Greenhouse fruit update

That’s why I consider it an unworkable fantasy for me. That is, unless my ultimate goal was to pick poached under-ripe fruit directly from the trees/vines. If our weather kept to the average temps every day of the year, it might be pleasant weather for growing just about anything. It’s those broad, steep swings in the range that are the kicker.

Fruitnut

WOW. What an awesome set up! What state are you in?

I’m in Alpine TX. That’s west TX at 4500ft elevation. 75% sunshine all yr long. 90/64 summer and 60/30F in winter.

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Orangered is also tasting great here. Its prone to rot but its an excellent cot otherwise. The fact that it does so well in our very different growing situations is a very strong vote of confidence for it.

I’m also getting some great white cots this year, Shalah and Siep’s White are both excellent. After almost ten years of trying to get good white apricots I am finally getting there.

Fruitnut,

I’m always attracted to read up your posts about the fruit tree greenhouse and the accompanied pictures. Such achievement couldn’t be done in a few years but I always admired and envied! Lovely playground to have…

Tom

Scott,

How are Moniqui and Zard holding up?

Scott-

You’re ahead of me then…my cots are sizing up but no color change yet (Tomcot)… I’m seeing a lot of bacterial spot or whatever it is on many of them.

Fruitnut! Just as beautiful as always, but denser. Please name the varieties of fruit. Thanks!

Your greenhouse looks awesome Fruitnut!

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I’ve probably got 100 varieties in there. Some of my favorites can be found in a writeup for DWN.

http://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/growing-fruits-and-nuts/cultural-practices/greenhouse-fruit-growing/greenhouse-fruit-production-in-west-texas

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No, not all of them just the fruit in your photos above. Also when it is pouring rain outdoors, how does that affect your watering schedule inside of the greenhouse. The floor is soil, on the ground or in a foundation? Also you have removed the white (plastic) you used to have on the ground? Thanks

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The peaches are Sweet Dream. Nectarines are Honey Royale and Honey Diva.

I’ll be putting the reflective fabric back down as soon as I can clear out all the old trees and the figs.

The trees are growing in the ground just as they would outdoors. The trees on the outside edges do root outdoors to some degree I’m sure. So far I haven’t seen too much effect. But have thought about putting up rain gutters to catch the runoff for blueberries or for use in the evaporative cooling pads.

In humid areas rain running off the greenhouse roof could really mess with watering especially in a small greenhouse.

Thanks fruitnut! Your greenhouse is so special and large that a tour through it would be great. You have really created a wonder. Sorry if my questions are too simple.

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mrsg I gave both your questions a like!!

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Wow! Thanks!

Steve, I didn’t realize you were a retired professor from Texas A&M! What was your area of study?

I did crop production research for 30 yrs near Amarillo. I worked on sugar beets, wheat, other crops, and grazing of wheat by stocker cattle. The last 10 yrs I was also part time extension horticultural specialist mainly for apple and pecan. Retired in 2000 and moved to 6 acres east of Fresno CA to grow fruit. That fell thru when the air made me sick and moved back to TX in 2004. The way things are going in CA with air quality it’s good I moved. But my place was on the Kings river with unlimited water just 6ft down.

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Gosh, sorry to hear the air quality was so terrible there, your property sounds like it was really nice. One of the reasons why we moved to N. San Diego county instead of Orange County. Just too much smog up there. The air is so much cleaner down here, and it is still very rural in areas. My husband and I have always said the only other state we’d consider living in, besides California is Texas.

fruitnut,
Did the predator mites help much?I’m thinking about getting some.
Also,what are some effective miticides or ways to combat these things? Thanks,Brady

The predator mites didn’t help at all. The oldtimes sprayed their plants with water daily. I’ve used several miticides that are cleared for greenhouse tomatoes and the like.