Planning a Backyard Orchard You Can Harvest Year-Round
Whether spring or fall, both are great times to start your backyard orchard! If you've been following along for some time, you know that when we bought our house, it …
apple trees
5 Fast-Growing Fruit Trees for a Beginner’s Backyard Orchard
Fresh fruit, plucked from a tree, is magical. Picking that sun-ripened, juicy peach right off the branch and biting into the soft, fuzzy fruit is the essence of a hot …
The Garden’s Chutes and Ladders
Living in Northern California means embracing the fluidity of seasons, where both people and plants learn to go with the flow. Growing up gardening in Massachusetts, I had no idea …
Watering Fruit Trees: When to Do it, and When to Avoid it
So you want to start growing your own fruit trees. You have picked out one or two you want to try, but you still have some questions. Do you have …
7 Tips for Cloning Fruit Trees to Expand Your Orchard for Free
When I hear the word “clone” I either think of Dolly the sheep or binge-watching Battlestar Gallactica. But cloning fruit trees is neither of those things and it shouldn’t be …
God’s Fruit or the Devil’s? The Sordid History of the Apple
Depending upon the person you ask, the fruit of the gods could be the pomegranate, grapes, pears, persimmons, or oranges. There may be more fruits that I've missed, but there's …
From Tree to Table: 5 Easy Apple Recipes You’ll Fall For
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. There's just something magical about the crisp air, the colorful leaves, and the excuse to wear cozy sweaters 24/7. But the real …
Apple-Growing Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change
In apple-growing season, the thought of biting into a crisp, juicy apple fresh from your own tree never fails to bring a smile to my face. But lately, I've noticed …
How to Plant a Bare Root Apple Tree
I'll tell you a secret: The only way you're going to learn how to plant a bare root apple tree is by ... planting a bare root apple tree. Because …
A Simple Guide to Fruit Tree Companion Plants
We know basil and tomatoes taste great together, and they grow well together in the garden. We know corn, beans, and squash are great garden companions. But vegetables and herbs …
