first-hand experience or knowledge in this matter and can narrow the time frame down since what I've found on-line is so far ranging.

[applestar]

What happens if you take cuttings from aging Fig tree and grow them -- are they going to show senescence according to their age, too?

[applestar]

THIS is what I'm talking about -- BLACKER THAN BLACK! And oh so yummy. The druplets surrounding the the stem scar of the fruit should be completely black.

[gumbo2176]

What happens if you take cuttings from aging Fig tree and grow them -- are they going to show senescence according to their age, too?

I know it is common practice to take cuttings from fig trees to start new ones, so I wouldn't think it should matter if the cutting came from an old tree. Earlier this spring I had to trim a good bit of new growth from around the base of the tree and on many of the lower branches so I could get my mower around the tree to cut grass.

Up until Hurricane Katrina blew down a huge pecan tree on my neighbors property in 05, that fig tree had been shaded most of it's life and received limited direct sunlight. This caused the branches to grow out from the main trunk fairly low and reaching out (think of an upside down crab) with the limbs growing only a foot or so off the ground for several feet before heading upwards. Once that tree was gone, all new growth off those branches started growing straight up All of the lower branches are in the 7 inch and up diameter range.

I have a feeling it is just that time in its life.

[applestar]

July 15-19 -- the basket holds approximately 1 quart. I've only been picking as much as I feel like.

[applestar]

Aaaaand today. The blackberries wouldn't all fit in my usual square basket. DH peered in over the gate before going to work this morning, looked around the gate arbor, etc. and said "Too much! You don't need to grow so many."

A lot of the berries had been damaged by the heat, some by JB's. Bagging is useless and detrimental in 90°F weather -- I pulled the bags off a bunch of unharvestable trusses. Best berries had ripened drooping in the shade. Bagged in-the-shade berries were the best -- unblemished and no bugs to bother them. I left obviously bad berries and beautiful big black berries at the top of the trellis that I couldn't reach without a ladder for the birds and animals.


...little bit of blueberries, too.

[imafan26]

It has been hot lately with just a tease of rain. The citrus are loving it. They are flushing new shoots and the calamondin and meyer lemon are putting out flowers and fruit. Calamondin will be in fruit for most of the year and meyer will fruit 3-5 tiimes a year.
The guava are also out and the tangerines are ripening. I even found a strawberry today. Unusual this late in July.

[applestar]

You really must have different fruits to harvest all year round! I'm trying, but not easy.

I thought I'd catch up with more blackberries that came in -- they are winding down though. I might still get about a cup a day for until maybe next week.



I've started several pints of blackberry liqueur -- vodka, rum, and spiritus. I think I might like the rum best, but we will see. Also non-alcoholic sugar syrup cordials for the kids. Still have 2 or maybe 3 full 1-gallon bags in the freezer....

[JONA]

Samples please Star......gratefully received!

[applestar]

[applestar]

I started 1.5 pint elderberry liqueur today with same recipe -- organic sugar and rum. I need to grow that herb for sore throat - horehound? Would they combine to make good cold remedy or is it better to use separately?

Also peaches. My other peach tree -- Carolina Belle -- died this year after great show of spring blossoms.

But the volunteer yellow peach has been growing more -- tiny little tree about 4 feet tall and 5 feet across, but sporting about a dozen fruits that I have been protecting with clear clamshells... harvested the first fruit today: