Having birds in your orchard or in your farm fields often leaves farmers and homesteaders uneasy. Gardeners become enraged when they see birds invading their garden they worked so hard on. I used to share the same disdain for birds but over the years my tune has changed. I’ve actually done a complete 180, now […]
Articles
Do You Need To Stake Your Fruit Trees?
When people first started asking me about how to stake their fruit trees, my first question back to them was ‘why do you think you need to stake your trees’? I ask to make them think. It’s true, not all fruit trees need to be supported by stakes. Let’s explore the ins and outs of […]
How to get Rid of Tent Caterpillars
The Eastern Tent Caterpillar has a well earned reputation for being terribly destructive. Capable of leaving entire trees in their wake, this caterpillar has the ability to defoliate a mature tree in a matter of weeks. As destructive as they are, keeping Tent Caterpillars at bay may be easier than you first think. Where do […]
All About Beach Plums
Where do Beach Plums Grow Today we get a close up look at the elusive beach plum. Popular by fans of unusual fruit, the beach plum grows native in my home state. Here along the N.J. shore and much of the northeastern coast this overlooked native edible sits unnoticed all but edible plant enthusiasts like […]
Elderberry Questions: is Clay Okay and more?
Elderberry plants are a hardy bunch. Any edible native plant that grows in a roadside ditch battered by constant winter salt spray and summer herbicide spray, doesn’t die but actually thrives and spreads is a winner in my book! While you don’t want to eat Elderberries fresh, they can be processed into things like jams, […]
How to Combat Fruit Tree and Berry Pests: Sawfly
Earlier this season my buddy contacted me with a pest problem. His gooseberry plants were covered with small slug like creatures. They were eating the gooseberry leaves and my friend was worried. I knew right away his infestation sounded like sawflies. A few pictures later and sure enough we identified sawflies trying to eat his […]
Growing Elderberries from Seed or Cuttings: Video
Propagating elderberry from cuttings or seed is a question I get frequently. If you have an elderberry plant you can take cuttings from you should propagate via cuttings. Hardwood cuttings root easily and develop faster than seeds. You can take many cuttings off of one plant. Our success rate with propagating hardwood elderberry cuttings is […]
Adding Edible Plants to Your Homes Landscaping: Video
Today we look at edible landscaping planted around our house! If you think you don’t have room for berry bushes you might be wrong. Consider swapping out one or two regular foundation plants like boxwoods for a food producing plant like blueberry. Plants like blueberries can fill in for plants like boxwoods right around the […]