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Growing fruit and nut trees

Trees are amazing things. If suitable species are planted in appropriate locations they will flourish with litte input or care. A cropping tree will, over the course of its life, provide a huge amount of edible produce.


Scything like it's 1809
olmec
Scything like it's 1809
Trying out some rustic scythe techniques in the orchard. No noise, no smell, just good old fashion manual labour.
The scythe is best known as the weapon of choice of the grim reaper, basically a long, curved metal blade on a wooden pole with handles. Traditionally used for mowing grass and harvesting cereal crops, the scythe has a long history in agrarian (and revolutionary) societies.

25 Dec 2009
The full story
More Trees
olmec
More Trees
This weekend I planted a number of crop trees. For the most part it was seedling walnuts collected from under my grandmothers tree but also included 5 grafted fruit trees I purchased.

2 x apricot
2 x nectarine
1 x almond
25 Jul 2010
Peaches
melisa
Peaches
Our crop of peaches came ready unexpectedly early. Thanks to the wet season they are sensationally juicy.

As with the plums we have more than we know what to do with and so jam making was in order.

15 Feb 2010
Recipe
Pruning fruit and nut trees
olmec
Pruning fruit and nut trees
Time of year for pruning, and an attempt to improve the shape of the trees for easier picking.

Our orchard has a number of large trees as well as a collection of younger ones, all require attention.
16 Jun 2010
August, Plums and more
August, Plums and more
Blossoms are exploding everywhere in the orchard (and out along the roadsides). First come plums followed closely by almonds.
Bumblebees swarm all over the trees, pollinating the flowers to ensure a bumper crop.
Finally the wind takes the petals before tiny fruit emerge and develop.
19 Aug 2009