Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

Here at Peaceful Valley, we are in the throes of bare-root sales. However, the terms and restrictions for what can and cannot be planted can be confusing, especially for the first time grower.

The first thing to consider is your growing zone. This is a general description of how warm or cold your temperatures get year round. Where people tend to get confused, even experienced growers, is that in the US, there are two different forms of zone charting: The USDA and Sunset Magazine, possibly more. For simplicity, Peaceful Valley employs the USDA chart exclusively.

How, then, can you find, with any certainty, what USDA zone are you in? You can find zone maps in many locations, but even those cannot be as specific as you need. Fortunately, the good folks at the National Gardening Association have put together a searchable zone chart! Simply go here, and enter your zip code. You will get not only your USDA zone, but links to articles pertaining to growing conditions in YOUR area!

Another question many people have is “How many chill hours do I have? What is a chill hour, anyway?” According to Dave Wilson (the company that has supplied the majority of our bare-root trees for nearly a decade, and services many other nurseries around the nation) a chill hour is defined as one hour under 45 degrees Fahrenheit. However, its not always that simple. For every hour over 60 degrees, you have to subtract one hour. There are other, more specific rules (search for Utah Model Chill), but this is a good general guide.

Now, most people don’t sit out with a clipboard and a thermometer every day, calculating chill data. So, to get your approximate number of chill hours, you would go to your local Ag department — they usually have that data. If you are lucky enough to live in California, our wonderful UC system actually has monitoring up and down the state, with not only recent data, but in some cases, going back 5 years — you get a great picture of trends. The website, broken down by county, can be found here.

As always, we are here to help. Our catalog features many different icons to give you an idea of what grows well in warm climates (ideal for areas like Los Angeles), and what grows well in frigid areas, like Nebraska. But remember, we cannot hold shipments until it gets warm enough for you to plant. There is a method called “heeling in”, which allows you to care for your bare root plants until you are able to plant them in their permanent home. The literature we send out with our plants includes that information, but it can be viewed by downloading the .pdf file on the description page of all our bare-root stock.

Good luck, and Happy Planting!

2009 – just weeks before the impending future… 2010. As the cool morning air settles, the PVFS staff dons their yellow rain slickers and prepares to receive a massive truck packed full of bare root trees.

Only the “powers-that-be” know how many happy people will set their teeth into a piece of luscious fruit produced from one of these fantastic fruit trees within the coming years.

You have probably sat around on many occasions and wondered “what does it look like to pack 8,000 bare root trees into a cargo truck?” The truck is full of bare root fruit trees and bare root nut trees.  Well question no longer:

The general process for receiving these trees requires us to unload them, bundle them to their corresponding bin, count them, “heel them in” and then begin to fill orders. With a full crew down in the warehouse just unloading and “heeling-in” these bare roots will take the entire day – perhaps the first half of the following day.

We have already taken orders for about a quarter of these trees, they are selling fast. Place your order now to receive the varieties that meet your zone and chill hour requirements!

If you would like more information about Bare Root Trees see our literature here.

To Compare the beautiful weather we are having this year compared to unloading these trees last year click here.

Read our article below to help you with planting your bare root trees:

How to plant a bare root tree