Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

A PVFS Customer Question with Staff Answer:

Question:

Hi,
I have two currently healthy volunteer pinion pine seedlings.  I would like to transplant them into safer locations. I’m not sure how to do this. One seedling is now 2 yrs old and about 3-4″ high, the other seedling is about 9 months old, 1- 1/2″ high and in a very precarious spot where it will be too dry and too cold to survive the winter.

I’d like to get these seedlings to shelter before the big storm hits us Dec 4th.  I live in Rio Rancho, NM, at about 5500′ with sometimes fierce winds.

Do you have any advice. I tried the county extension agent but he’s too busy with his T.V. show I guess.
Love your trees.

Answer:

Generally speaking, California Native plants do not transplant very well. The root system can be considerably larger than the top growth and most natives don’t like their roots disturbed. However, we do sell Pinyon Pine Bare Root, which seems like a contradiction. The conifer seedlings we bring in were probably grown in a softer soil and a controlled environment which is easier on the tree roots.

I would lean toward caution because I would hate for you to lose your trees. On the other hand, If they’re in a bad spot and will probably die anyway, it may be worth the risk.  I would have the new spots all prepared with any necessary amendments and soak the exposed roots in a diluted kelp solution for about 30 minutes before replanting.

Hope this helps,

Question:

Greetings and Such

We have a very old pie apple tree. It produces very well, but needs some care. Prunning for example; when should I prune and how much should I prune? When the leaves fall off should I spray, if so, what kind of spray do I need? We live in zone 5…. I think, northern Utah.

Answer:

Hi There Apple Pie Tree Owner
Sounds like you have a wonderful old tree that just needs a little loving care.   Now is a really good time to prune.  Take off any branches that shoot straight up-they are water shoots and don’t produce fruit.  Also thinning the interior is a good idea.  You can also summer prune to get a nice shape.  There is lots of information out there  on line, at your local library or your local farm advisor on fruit tree pruning for more  precise information.

This is a good time to begin your dormant spray regiment,  usually three times a season, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day.  Dormant spray help prevent such things as codling moth and other fungal problems.  You might want to look at

Organic JMS Sytlet Oil which one of our most popular organic dormant sprays.   To find out more about dormant sprays look at our website or in our catalogue.

Take a look at this article for more information on dormant sprays.

Take a Look at these videos about pruning fruit trees here.

Happy Holidays

This weekend we watched Food Inc. and I must say I have never been so glad that I am a vegetarian.  Throughout the hour and a half of this informative documentary I vacillated through feelings of: shock, anger, sadness, disgust, and hope.  I have always known the food industry in this country is bad – I mean this is the main reason I eat organics and work with an organization that has sustainability in its forefront of awareness.  But seriously – if the mistreatment of animals, people, and the natural world in general displayed in this movie is even half true, these massive food corporations are utterly despicable.

Now more than ever it is imperative for each one of us to excersize our power in this country by influencing the production of food in this nation by every means possible.  We need to not only vote appropriately – but as the movie says “vote every time we go to the market.”  Buying organic products and local produce – and even better, growing your own garden, is a direct way to let these massive food producers know that individually we do care about the quality of our food, and we do insist that the means by which it is produced is viable and not damaging to the natural world.  Where you spend your money – determines how the environment is treated.

I will not lie to you watching this movie is a bit depressing, however, I suggest that everyone (especially those who consume foods that contain corn or soy products – which is most everyone because 80% of food and non-food items at the supermarket contains some of these derivative substances) watch this movie.  Depressing can be good if It inspires us to all take a look at where and how we get our food, because the truth has been hidden far to long, and responsibility is necessary if we want to turn this all around.  The motto of PVFS has never rang so true – Grow Organic! For life!

A PVFS Customer Email – Staff answer.

Question:

I am very ineterested in buying a couple Persimmon – Fuyu-Jiro (Standard) trees and I have a few questions.  Do these type of trees need pollination? Can they grow well in Southern CA? We live in San Diego County, 2 miles away from the ocean. Also, I would like to learn about Kiwwi. the same questions. Thank you!

Answer:

The Fuyu-Jiro Persimmon does not need a pollinator.  They grow within USDA zones 7-9 as long as you get 200 hours of chill time for them, they should do fine.

Also, the Kiwi doesn’t need a pollinator, both male and female flowers are on the same vine.  I’ve attached your local Master Gardener’s Extension office, they may have better information particular to your area then I have available to me.

Take a Look at the Master Gardeners National Website here.

Hope this helps.

Ellen Solomon is a gardener, certified arborist, horticulturist and garden designer in Grass Valley. She has a degree in environmental horticulture from Sierra College.

If you plan to attend, you must register soon! Call 530-272-4769 x106

The cost is $10. Participants will also receive a 10% off coupon for use in the store.

Testing found high levels of lead in me. Since I do not know the source, I am testing first our well water. If we have lead in our water, can we assume that it will also be in our soil? I often have worked without gloves. Also, what is a reliable way to test the soil in our garden and fields for lead? There is a inexpensive test kit that is sold in hardwares. What would we do to remediate if there is lead in our soil? Thanks, Mary

I read that almond hulls have a lot of calcium. If that is true, would they make good top dressing for a small vineyard on fairly heave soil?
Thank you,
Val