Question: My area has (on avg) about 350 hours per year of winter chill. I have been dissapointed in my Katy Apricot (no fruit) and my Blenheim Apricot (occasional fruit) over the last few years. What is your most reliable apricot for mild winters? Ed - Somis, CA Answer: Ed, We have a recommended variety for you. In fact it came from a nurseryman near you in Camarillo that had the exact same problem. He…

Question: I just purchased a Ladyfinger grape from your nursery and was wondering if it is a seedless or a seeded variety. On the blue tag attached to the vine is the following information: 1351053 Ladyfinger (Olivet Blanche) Grapes Thank you.Richard Ladyfinger Grape - Olivet Blanche Answer: Richard, Contrary to a lot of mail order websites, Ladyfinger Grape is seeded - not seedless. We have two selections: Calmeria & Olivet Blanche. We are slowly switching…

Question: are there any edible pomegranate varieties that will survive a zone 7? Tair Arnold, MD Answer: Tair, All the popular pomegranates (Angel Red®, Wonderful, Grenada, Sweet, White and even Utah Sweet) are cold hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 9 and maybe Utah Sweet into Zone 8B. Even in Zone 9, I have seen whole commercial crops lost with an untimely spring frost and some plants killed by it. I suspect the tops are hardier but…

Question: I am thinking of buying a Desert Gold Peach tree and planting on the north side of my home. I have a plum, lime and grapefruit on this side, all which bear fruit. However it does not get much direct sun. 1-2 hours winter, 2-3 hours spring and fall, 4 hours in summer. Is this enough sun for this tree to produce? Bob Desert Gold Peach Answer: Bob, Usually I like to plant my…

Question: Please tell what fruit trees (especially apricots, plums, figs) you recommend for the (hot) San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. I'd like a grape that will grow over an arbor, as well as all sorts of edible fruit.Many Thanks, Rafael Answer: Rafael, Thank you for a wonderful question. I chuckle at the relative term "hot" in your question. Our growing fields, in the richest agricultural area in the world (San Joaquin Valley), is much…

Question: My customer wants a Elberta Peach Tree but we don't have the correct amount of chill time, what do you suggest instead???? Leslie from Torrance CA Answer: Leslie, You are right - Elberta Peaches, which is nearly every one's favorite, take about 800 hours of dormant season chilling below 45º F. This prevents if from fruiting in mild winter areas like yours in Southern California. Torrance is lucky to reach 200-300 hours chilling since…

Question: I bought a Persian Laceleaf lilac for my yard. I was going to plant it on the east side where it would get only late morning sun and early afternoon soon. Now I am thinking about the back yard where it would get full sun all year but with the temps climbing as high as 115 in the summer I am wondering if it will be too much burning sun. My roses seem to…

Question: How to make the quince blooming in Chinese new year!! Shuna Cameo Flowering Quince Answer:Shuna, I love the Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) as a cut flower! When everything else in your garden is still dormant, these hardy plants make their welcomed early arrival with a burst of color. These plants are one of the first to bloom and, as such, are popular for the Chinese New Year. Of course the answer to your question…

Question: Do your bareroot plum and peach trees have the same rootstock? If not, are the rootstocks for these trees compatible with one another if I were to plant them together in the same hole? Thank you. James Answer: James, Most plums are on plum rootstock (Myrobolan, Mariana, Citation, etc). The peaches are on peach rootstock (Nemaguard, Lovell, Siberian, etc.). Exact rootstock is of course dependent upon the specific variety and whether standard or semi-dwarf.…

Tim, owner of Old Towne Nursery in Tehachapi, CA, shared with us the way he uses the Point of Sale pages to help sell his trees. He uses the large wooden fruit bins for holding the trees and attaches the laminated pages to the bins. For a relatively small community, Tim's nursery blows through a lot of trees each spring. Tim, thank you for sharing your photos and ideas with all of us.