Perfect Tree Weather Forklift in Processing Yard in Mid Morning Fog (9:30 AM) Fog. It can be depressing and cold for workers (or people in general) but the bareroot trees love it This Central Valley of California is famous for its Tule fog from late November through mid January if we have any rain soaked ground to fuel it. Today we have fog big time although weatherman predicts a week of rain starting tomorrow with…

Persimmon Harvest It's Saturday and it's harvest season - so yes we are working! Since the phones were quiet this Saturday morning, I took a trip over to see the digging of the 3 year Persimmon trees. Why? This is the first year where the 3 year persimmons were coming off the new Drip System. In fact everything in this digging season (and from now on out) is coming off the drip system. I wanted…

Cercis canadensis 'Covey' - Lavender Twist® Redbud Field Shots   I had a request last week to show what the Lavender Twist Redbuds (Cercis canadensis 'Covey') looked like in the production field. Between rain, fog and being swamped in the office (no the roof is not leaking - just a desk buried in paperwork) I did not get out until this afternoon. Besides I needed a sanity break - or the office needed a break…

Every season has its attractions to a photographer, but fall usually is one of our favorites.  The reds, golds and yellows displayed in nature attest to the creative side of God for our pleasure.  Many of you live in absolutely stunning areas where fall color is rampant and even the travel industry thrives catering to the "leaf peepers". And a lot of us live in a more subdued environment where we are tickled when we…

Question: Is there a variety of grape called Lady Fingers?Is the Thompson Seedless often referred to as a lady finger? Betty - Fresno, CA Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes there is a grape called Ladyfinger. In fact, we have in our orchards two selections of Ladyfinger. For years we have been growing the Ladyfinger Calmeria selection and we are now half way through the process of converting our production over to the Ladyfinger…

Question: Do chill hours increase in dwarf fruit trees over what they are for the same variety in standard size tree? Maureen - Lakeland, Florida Answer: Maureen, good question. To the best of my knowledge dwarfing rootstock or semi-dwarfing rootstocks do not change the chill requirements on the fruit trees. On the other hand, dwarfing and semi-dwarfing rootstocks often cause the tree to fruit earlier in its life (often called making it precocious) so I…

Anna Apples - Early July Photo - from L.E. Cooke Orchard Question: I've never owned fruit trees and now have an Anna's Apple tree. It's late Oct. and I have a load of apples on my 5' tree. I have read that I need to prune but all of the sites I've been to on the net show tree pruning on tree's without leaves or apples. Should I prune off the apples and branches? Help!!!…

Question: 3years ago I bought a Sherwood jujube from Doan's Nursery in Irving, TX. It had tags from your farm. While it has grown well and flowered profusely in the last two years it has not made any fruit. I read somewhere that another variety planted close by might help. Is this true and if so what variety would you recommend? Thanks a bunch in advance. Ruven - Flower Mound, TX. Sherwood Jujube Answer: This…

Question: How do i care for a black mission fig tree in the winter i live in long island new york and what is the best location to plant this tree also can i plant this tree now. John Answer: I am amazed at the number of figs that we ship into Long Island as well as New York, New Jersey and other areas where figs really should not be grown. That's right - the…

Question:  Is the Weeping Double Red Flowering Peach tree supposed to produce peaches? We have had it for 3 years and it is about 8' tall and it produces peaches but they stop growing shortly after the produce. We only have one tree are we supposed to have two for pollination? We have been to the nursery but they can not seem to answer our questions. Thanks,   Julie -  Prattville, Alabama Answer:  Most fruit trees…