Spring is in the air
4My trees survived their first winter, which means they will likely have a healthy life.
My pluerry is starting to bloom and the plum is just days behind.
The cherry needs more chill hours and will likely start blooming in a few more weeks.
Unfortunately, they won’t produce any fruit this year because they are still babies.
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@kittykat9180 I typically keep my young trees free of fruit for the first 2-3 years. It’s really difficult but I’ve found is makes a MASSIVE improvement on the root and trunk structure as all of the nutrients and growth are focused there instead of fruit. It’s hard but worth it if you’re willing to sacrifice the first few years.
@sillyheathen
That’s what everything on the internet says.
I decided to move and rent the house this summer, so what happens next year is out of my hands.
I had a property manager come over yesterday and look at the house, she warned that renters don’t normally take very good care of plants. I have a lot of beautiful plants that I put in last year when i renovated it. I worry about them. I have to hope I get a good renter with a green thumb.
We definitely need our springs …
@cfg83
I can’t decide if I love fall or spring more.
@kittykat9180 Definitely Fall (forward) because I get an extra hour of sleep. Spring (back) is bad for me.
@cfg83
I’m pretty sure it’s spring forward and fall back.
@kittykat9180 Egg-salad correction! I will make the supposition that “Forward” => positive => More sleep, and visa versa. Sooooooooo, my brain may decide to screw this up again (and again, and again, and again, ad infinitum).
So pretty! Is this early for your location? I have bulbs and irises coming up, but they shouldn’t be this early.
@Kyeh Spring is Dandelion kicking season …
@Kyeh
I was worried that it was early too. Atlas (what I named my ChatGPT), says this is normal for where I live.
I guess the only risk is a late frost in March. But since these trees won’t produce fruit this year anyway, it’s not really a concern for this year.
Two of my rose bushes have begun to develop buds but my autumn Sage, Japanese barberry, and backyard roses are still in dormancy. The ice plant never goes dormant.
@cfg83
So it’s not just me?
@kittykat9180 I have a large very old apple tree and it rarely has a good crop, because the snows & freezes often come right when it ought to be blooming.
@kittykat9180 @Kyeh People often don’t realize how much the weather affects the pollinators who absolutely affect the crop yields. Nature truly is a thing of wonder and fascination.
@kittykat9180 The Dandelions depend on us.
@cfg83 @kittykat9180 Well, the pollinators depend on the dandelions, to some extent.
@kittykat9180 @Kyeh Oops, you’re right. What should I do? Bring Q-Tips with me? Maybe some trained bees? But then I need to take care of the bees. Is there a “Care and feeding of Dandelions in Spring” manual?
@kittykat9180 And if we succeed …
/showme lawn covered in dandelions and sneezing people covered in dandelion seeds.
@cfg83 Here’s the image you requested for “lawn covered in dandelions and sneezing people covered in dandelion seeds.”
@mediocrebot My job is complete.
@cfg83 @Kyeh
You can cross pollinate with a small make up brush.
I saw bees in my flowers yesterday so I think our pollinators are doing okay.
@cfg83 @kittykat9180 @Kyeh
I kept a Meyer lemon inside during the winter the first several years of its life. On a couple of years I pollinated it with a small paintbrush rather than take it in and out the door when the weather was conducive.
Unfortunately it got a bit too large to do that comfortably and two years ago while I was out of town it got way too cold and froze back. I’m afraid that what has come back is below the graft point and will grow into God-knows-what but I’ve trimmed it back and we’ll see.
@cfg83 @chienfou @kittykat9180 Now that you’ve figured out that neat little heating tent with the remote controlled string light, maybe you can protect it in the future if it does come back true?
Meanwhile in New England… where the answer is no.
@ItalianScallion Nooooo, you poor little fella. I wish there was a little cabin with a can of sterno to keep you warm.
@ItalianScallion
We still have some nights in the 30s ahead of us. But also Sunday’s high will be 79°.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a week of winter again sometime in March.
I planted a row of radishes and two each of carrots and beets about 2 weeks ago. The radishes were just coming up before we left for a week in Florida this week so I’m looking forward to seeing how everything looks when we get home. Had a couple of cold days while we were gone but they should be all right where they were planted. Also noticed that the asparagus (in their second year so not going to be harvested) have popped up and were doing well before we left. I need to add some extra dirt to that spot to bring it up to level.
@chienfou
Okay, I had to go look up asparagus. Holy crap, I didn’t know that they took a few years to reach harvest and lasted 15 to 25 years.
What do you do with radishes? Other than throw them away.
@chienfou @kittykat9180 radishes are amazing. Super thinly shaved on buttery toast. Poached. Added to a root mash or gratin. Pickled. Sautéed. They suit so many applications.
@sillyheathen
I am sure they have their place, sparingly.
I don’t mind a little bit of radish on a salad.
@kittykat9180 @sillyheathen
Yes. All the above
@kittykat9180 as I’m sure @chienfou will attest to, there are loads of different varietals and they all have different characteristics. Some are just stunning when shaved thin. They’re like little stained glass windows.