by Greg Alder | Mar 12, 2016 | Citrus, Fruit |
Here in mid-March, our large Valencia orange tree is in peak bloom, and when you walk near it you hear a hurricane of bees feasting on the flowers. I put a swing on one of its big branches. When I put Cass in the swing and stand under — or more like within, it...
by Greg Alder | Mar 7, 2016 | Avocados, Resources |
Here is the best overall resource on grafting avocados that I’m aware of. Written by some of the most experienced people in the world, and specific to California conditions, it is a publication called “Propagating Avocados” from the University of...
by Greg Alder | Feb 25, 2016 | Avocados |
The California avocado industry was originally built on the quality of one variety: Fuerte. And yet, despite its fame and importance, the commonly repeated story about how Fuerte got its name is dubious. Here’s a summary of the story that is told: A freeze hit...
by Greg Alder | Feb 10, 2016 | Avocados, Fruit |
This is the last avocado from Mexico that I will ever buy. This is one too many rotten Mexican avocados that I have bought over the years, and I’m vowing to myself that I will never pay another dollar for one of these carelessly harvested and handled pieces of...
by Greg Alder | Jan 29, 2016 | Avocados |
You don’t need more than one avocado tree to get fruit production, but having two trees and allowing for cross pollination can never hurt. And there are some studies showing increased yield when two different avocado varieties are growing in proximity. The idea...
by Greg Alder | Jan 9, 2016 | Fruit |
This is what we currently have. I included vines and berries because they’re also sweet and perennial. What I notice is that the summer is laden while the winter is light. At least we do have fruit all year, and Fuji and Pink Lady apples keep in the fridge well,...
by Greg Alder | Jan 4, 2016 | Avocados, Fruit |
My aim has always been to have the entire year covered. And since avocados, like many fruit trees, produce more in alternate years I’ve sought to have two varieties that are best-eating for each season (in case one is having an “off” year). For...
by Greg Alder | Oct 21, 2015 | Avocados |
Last fall, when I harvested sweet potatoes, I stuck a slip in the ground under the drip line of the Hass avocado tree. I wanted to see if the vine would take and survive the winter. It did, and it grew vigorously all summer until yesterday I tore out the foliage and...
by Greg Alder | Aug 18, 2015 | Fruit |
You want to plant a fruit tree in the yard, but where to put it? Here are the most important factors to consider, presented in the form of questions. The place in the yard that answers YES to the most questions below wins. 1. Is it close to the house, especially the...
by Greg Alder | Jul 25, 2015 | Fruit |
For a number of years, I’ve been watching this coffee bush mature in the Trees for Health garden in San Diego’s Balboa Park. I used to live down the street from it. Lately, it has begun looking healthier than ever, with only a tiny bit of tip burn on a...
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