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Easy gardening with fruit trees
Don�t
have the time or energy to be a vegetable gardener? You are in a
very large club. However you can still be a first class gardener
by planting and tending fruit trees. The good part about fruit
trees is that they take very little care and produce huge
amounts of fruit for years and years. Pound for pound, fruit
trees are economically great investments to go along with
providing much needed nutrition by just walking outside, pulling
a few fruit off the tree, and eating them right then and there.
Okay, so how easy is fruit tree gardening? Purchase a fruit tree
variety that is well suited for metro Houston, dig a hole in a
sunny well drained area, plant the tree in the hole, mulch
around the tree with leaves or store bought mulch, water once a
week or less often if it rains. Then wait for the tree to grow
and start producing. Yes indeed, some fruit trees require a
little more care. For instance, some citrus trees need some
winter protection if there is going to be a hard freeze, so wrap
with a blanket, or pile leaves up the trunk as high as you can
get them. And some trees need a few minutes of pruning in the
winter. All fruit trees will benefit from fertilizing once or
twice a year. That�s it. The only thing easier is reading a book
or watching TV.
And growing fruit trees can be great for young families who can
enjoy the growth of both children and fruit trees at the same
time, which the children learn about good nutrition, by first
hand experience by harvesting and eating.
The most important issue with fruit tree gardening is purchasing
varieties that work well in our climate. Often, commercial
stores carry fruit trees that need more cold in the winter than
we ever get, or that are grafted on rootstocks that do not like
our climate. To be sure you get fruit trees that will be
successful, purchase the trees at the Urban Harvest fruit tree
sale on January 19th. Local fruit tree experts have selected
trees that will thrive and produce very well in our climate.
Most of these trees are grown by local wholesale growers, with
input from local fruit tree experts.
At the Urban Harvest sale, there will be a huge selection from
which to choose. Go to the Urban Harvest website and read up on
those trees that will be available, then select the ones you
want, arrive early at the sale and scarf up those you want.
Aside from the sale being a once a year exciting happening, you
will leave with trees that you bring you pleasure for years and
years.
Information on location, date, time, varieties, prices is on the
website. Presale talks, along with handouts, are offered prior
to the sale to help you decide what to purchase. And many local
fruit tree experts will be working the sale to help with any
questions.
This article is provided by Urban Harvest, Inc. To learn
about gardening classes, farmers markets, school and community
gardens and more go to
www.urbanharvest.org or call
713-880-5540 for more information. This article was written by
Ray Sher, who a vegetable and fruit gardener, and teacher of
many fruit and vegetable classes.
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