HOLES IN THE YARDS FRONT AND SIDE WAITING FOR FRUIT TREES NOW PATIENCE IS REQUIRED(trying to write Haiku)

Went and dun it. Was dragging and dragging my feet (and my Hubbys lower back) puttin’ off and puttin’ off. But in a late night, I CAN’T SLEEP moment, I got on line and ORDERED my fruit trees.

It takes a fair bit of research to find out just which varieties will thrive in North Central Florida. I would sure like some home grown Golden Delicious or Jonathan apples. It just doesn’t get cold enough here. YEAH for THAT! You can check out our Alachua County Extension Office, look around the site, there is a wealth of information, FOR FREE! And if you need one on one, personal advice, just give ‘em a call and make an appointment. They LIKE it when we bother them.

So here’s what I ordered. Anna and Doresett Golden Apples, Sunred Nectarine, FloridaKing Peach, Wonderful Pomegranate, Sweet Pomegranate(no really those are their names), Fuyu Persimmon, and a Brown Turkey Fig.

The apple trees are going in the side yard outside my studio window. The pomegranates, nectarine, and peach trees are being planted orchard style along the front drive. The fig and Persimmon (which don’t need cross pollination) are going into the open space between the Pine Island and the Hurricane Hole.

There ARE some citrus we “can” grow it here in Alachua County, but it seems they come with more worry than worth. Hard enough to get to sleep at night as it is without fretting the occasional freeze.

An orchard is an investment in the future. In our children and beyond. The trees arrive as little more than sticks with a root network. Not grand enough to be called a root ball. You can purchase root ball or larger stock, but at a greatly increased price.

Taking the advice of the Master Gardener, and the crabby old farmer at the feed and seed, I purchased my trees from a vendor within 100 miles of my home. The trees available at the big box stores were 5 times the price, and many of them were species that are difficult to tend in our area.

I did try to find a nursery in Alachua Country (Gilchrist, Columbia, and Bradford too) with no success. If there is one, please let me know. I’d like to add a few more varieties. I passed on pears and plums and am looking to add them in this season, or the next planting opportunity.

The bare root trees were priced from $7 to $10, With the total order coming in at $85.00. I’ve got plenty of time to wait for them to be in “fruit”. I still need to learn more about preserving, dehydrating, giving, and selling, to keep me occupied whilst they grow.

It will be nice to have something slow to grow, with a harvest delayed. The rest of the gardens will keep me hopping enough for this year while I learn more about growing more.

There is a fantasy in my head of baskets of fruit loaded in my wee truck and driving the produce around town and dropping a bushel here, there, wherever. With thanks or without. Lady Bountiful, a medieval idea, but I can’t seem to help myself. I’ll wear some flowing hippy dress, and my big garden hat, the old rusty, peace buttons on it, maybe held down with a colorful scarf.

One question still bothers: Just how many fruit trees to you have to plant to be able to call it an orchard? Just Askin’