learning how to prune the apricot tree

Bram contacted our friend Rocque Ranaldi about getting the apricot tree next to the driveway pruned. He recommended we contact Tracy at Green Forward. Bram called him and he offered to not only come and prune, but also to teach us (me) how to do it in the future.

Our neighbor Bill joined us, since it's also encroaching on his driveway. Tracy guessed that, based on location (right on the property line) and trunk shape, it was a volunteer — Bill confirmed. Probably between 10 and 20 years old.

Tracy offered a mix of hard botanical info and Santa Fe style: "listen to the tree."

notes: geotextile bags for planting

Urban London garden grown in big bags. Want this for potatoes?

notes: 2010 seed order

From Baker Creek:
BN133 - Bolita Bush Bean
OG106 - Arugula
SQ183 - Baby Blue Hubbard Squash
TM190 - Al-Kuffa Tomato
TM156 - Tess's Land Race Currant Tomato
HB101 - Genovese Basil
SW131 - Cupani Original Sweet Pea
WF120 - Blue Flax Wildflower
WF106 - California Poppy



From Kitchen Garden:
2420 - Lacinato Kale
8020 - Red Ruby Potatoes

My plan is to grow the potatoes in a container of some sort. I'd love to find some geotextile bags.

notes for 2009

Beds location: Fastest growth (tomatoes) was in the pot out front, but had to water every day, staking wasn't too bad, earliest tomato production (but still not until the end of June). Next best production was the raised bed against the house and the side bed along the south-facing wall. Worst performance in the backyard bed. Overall, everything needed more/more consistent watering — my bad.

Performance:
BN103 - Henderson's Black Valentine Beans
Direct sowed, backyard bed, only a few grew. Small plants, very few dry beans.

BT102 - Golden Beet
CR103 - Little Finger Carrot
Direct sowed, raised bed, no germination.

RD124 - Munchener Bier Radish
Direct sowed, raised bed, good germination, big leaves but never formed radishes.

CU103 - Lemon Cuke
Direct sowed, backyard bed, only one grew. Small plant, but vigorous, didn't set fruit until Sept.

CU104 - White Wonder Cucumber
?? did I even plant this?

OML107 - Tigger Melon
Direct sowed, side bed, no germination.

SQ118 - Rouge Vif d' Etampes Pumpkin
Direct sowed, backyard bed, only one grew. Slow to start, lots of blooms, only 2 fruit set late (Sept). Dog ate largest (tennis ball-sized).

SQ159 - Honey Boat Delicata Winter Squash
Direct sowed, backyard bed, only one grew. Slow to start, harvested 5 small before freeze.

TM178 - Roma Rio Grande Tomato
TS113 - Tigerella Tomato
Started indoors, excellent growth indoors, slower outside, small fruit.

TM122 - Principe Borghese Tomato
Started indoors, excellent growth indoors, slower outside, no fruit.

TP104 - Black Prince Tomato
Started indoors, no germination.

Overall, all tomatoes had small or no fruits: need more H2O, better soil next year. Also, better fencing to keep the dog out — she'll eat the green and red tomatoes (and chive flowers, pumpkins, and grape muscari flowers).

FL240 - Sensation Mix Cosmos
Started indoors, transplanted ok, destroyed by stupid neighbor cats.

Stacy's leftover Brussels sprouts
Slower outside, small fruit. APHID MADNESS! No harvest. Boo.