Pruning And Planting

COMMENTARY

• End of summer pruning dead and overgrown branches for fruit growth
• Planting beneficials like onions, nasturtiums, yarrow and sweet alyssum beneath fruit trees
  • Deters pests
  • Attract pollinators
  • Supports beneficial insects
• Adjust irrigation system design to support both orchard trees and plants with efficient watering

Companion Planting

COMMENTARY

• Avoid planting potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers under apple trees due to shared fungal blight diseases
• Onion varieties, chives and garlic chives are excellent companion plants under fruit trees
• Notes on Pomegranates
  • Pale color can be mismatched varities or not enough chill hours
  • Removing problematic fruit encourages flowering for better harvest
  • Deterring Leaf footed bugs with spinosad sprays or bags

TEXTS

• Do alyssum and garlic follow the same watering cycle as fruit trees or do they need it more frequently?
• What do I do with pomegranate where the seeds always end up pale and sour instead of red?

Composting & Other Tidbits

CALLER

• Jerry has been composting anaerobically without turning it or adding air to it. Opinion on if this is a good compost method

COMMENTARY

• Aerobic composting can produce usable compost in just 16 days with proper turning and moisture
• Tulips from colder climates can bloom in Arizona if pre-chilled for several months
• Spring flowers to consider planting in the fall
  • Tulips
  • Daffodils
  • Crocuses
  • Irises
  • Edible flowers like pansies and dianthus