Hi, I am new to the forum, and just became acquainted with HOS through a pruning class recently offered. I just purchased 17 acres in Colton, and plan to plant about two dozen fruit trees as well as many varieties of berries. I could really use some help in figuring out appropriate varieties for the area. and assistance in figuring out where good sources would be to purchase these. I will begin planting in April and hope to get some advice soon so that I can begin ordering right away.
Thanks for any help!
Welcome to the forum newfarmer.
I had to look up Colton, looks like you're on our side of the Cascades and not too far from Northwoods, which I believe grows most of the trees for One Green World Nursery. You might have a look at their catalogue. Raintree and Burnt Ridge are others in our area.
Do you have any experience growing fruit?
What types of fruit are you considering? What do you plan to do with it?
Thanks for your reply!
I have dabbled in growing a few fruit trees in the past as well as some berries, but this will be my first venture where I intend to get it right from the start and have the space and time to invest. We are starting our own homestead, and initially intend the fruit to be for our family (4 plus my parents), but down the road, I am hoping to begin a small CSA to families I know. I am looking to grow anything tasty that will do well in our area, as well as a few species in an underground greenhouse (walipini) which we will build next year (thinking avacado, citrus, papaya). For this year I was looking at purchasing the following: fig, pawpaw, mulberry, blue honeysuckle, hayward kiwi, pears, apple, plums, pineapple guava, pomegranate, currents, and nut trees. As far as berries I am interested in the following: raspberry, blueberry (already have on property), marionberry, loganberry, strawberry, huckleberry, boysenberry, tayberry, ollalieberry.
I'm also really interested in growing a living fence of something like osage orange (horse apple), jujube, or honey locust. But I'm not sure where I can get canes or starts of these.
I'm hoping for advice on varieties I should look for or avoid, and if some of the ones named would not work, or other advice.
Howdy -
We're near-dead-center in the MMC triangle (that's Molalla-Mulino-Colton for you non-locals). About 10 years ago I was in about the same space you're in now - fairly green, looking for advice, etc. I don't know that I can answer all of your questions, but if you want to come to our place and walk around, see what we've done, talk about plants, flip through books... I'm more than willing to spend the time with you. Just let me know how to get a hold of you. Weekday afternoons are best for me.
For the record... rather than rushing out and buying all the nursery stock you think you want at your place, consider down-shifting and learning some basic propagation techniques. You'll save a ton of money, probably get more appropriate varieties/rootstocks, and the time it takes to get those plants going (including the inevitable failures) will give you more time to be/observe/interact/plan/etc. where you live. Trust me, it'll be time well spent.
Mitch
Hey newfarmer, my partner and I recently started a nursery business, we are growing a lot of the species you mentioned, including hedgerow plants. We want to provide farmers with custom orders and design work for larger land projects like yours. Shoot me an email if i have intrigued you.
-noah
Mitch,
I would love to connect with you and learn from what you've done on your property. I am definitely an eager person, this kind of space to do what I want with has been my dream for many years.
email me directly at : athenafreya@yahoo.com
Noah, I may contact you after I've learned a little more about what I really need and want!
Speaking of triangles, I urge you to consider another triangle: what you want to eat, what you could reasonably expect to sell, and what grows easily here. One thing that grows very easily here is berries. They are expensive to pick and ship, but you could have a u-pick. Also, if you like them it's crazy not to grow them here because they're so healthy and expensive and easy to grow. Also a word of caution. Some fruits, like many of my favorites, like paw paws, American persimmons, pie cherries and peaches, are difficult to sell because they are soft or niche markets that people don't know that much about. They are spectacular home orchard fruits though.
John S
PDX OR
Yes I am planning a large berry patch. We can 100's of jars of jam every year and it will be wonderful not to have to pay to pick! I've been on the fence about peaches and nectarines, I've heard they don't grow well here, what has been others experiences?
I am also interested in growing nut trees, what varieties would any of you recommend?
If I begin ordering trees, what should I know first - for example, do all of the varieties come already on dwarf root stock, is that even preferable for most of them?
What do you recommend for site selection and hole prep? I've got several areas that would be possible sites for an orchard, but wonder if I should group them or spread them out.
Thanks
Peaches and nectarines are tough in a wet spring climate like the Willamette Valley or Puget Sound area. They get a lot of diseases. I am growing them, seedlings from the compost, but I still consider them experimental. Since I didn't have to buy the tree, my potential loss is less, pllus the flowers are beautiful.
Filbert nuts are native. Walnuts and many others liek chestnuts are easy if you have the space.
I am an advocate for permaculture style orchards, in which diversity decreases disease. Different varieties and unrelated families near each other. Others will probably have other preferred methods of organization.
I prepare the hole to be about halfway between the best soil conditions for that plant and what you actually have right now.
John S
PDX OR
You might want to take a look at Edmund Morris, "Ten Acres Enough" (ie=UTF8&qid=1457629677&sr=1-5&keywords=ten+acres+enough) for some suggestions on how to lay out your orchard. Morris uses a multi-year intercropping scheme to grow berries and fruit trees.
Good luck!
Karen Black
Blodgett, OR
I just found a great idea. When you have a filbert tree the squirrels will try to eat all of them. Put a bucket of sand buried in the ground near the tree. The squirrels instinctively bury them in the bucket of sand. You fish them out and the squirrels did your work for you! I want to try that this year. It may make filberts more worth growing in our area.
John S
PDX OR
John S said
I just found a great idea. When you have a filbert tree the squirrels will try to eat all of them. Put a bucket of sand buried in the ground near the tree. The squirrels instinctively bury them in the bucket of sand. You fish them out and the squirrels did your work for you! I want to try that this year. It may make filberts more worth growing in our area.John S
PDX OR
Please report back how that goes. Would be brilliant if it works.
FarmerK said
You might want to take a look at Edmund Morris, "Ten Acres Enough" (ie=UTF8&qid=1457629677&sr=1-5&keywords=ten+acres+enough) for some suggestions on how to lay out your orchard. Morris uses a multi-year intercropping scheme to grow berries and fruit trees.
Good luck!
Karen Black
Blodgett, OR
Thanks, I'm picking it up from the library today!
I've been doing lots of permaculture reading on food forests and have been thinking about my layout in non-traditional ways. The main area I had wanted to put most of my fruit trees I've realized is quite shaded because of a huge cedar tree. I think Paw-Paws would still work there. Any other ideas on which fruit or nut trees and berries that are shade tolerant?
mtriplett said
Howdy -We're near-dead-center in the MMC triangle (that's Molalla-Mulino-Colton for you non-locals). About 10 years ago I was in about the same space you're in now - fairly green, looking for advice, etc. I don't know that I can answer all of your questions, but if you want to come to our place and walk around, see what we've done, talk about plants, flip through books... I'm more than willing to spend the time with you. Just let me know how to get a hold of you. Weekday afternoons are best for me.
For the record... rather than rushing out and buying all the nursery stock you think you want at your place, consider down-shifting and learning some basic propagation techniques. You'll save a ton of money, probably get more appropriate varieties/rootstocks, and the time it takes to get those plants going (including the inevitable failures) will give you more time to be/observe/interact/plan/etc. where you live. Trust me, it'll be time well spent.
Mitch
Mitch,
I just figured out how to quote the person who I want my message to go to! If you'd still like to get together, here is my info:
I would love to connect with you and learn from what you've done on your property. I am definitely an eager person, this kind of space to do what I want with has been my dream for many years.
email me directly at : athenafreya@yahoo.com
The people who have used this method say that it works! Others used compost. I guess any dirt-like mulch that you could find them in could work. In addition, if you have cats prowling, the squirrels aren't going to come in and steal your fruit or nuts, so it works that way too!
John S
PDX OR
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