I wondered the same thing. Before that, I started a compost pile that I thought was the best one on earth- stuff would break down so fast I couldn’t believe it. Turned out to be packrats. It was like a salad bar to them, I guess.
1 Like
Well I was very upset when I recently checked on my peach tree and found at least half if not more, of it’s early fruit had fallen. As I posted above, this year I wrapped my tree in netting to keep birds and small animals from getting to it, I thought this was the problem however now I’m learning about the “June drop” which seems common with peach trees!!
In the mean time my pear trees, which I couldn’t prune last fall, have the most pears I have ever seen in my life. Honestly each tree has a minimum of 25 and maybe upwards of 50 pears each!! Only problem is since I didn’t prune it, many are out of reach. lol I will need my ladder when it comes to harvest time.
My pomegranate tree/shrub I planted last season died over the winter, no fruit. Also I think the dear got to my plumb and cherry blossoms, I don’t see any buds on either of those two tree’s but aren’t familiar with their seasons as this is only my second summer with them.
2 Likes
Well…the pears will keep you busy!
2 Likes
Don’t do that if you don’t have to, at least don’t get high up. It’s hard to pick off a ladder safely without certain equipment. I picked cherries in Colorado for pocket money. They use special, very wide ladders which are very hard to tip. The picture cut out the pointed tip of the spike, which one jabs into the ground for a secure setup.
We had chest harnesses with clips to hold picking buckets, hands-free.
These are very handy and I use one a lot.
Just clamp it on a long pole; bamboo is light and works great. Lots of companies sell these, including Amazon. There are also telescopic models. When picking fruit, remember to watch out for stinging insects like wasps and hornets!
3 Likes
Banana?
1 Like
Yes! Where is your garden? How big is the tree? My MIL pointed out several in yards in Atlanta when I was last there, but I’m not sure if they actually harvested fruit.
ETA Los Angeles?
Los Angeles, it’s about 10’ tall, 2 year old tree from a cutting from neighbor across the street. Lots of sun, tarry rich soil, doing well…ive had em before that didn’t produce fruit every year. these are the smaller kind of bananas.
1 Like
I am attempting to weigh down branches of my fig tree so I can protect them from birds.
I didn’t get any last year! I hope to pick a few pounds of Flavor Grenade pluots within the next 10 days.
3 Likes
These are sorta fun
good luck with your pluots i really enjoy those. I haven’t heard of flavor grenade but sounds like a winner.
1 Like
Nice! My folks had a banana tree given to them by some former Hawaiians. It was a beast, and bloomede very year, but then it always froze clear to the ground before the bananas were ripe. But then come spring, it would regrow at a fantastic pace until it was a tree again.
Nice. I know it’s a super ez tree to grow and very hardy i had no idea that strong. Great fruit tree for a non-green thumb, and the leaves are useful too.
Re- the bottom photo. Somebody on Dave’s Garden several years ago posted wondering if anybody know what was peeling the skins off the lemons on her tree. Nobody seemed to know, but a week or two later she posted a two-word update- roof rats. She lived in Califoria, I don’t know what part.
Your pluot looks delightful, BTW
Thank you!
If you are wondering about the exposed flesh of the pluot in the bottom , the rat was me! I was trying to show the flesh is green, but I suppose I could have done tat more tastefully. I got excited!
1 Like
Roof Rats are one of the few rodents that are fond of citrus. It’s surprising they enjoy the intense terpene/aromatic peels! With their sensitive noses, maybe they get an endorphin rush!
2 Likes
With a name like Flavor Grenade, who could resist! 
2 Likes
After reading about the “June drop” about my peach tree I was relieved by the amount of pears I had. Literally dozens! Well upon closer inspection this weekend I’ve now lost ALL my pears? Dozens between two trees disappeared in a 2 weeks without a trace? Wtf was that all about??
Oh no! Were they someplace you see everyday, or did you not see the trees for two weeks? I’m thinking humans if you were away for two weeks and there was no trace.
No, not humans and due to pruning negligence last year many were way above picking height, 10-12 feet high. I just hadn’t walked out to check their progress the past few weeks, now that I have I can’t find a single pear. One time I counted over 30 on one tree!
