19 February 2023, 19:46
Aspen Hill AdventuresSpringtime
In my woods it is an early spring due to the prevailing weather pattern (la nina). This also means a high probability of late freezes in April/May and that means once again, no fruits from my fruit trees.
So with that knowledge one must be prepared. I can't do anything about the fruit trees but I am currently refurbishing a few of my IBC totes in the garden and some will get frames so I can drape clear tarps over them for cold crops.
This season I also plan to try my hand at grafting tomato plants. I will try some very disease resistant cultivars for root stock and apply some heritage varieties to them to try for increased strength. I grew a few of the disease resistant varieties last season and did not like the fruits. Tasteless. However, they did well against Fusarium and other fungal wilts.
22 February 2023, 11:10
MarkI don't know what goodwill does with old/torn sheets but most frosts if you can just get a cover of some sort over the trees it will keep the blossoms from being killed by frost. You can also leave the sheets on the tree for a week without harm to the tree or blossoms.
27 February 2023, 04:06
BobsterYou will find grafting tomatoes very gratifying. They are quite happy to sprout roots. I use Perlite in plastic cups and water. When the tomatoes start sprouting suckers at the leaf axils, tear them off and place into the moist perlite. Keep moist for a couple of weeks or until you have a root bundle starting. Then go to potting soil. They'll give you a nice second crop.