Think in the Container for an Orchard

Several years ago I wanted my husband to have something he had wanted a long time - an orchard.

Now I like to garden and he liked an orchard.  Through the years our homes were never located in a good place to make that dream come true.  I had created our backyard into a huge patio.  Then I filled it with garden pots for veggies and flowers.  One day I said to myself - Why not an orchard.  I looked around and could not find anyone that had material on the subject.  Finally I told him - let's just do it anyway.

Wa La!  The beginning of a fun journey. 

Fortunately I decided we needed pictures of the adventure.  The result is this blog and the YouTube videos.  Each year in the Spring the number of people that watch the videos and follow the blog have increased.

Here is the first video.  You can find the others listed on the side bar.

Spring has sprung - consider a Potted Container Orchard for your backyard!  Judy

Just as I was Thinking "Spring Garden" IT SNOWED

Just as I was thinking "Spring Garden" IT SNOWED!

My grandson is playing in the snow in the garden today.  Now this is March 13.  Usually it is raining.  I always start "wanting to plant" about now.  Western Washington State has a rule - Do not plant before Mother's Day....that is 2 months away.  I know though it will not be long before radishes, spinach and kale can be planted.

I notice at a garden center the neatest container garden 4'x4' with the cover for frosts.  I keep looking at my garden and wondering where can I put it.  Room is a premium in the patio garden. 

This year I want my grandson to help Grandma plant a garden for him to nurture, harvest and enjoy.  That is where the 4'x4' container garden would be handy.  Then he would have his and Grandma would have her pots. 

This year the garden will have added features one way or the other.  His slide and tower needs worked into the patio garden as well. 

If you want to see the garden and orchard through the years, here is the link.  You will see why I can't wait to plant!

http://thoughtsfromwisdom.blogspot.com/search/label/Garden

Here is my link to the Winter Garden.  http://thoughtsfromwisdom.blogspot.com/2012/02/gardens-and-orchards-are-for-winter-fun.html

Still wanting the new container garden LOL!  Judy

Gardens and Orchards Are For Winter Fun!

Gardens and Orchards are for Winter Fun!  It seems we only think of the Gardens and Orchards for Spring, Summer and Fall.  Yet, they really are for all year around.  This is the Winter of 2011 but it shows how much fun a Winter Garden and Orchard can be!  Enjoy!  Judy

 

February Is Time to Look at Planting a Potted Orchard

Radom Pictures of the Fall Garden

Here are a few random pictures of the Fall Garden.



It is the middle of October. The apples are getting ripe.

The rest of the garden is settling in for a long winter's nap.

I will miss the warm sunny days of the summer. 

Yet I am already thinking of Spring.  Judy

Fall in the Orchard and Small Garden

 Good Morning to all!

Fall is here in the Puget Sound Region.

  The Cows are enjoying the morning mist fog here.  You might enjoy a previous post about them.  Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

APPLE PICKING

We checked the apples this am again to see
if more were ready.

GRAPE PICKING

The last of the grapes need picking before the critter that has been enjoying them as well eats the last of them. We finally added the netting but he/she still found away around it. 

 

Blueberries and Roses 

     The Blueberries and Roses are still giving a wonderful display and tasty food.

IN THE DARK

Our grandson keeps wanting to play outside in the dark.

We have street lights that help.  All of the other children are inside.  He just needs to be outside though. As I walk around him letting him play, he just cannot let go of summer.  

He wants the sunshine and the fun with friends playing outside.  A neighbor got out of her car and as she walked to her door I said - He just can't let summer go.  She said - All of us wish it would linger longer.  Fortunately he has Halloween to look forward to!

Climate change or just a natural cycle, Western Washington State

did not get the long warm  lingering fall.  Rain and cool weather arrived early. 

Going to enjoy the fall day anyway! Judy



Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men - Orchard Video

This is an update on more garden and orchard videos.  I have the Cherry Trees video [3rd year of the Contain/potted Cherry Trees]  almost finished.  A grandson's birthday on Saturday blew last week away.  Between that and me recovering it has been a slow process. 

I will say the sunshine that finally arrived at 4:30 pm is nice today.  Western Washington State is having a mild summer. 

Hoping to get the videos done by the end of the week!  Judy

2nd Year (2010) Potted Fruit Tree Orchard in Contain Gardening

Finally you will find the YouTube Video of the 2nd year of the container garden potted fruit tree orchard. See it on the left column under YouTube Videos.

Enjoy! Judy

More on the Potted Orchard

I have this nice list of activities to share about the Potted Orchard:

1. Create the video of 2010 growth and crop.
2. Create the video of Spring 2011 growth and process of working with the trees.

Now I have the pictures. It is just getting the videos put together for YouTube. Hopefully next week I can actually do this now that I have shared my plan.

Judy

How to Plant an Orchard (Fruit Trees) in Pots or Containers - Video

I finally put together the video of establishing an Orchard in Pots in Container Gardening. It takes the process through the steps.



Enjoy! Judy

Orchard in Pots - July Pictures

Apples -

It seemed updated pictures of the Sustainable Orchard in Pots would be in order.

We are not a large orchard but it sure has been fun!!!





Picked the Cherries on July 4th.

Pears -

Enjoy! Judy

Babysitting Apple Trees

Two Cute Trees!

My son and son-in-law are turning their patio on a 4th floor building in Seattle into a beautiful Sustainability Garden. They are having fun planting tomatoes, carrots, beans, lettuce, etc. They wanted the fun of apple trees sooooo....my husband, who had shared [bragged] about our apple trees, went to the same farm store and purchased 2 trees for them. Because we live an hour out of Seattle in good traffic and we took a trip to Maui, the trees are enjoying the sunshine and rain of our patio. Next week they get to go to their new home in Seattle. They will get bigger pots at that time.

Here are pictures of the tags. We have these varieties growing in our orchard in pots as well.

Enjoy! Judy

Good for the Soul - A Garden and an Orchard!

Spring is truly here and the garden is really starting to bloom.

What is it about a garden and orchard that is so good for the soul?

My husband and I spent the last couple of hours laying in lounge chairs in the sun. We are recovering from a bug we got coming back from Hawaii.

Let me share several fun pictures of what is happening in the back patio area - our garden.

Peas, Lettuce and Radishes are up -

The sunshine was great as well! We enjoyed pushing pots around, pollinating apple trees and taking pictures to share.

Mother's Day might be outside this year. What a treat that would be! Judy

Orchard Blooming - Pollination Time!

As promised I am continuing the process of the orchard. Before leaving for Maui, HI my husband pollinated the trees. We had only a few blooms, the weather had been poor, the pollinating pear tree was not blooming and hope of bees was low.

My sister-in-law knew of an old pear tree in the park which was blooming. Off we went to the park and collected pollen.

Upon returning my husband, Jesse, pollinated the pear tree. He also did the Cherry Trees as show here.

He used a q-tip to do the pollinating.

Now I want to show a movie on how it was done. I did not take the time to edit the ending, which you will notice. (No comments! Ha!)
Enjoy! Judy

Sunshine Connection to Sustainability

In most sections of the US people take sunshine for granted. We in the Pacific Northwest have a different view. We comment when it appears after days of rain. This weekend has been one of those times. Sunshine is Sustaining! Without it we languish.

The weather people promise us some warmer weather with sunshine for the next couple of days. The people, animals and plants are glad! How do I know? Because even the tiniest bud is wanting to pop out of its shell. My husband will be crooning over the orchard today I have a feeling, while enjoying the sunshine!

Count your Sunshine Blessings - It Sustains You!
Judy

A Patio Orchard in Pots and Containers - Planting

Beginning the Orchard

I promised last week I would cover how we planted our "Orchard" in pots and containers. Here goes just a quick peak through a series of pictures. It will take you some time to down load them.

First the trees were soaked in a root stimulator solution. Now I should warn you we are not a "totally organic" garden. I have read the pros and cons. In a small patio garden we decided we had to split the difference and become a combo.
There are both organic and regular root stimulus solutions to use....I will let you pick for yourself.

Next we put pea gravel in the pot. I should say these pots came from Costco. Yes we buy so much there we bought some stock in the company. This is just a disclosure. [smile] I think it is 3 shares. The pots have a well in them to contain water, which will help retain water longer during the summer. Some pots we took the plugs out others we left them. We had a difference of opionion in the family. He wanted them out and I wanted them in.. We will see this summer who was right. [smile].

Then we filled the pots with a composting soil combo specifically designed for trees. We purchased these at Home Depot. (We do not own stock [smile]) Be sure to make it into a hill. It is hard to see in the picture. So I did not show you a picture on that step. This way the roots set right over the top and around the hill. This way the roots will grow evenly throughout the pot.

Next the roots of the tree might need trimmed. Just the tips to stimulate growth. Any roots that are broken also need trimmed. You do not have to trim all of the roots.

We had one person hold the tree (that was me) and the other person (that was him) put the tree in and started filling the "dirt" around it. We used a potting soil.

Lots of packing and pushing happens at this stage. You do not want soil air pockets.












We filled them almost to the top of the pot.

Here are some of the finished trees in the pots.

He is shaping dirt into a hill for another tree to go in.











We have planted 7 apple trees in pots/containers, 2 pear trees and 2 cherry trees, 1 grape in whisky barrels, and 3 rose trees in pots/containers. They are all varieties that will grow in pots/containers.

Enjoy! Judy

Yea! More Fruit Trees to Pot on the Patio

Yea! My husband is getting some more fruit trees to put in pots on the patio. Our orchard is growing. The question for me has been "How to do sustainability gardening in a 1000 sq ft patio. We keep working on the project. We are having fun! Later this week I will post on the Orchard as I had promised.

Judy

The Orchard

My husband and I planted an Orchard on our patio. I will be writing up the particulars later this week but here is a sneak preview!