All the Citrus is leafing and setting flowers. Centurion cuttings are also doing the same. Eradicated vines from the local bush Paw Paw plants. Noticed the Nanking Cherry I thought was going to die finally has buds showing. The Centurion Frankentree is firing up the graft branches with blooms. Anna and Dorsett Golds just sit there; but are definitely green and limber.
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Checked the cuttings today. The under heat seems to be working. Mostly hair like roots on about 75% of all of them. Kaido Crab looked like it was ready, so I potted them in warm moist containers and put them back in the hot box. Black and Blue Berries are really leafing out as is the now very flowery plum tree. Grapes are showing bud growth now. Our wild grapes are already leafing. While the Huckleberries and Red Buds have rich flower shows.
Dorsett Golden might have been giving me a head fake. Definitely fine fiberous hair like roots. Also the Centurion has budded in the cuttings. Probably moving the Kaido Crab to a small soil pots. It is leafing out after bloom and clearly has some roots. Was thinking about starting some P.1 cuttings. Outside the rabbits attacked the citrus trees. And tried to get at figs and blueberries. Traps are out and fried buttermilk rabbit could be on the menu soon.
Did not have time to work in the plants today. But did detect our mystery fruit tree had started blooming. The tree died back a few years ago. And the tag was missing. I got down and confirmed what was growing was coming up below the graft. We could only recall we had a plum and a pomegranate that had died that year. And what has bloomed is most assuredly not a pomegranate. It is a plum. And judging by the little 5 petal white flowers; it is Prunus cerasifera. Otherwise known as the Cherry Plum or Purple Leaf Plum. The bark also fits the profile. So I should not expect tasty fruit as this is certainly rootstock. But at least now I can graft onto it.
Spent the afternoon top grafting while the girls played. Displayed my rusty whip and tongue skills and eventually stabbed myself in a finger. But still managed to get Blairmont, Norfolk Beefing, Wallace Howard, St,Anna Boskoop and Circassian grafted. I'll finish out some others tomorrow to hopefully collect pollen samples this year. No new bud breaks observed.
Walking around checking things after mulching Sunday. Got bud break on Navajo, Arapaho and Baby Cakes Blackberries today. And happily Nanking Cherry budded to life. Thought it was not supposed to make it here. But both plants are doing well. Both Anna and Dorsett Gold apple trees were very limber and pliable. Budding can not be far off. Kaido Crab has flowers coming in.
Kaido Crab breaks bud first in the rootable by cutting tests
Though Dorsett Golden displayed tiny hair like fine roots first{too small for pics}; Kaido Crab surprised me this morning with strong bud break Hopefully it will keep on growing.
Welcome to the Blog! Looks like a busy season ahead. So many wonderful people in the fruit growing community. Lots of valuable groups where folks willingly share their well learned advice. From Vendors, Universities and our own USDA. You can find lots of information and help. Especially your local County Agents. Lastly to my dear wife and family tolerating my projects. One of the things that inspired me was the Blairmont Apple developed by the USDA; with a lot of thought and effort. But as Apples go; it's reception was lackluster and today it is more of a curiosity. This is ashamed as the Apple has many good traits. Late bloom misses frost. It is relatively scab free. Yields sizable 80mm or better fruit on average. Typically ripening is around mid-August. The USDA said three weeks ahead of "Delicious". In orchards observed, no occurrence of fire blight or powdery mildew, bitter or black rots. Flavor is mildly sweet with a little bit of tang. With fruity and vinous aro...