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Home > Archive > Austin Gardening > January 2007 > This great cold weather
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This great cold weather
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| Jangchub 2007-01-14, 9:25 am |
| Maybe, just maybe I will get some peaches and apples this spring.
Also, it's been two years since I've had a stand of daffodils or
irises of any note.
On another note, we've had a huge male opossum living in our large
brush pile out back. We discovered him dead, but he was very close to
the house. Would an opossum eat one of those rat killing things?
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| Omelet 2007-01-14, 9:25 am |
| In article <4vfkq2tmiei6gle3qptpntv7mibu9bqtla@4ax.com>,
Jangchub <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote:
> Maybe, just maybe I will get some peaches and apples this spring.
> Also, it's been two years since I've had a stand of daffodils or
> irises of any note.
I did not get paperwhites or peruvian daffodils last year either.
I'm hoping they do better this year.
>
> On another note, we've had a huge male opossum living in our large
> brush pile out back. We discovered him dead, but he was very close to
> the house. Would an opossum eat one of those rat killing things?
Yes.
Possums are scavengers.
--
Peace, Om
Remove _ to validate e-mails.
"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a XXXXX" -- Jack Nicholson
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-14, 1:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:40:38 -0600, Jangchub wrote:
> Maybe, just maybe I will get some peaches and apples this spring. Also,
> it's been two years since I've had a stand of daffodils or irises of any
> note.
>
> On another note, we've had a huge male opossum living in our large brush
> pile out back. We discovered him dead, but he was very close to the
> house. Would an opossum eat one of those rat killing things?
I've got an apricot tree, planted with the wildest of optimism. I
actually managed to get one fruit the year before last. I hear tell that
once every 5 or 6 years conditions are right and I may get a full harvest.
Those "rat killing things" - ? No, opossums don't eat cats. <G>
They will eat those poisioned baits though. Usually they mix the poison
with a purgative so that if a "non target animal" such as a housepet gets
into it, it'll be vomited up before much of the toxin is absorbed
(rodents' plumbing doesn't run in reverse). Unfortunately this works
better in theory than in actual practice so many non-rodent mammals are
poisoned by the baits. I don't like them for this reason.
--
Mike Harris
Austin TX
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| Jangchub 2007-01-14, 1:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:49:22 -0600, Mike Harris <root@austin.texas>
wrote:
>On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:40:38 -0600, Jangchub wrote:
>
>
>I've got an apricot tree, planted with the wildest of optimism. I
>actually managed to get one fruit the year before last. I hear tell that
>once every 5 or 6 years conditions are right and I may get a full harvest.
>
>Those "rat killing things" - ? No, opossums don't eat cats. <G>
>
>They will eat those poisioned baits though. Usually they mix the poison
>with a purgative so that if a "non target animal" such as a housepet gets
>into it, it'll be vomited up before much of the toxin is absorbed
>(rodents' plumbing doesn't run in reverse). Unfortunately this works
>better in theory than in actual practice so many non-rodent mammals are
>poisoned by the baits. I don't like them for this reason.
Gee I hope he died of natural causes. He's been our friend for seven
years and never bothered a thing out in the gardens. He did like his
sunflower seeds.
I thought an animal dying of natural causes would do so in privacy.
One day we'll live in the wilderness and I won't have to deal with
murdering bastards as neighbors. At least they won't be unnatural
murderers.
I saw the Horse Whisperer for the first time this month and I am
totally enthralled with the high plains and Rocky Mountains of Utah
and Montana, but it is truly frozen tundra for a very long period of
time every year.
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| Jangchub 2007-01-14, 1:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:49:22 -0600, Mike Harris <root@austin.texas>
wrote:
>On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:40:38 -0600, Jangchub wrote:
>
>
>I've got an apricot tree, planted with the wildest of optimism. I
>actually managed to get one fruit the year before last. I hear tell that
>once every 5 or 6 years conditions are right and I may get a full harvest.
>
>Those "rat killing things" - ? No, opossums don't eat cats. <G>
>
>They will eat those poisioned baits though. Usually they mix the poison
>with a purgative so that if a "non target animal" such as a housepet gets
>into it, it'll be vomited up before much of the toxin is absorbed
>(rodents' plumbing doesn't run in reverse). Unfortunately this works
>better in theory than in actual practice so many non-rodent mammals are
>poisoned by the baits. I don't like them for this reason.
Oh, on the apricot...it is not unusual to get a good crop every other
year on most stone fruits, but if the conditions are so horrible as it
was last winter (for stone fruits) they can go years without good
production and during those years can easily develop diseases from the
stress.
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-14, 5:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:16:34 -0600, Jangchub wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:49:22 -0600, Mike Harris <root@austin.texas>
> wrote:
>
>
> Gee I hope he died of natural causes. He's been our friend for seven
> years and never bothered a thing out in the gardens. He did like his
> sunflower seeds.
>
> I thought an animal dying of natural causes would do so in privacy.
> One day we'll live in the wilderness and I won't have to deal with
> murdering bastards as neighbors. At least they won't be unnatural
> murderers.
>
> I saw the Horse Whisperer for the first time this month and I am
> totally enthralled with the high plains and Rocky Mountains of Utah
> and Montana, but it is truly frozen tundra for a very long period of
> time every year.
I doubt it was the poisoned bait, given his age. It sounds as though he
had a better than average run, frankly:
http://www.wildlifeprairiestatepark...ges/opossum.htm
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-14, 5:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:18:13 -0600, Jangchub wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:49:22 -0600, Mike Harris <root@austin.texas>
> wrote:
>
>
> Oh, on the apricot...it is not unusual to get a good crop every other
> year on most stone fruits, but if the conditions are so horrible as it
> was last winter (for stone fruits) they can go years without good
> production and during those years can easily develop diseases from the
> stress.
I don't know the reason for apricots not bearing here. It
might be chilling hours. The tree itself is healthy and pest-free, puts
forth abundant blossoms in the spring, but drops them without forming
fruit for the most part. I don't recall the variety but I did select
one with low chilling requirement and not needing a pollinator.
pollinator
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| Jangchub 2007-01-14, 8:25 pm |
| On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:30:42 -0600, Mike Harris <root@austin.texas>
wrote:
>I don't know the reason for apricots not bearing here. It
>might be chilling hours. The tree itself is healthy and pest-free, puts
>forth abundant blossoms in the spring, but drops them without forming
>fruit for the most part. I don't recall the variety but I did select
>one with low chilling requirement and not needing a pollinator.
>pollinator
Last winter I had one night for two hours with below freezing temps.
My tree was loaded with tons of flowers, but every peach aborted in
its very early stage (flower still attached).
When stone fruits don't produce, it is almost always chill hour
related, especially here in TX. I have a peach 'Dixieland.' It is
the lowest chill hour with a free stone. It still have 400 chill hour
requirements at temps below 45 degrees. I don't believe we've had
temps like that, steadily, for several years.
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| * Jangchub wrote, On 1/14/2007 12:16 PM:
>
> Gee I hope he died of natural causes. He's been our friend for seven
> years and never bothered a thing out in the gardens. He did like his
> sunflower seeds.
I saw one close up for the first time in the garden center at Lowe's the other
night. I wandered around behind him for awhile watching. Such a strange animal!
> I thought an animal dying of natural causes would do so in privacy.
> One day we'll live in the wilderness and I won't have to deal with
> murdering bastards as neighbors. At least they won't be unnatural
> murderers.
> I saw the Horse Whisperer for the first time this month and I am
> totally enthralled with the high plains and Rocky Mountains of Utah
> and Montana, but it is truly frozen tundra for a very long period of
> time every year.
Sure is. I can't speak for Utah, but grew up in Montana. It's also very dry --
12" average annual rainfall in the plains and very little snow cover in winter,
though mountainous areas fare better. And COLD and WINDY. I miss it though.
If only because my entire family lives there.
Cindy
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| Justin Wilson 2007-01-16, 8:25 pm |
|
"Jangchub" <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote in message
news:4vfkq2tmiei6gle3qptpntv7mibu9bqtla@4ax.com...
> Maybe, just maybe I will get some peaches and apples this spring.
> Also, it's been two years since I've had a stand of daffodils or
> irises of any note.
I wonder if I'll get less pears next year. Had a GREAT crop this year that
the branches almost fell off. Then in late October, the trees budded again
and more pears! All the little baby pears have finally died and dropped off,
but I wondered why I got two crops this year.
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-17, 3:25 am |
| On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:48:54 +0000, Justin Wilson wrote:
>
> "Jangchub" <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote in message
> news:4vfkq2tmiei6gle3qptpntv7mibu9bqtla@4ax.com...
>
> I wonder if I'll get less pears next year. Had a GREAT crop this year that
> the branches almost fell off. Then in late October, the trees budded again
> and more pears! All the little baby pears have finally died and dropped off,
> but I wondered why I got two crops this year.
Justin,
What area are you in, and what variety do you have? I love pears, but my
tree never fruited and ultimately succumbed to fireblight.
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| Jangchub 2007-01-17, 9:25 am |
| On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:48:54 GMT, "Justin Wilson" <lTw@msn.com> wrote:
>
>"Jangchub" <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote in message
>news:4vfkq2tmiei6gle3qptpntv7mibu9bqtla@4ax.com...
>
>I wonder if I'll get less pears next year. Had a GREAT crop this year that
>the branches almost fell off. Then in late October, the trees budded again
>and more pears! All the little baby pears have finally died and dropped off,
>but I wondered why I got two crops this year.
Pears do usually have good fruit production every other year. I'm not
sure why you got two crops, but when you do, I suggest you side dress
the tree, out to the drip line using compost and organic fertilzer.
Something like Sustane, or LadyBug Brand.
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| Justin Wilson 2007-01-17, 9:25 pm |
|
> sure why you got two crops, but when you do, I suggest you side dress
> the tree, out to the drip line using compost and organic fertilzer.
> Something like Sustane, or LadyBug Brand.
Thanks Jang, I will. What will that do?
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| Justin Wilson 2007-01-17, 9:25 pm |
|
"Mike Harris" <root@austin.texas> wrote in message
news:pan.2007.01.17.04.44.03.781354@austin.texas...
> On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:48:54 +0000, Justin Wilson wrote:
> Justin,
>
> What area are you in, and what variety do you have? I love pears, but my
> tree never fruited and ultimately succumbed to fireblight.
I actually live just north of SA. I believe the pear tree is a Pfanstiel
hybrid - I don't recall the exact spelling. But the trees are very strong,
healthy, and almost too much fruit. Luckily the dogs help clean up the yard.
Plus, I try to remove many of the new fruit to prevent limb breakage.
I wonder of the Bayer systemic formula would prevent fireblight?
| |
|
| I don't believe there is any cure for fireblight. Prune off the bad areas
and get the chain saw.
"Justin Wilson" <lTw@msn.com> wrote in message
news:cWArh.748799$QZ1.189389@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Mike Harris" <root@austin.texas> wrote in message
> news:pan.2007.01.17.04.44.03.781354@austin.texas...
>
> I actually live just north of SA. I believe the pear tree is a Pfanstiel
> hybrid - I don't recall the exact spelling. But the trees are very strong,
> healthy, and almost too much fruit. Luckily the dogs help clean up the
> yard. Plus, I try to remove many of the new fruit to prevent limb
> breakage.
>
> I wonder of the Bayer systemic formula would prevent fireblight?
>
>
>
>
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-18, 3:25 am |
| On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 02:27:21 +0000, Justin Wilson wrote:
>
> "Mike Harris" <root@austin.texas> wrote in message
> news:pan.2007.01.17.04.44.03.781354@austin.texas...
>
> I actually live just north of SA. I believe the pear tree is a Pfanstiel
> hybrid - I don't recall the exact spelling. But the trees are very strong,
> healthy, and almost too much fruit. Luckily the dogs help clean up the yard.
> Plus, I try to remove many of the new fruit to prevent limb breakage.
>
> I wonder of the Bayer systemic formula would prevent fireblight?
That's essentially an agricultural antibiotic. it can stave it off but
you have to be extremely diligent in its use, as well as treating
prophylactically before any sign of fireblight hits the tree. I
unfortunately did not start spraying until I had already lost a good chunk
of the tree.
If I were to try growing an asian pear - which I like very much but AFAIK
have no fireblight resistant cultivars, I might try this approach. For
ordinary pears I believe the surest course is to choose one that's
fireblight resistant.
--
Mike Harris
Austin TX
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-18, 3:25 am |
| On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 02:27:20 +0000, Justin Wilson wrote:
>
>
> Thanks Jang, I will. What will that do?
Putting out a fruit crop can stress the tree. Two crops in one season,
even more so. The compost and organic fertilizer will "put back" what the
double crop "took out."
I would imagine that Jangchub specified organic as it will do its work in
a way that will likely be more readily and easily assimilated than an
inorganic fertilizer. The latter are essentially salts of nitrogen,
potassium and phosphorus which can cause temporary stress to the tree
when applied, might be formulated more for short term effectiveness than
what's best for the tree in the long term, and add no organic matter.
--
Mike Harris
Austin TX
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| Mike Harris 2007-01-18, 3:25 am |
| On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:26:42 +0000, Cliff wrote:
> I don't believe there is any cure for fireblight. Prune off the bad areas
> and get the chain saw.
>
Correct - no cure, but it can be prevented. In theory.
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| Jangchub 2007-01-18, 9:25 am |
| On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 02:27:21 GMT, "Justin Wilson" <lTw@msn.com> wrote:
>
>"Mike Harris" <root@austin.texas> wrote in message
>news:pan.2007.01.17.04.44.03.781354@austin.texas...
>
>I actually live just north of SA. I believe the pear tree is a Pfanstiel
>hybrid - I don't recall the exact spelling. But the trees are very strong,
>healthy, and almost too much fruit. Luckily the dogs help clean up the yard.
>Plus, I try to remove many of the new fruit to prevent limb breakage.
>
>I wonder of the Bayer systemic formula would prevent fireblight?
Diflusate (sp?) is an extremely, toxic pesticide used systemically. I
have used it IN containers on plants where I'm going to lose the plant
and I collect very expensive brugmansia and datura. I don't think
Bayer is labeled for food.
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| Jangchub 2007-01-18, 9:25 am |
| On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 02:27:20 GMT, "Justin Wilson" <lTw@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
>Thanks Jang, I will. What will that do?
>
Normally, with trees it is rarely necessary to fertilize with anything
more than the few fertilizations used for the turf. I use LadyBug
Brand, granular fertilizer once a year and I have the greenest grass
on the block.
The certified organic fertilizers do not have any extraneous fillers,
everyhing in the bag is something which nourishes the soil. In the
case of LadyBug (sold at the Natural Gardener) there is a coating on
each granule of black strap molassas. This is also a wonderful
fixative for the soil an gives nourishment, and chelated iron to the
soil organisms, which churn the soil, and their excrement becomes part
of the whole process of using certified organic fertilizers.
Other cheaper brands like Scotts or whatever product is inorganically
derived nitrogen (UREA and the like) can and usually do burn the
organisms in the soil making the plants grow differently and have (to
use human terms) addiction to this non-organic measure.
Top coating soil with good compost is another way to give macro
organisms something to carry down into the soil, ingest and excrete in
the form of worm castings.
This is what I've done in the past, your experience may differ.
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| Justin Wilson 2007-01-27, 1:25 pm |
| Has anyone heard of a hybrid pear tree typed named something like Pfansteil?
I think the namesake is a Texas arborist or botonist.
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