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Archive for March, 2012

General Tips

Too late to plant?

It is too late in April to plant bare root trees sold. You can plant the fruit sold in containers, it will just be vigilant about watering in the summer.

Too late to prune?

Except in very harsh climate, it’s actually a little late. The recovery of vegetation is there, the sap has taken a heavy traffic: it’s time to create more cuts.

Mulching

A thick mulch around the trees can limit the amount of grass, and keeps the roots of young trees in a cool place.

Staking

Young trees, especially those conducted in rod, need to be staked to resist wind. Do not plant a stake at the foot: the risk is not zero damage to a large root. Instead, press the shaft against a guardian angle.

Strip of glue

Install or check the condition of the tapes fixed bugs ( strip of glue ) arranged at 1m on each fruit tree trunk. This trap perfect nonpolluting is very effective (against aphids, etc.), provided they are placed early enough in the season. Read the rest of this entry »

Diseased fruit and leaves

Promote the sunshine

What is a reflex for tomatoes also applies to the orchard. The sun being rarer in September, it is important that the benefit of fruit each ray. Do not hesitate to remove a few leaves that generated the sunny fruit. In moderation, of course. Particularly recommended for grapes from the vine. Read the rest of this entry »

Known and cultivated since ancient times, the almond tree produces fruits (drupes) are very rich in oil and vitamins. Eaten fresh or dried, they are also used in cosmetology for their softening and moisturizing. The flowering of the almond tree harbinger of spring is always welcome, even if the cold is still present, its pinkish white flowers perfume the garden and parent in the month of March.

A tree with a thousand virtues

Native to western Asia, Prunus dulcis stems from the Rosaceae family. It has been cultivated for over 6,000 years in Iran. This deciduous tree can reach an average height of 10 meters high and has a nice life because it can live over 100 years. The flowers appear in late winter on bare branches, follow the green velvety fruit containing the famous almond consumed by humans as is, or dried in baking, a concentrated energy.
The kernel allows to overcome the lack of animal protein in a strict vegetarian diet, like all dried fruit , it avoids the “pump stroke” of the late morning.
The buds are a wonderful eaten fresh serum of youth for the elderly, and the oil extracted from the kernel has proven itself in dermatology and cosmetology. It is excellent for treating skin conditions and soften dry skin. Applied during pregnancy, it helps to prevent stretch marks if unsightly. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes we lack space to plant fruit trees in the ground. If you only have a small garden, balcony or terrace, do not give much to the pleasure of harvesting your own fruit: the dwarf fruit accommodate themselves very well to pot culture.

What fruit trees?

All fruit trees are not suitable for growing in pots. The berry-producing shrubs are best suited, but you can also choose trees of larger size (if opting for a dwarf or a dwarfing rootstock, ask when buying).

• Apple trees behave quite well in pots, with a columnar shape, especially since the compact varieties of apple have been created specifically for this mode of culture.
• Pears often reach a size larger than the apple, making culture column, pot, a little more tricky (especially if your space is reduced). It is sometimes better to Palisser (palmette or espalier ), which saves space and better penetration of the sun.
• The fig tree is content with a reduced volume of soil, and can also be installed in a pot.
• Plum , peach and cherry are also suitable pot life, but they often need to be fenced, against a wall or fence (preferably with a southern exposure).
• Think also of citrus (orange, clementine, tangerine , lemon, kumquat ), which bear fruit in pots easily, provided you have the opportunity to put them under shelter in the fall when the first cold until May (ideally, in a bright room with a night temperature of 7 to 12 ° C). Read the rest of this entry »

The eggplant is part of the essential vegetables of the Mediterranean diet. Low energy and high in fiber, can be eaten raw or cooked, and joins remarkably well with other seasonal vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, zucchini …). Its cultivation is very simple, tray or in the ground, as long as you procuriez him she loves the sun …

Ground

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) needs a rich soil and good drainage. In the garden, bury an organic fertilizer in the winter. Again, the plant grows well in pots, it is possible to recycle especially for this use black plastic containers that contain shrubs purchased in nurseries. Read the rest of this entry »