such a well tended , neat orchard for such a small area. now i know i can fit more in my .75 acre. good job Scott!
Just seeing this thread for the first time! I am in awe of it all Everything looks so well kept and manicured I have much to aim for if I ever want something to look that great
Thanks for taking all those pics @Naeem and great to see your orchard @scottfsmith
A great thread!
It was nice to visit with you today, Naeem!
One thing you can see in the pictures is how the fruiting branches are all high now … this is what I have been working on for the last couple of years. Also any young tree has a ring of deer fence around it, which worked really well this last growing season. I am looking forward to thumbing my nose at the deer this year
Thanks for posting those pictures. Maybe it will inspire me to get my orchard into better shape. What a showpiece!
Wow, unbelievable orchard Scott! And thanks for posting the pictures Naeem. I feel inspired to do a better job and to be more ambitious with my (much smaller) orchard.
I agree with you 100%. After visiting and observing I will be able to better plant and take care of my plants. Scott did excellent job managing and taking care of whole orchard.
It is a steep south-facing hill. It makes it very hot in the summer, I feel like I am more like a North Carolina climate as far as how hard it is to grow heat-sensitive fruits.
I live next to the woods (Patapsco park), hence squirrels raid my garden daily. What types of traps do you use? Metal ones that capture them and you can relocate them?
How wonderfully neat and lush!! Thanks for posting this!
Wow this is so inspirational. I hope I can grow an orchard like this in Maryland!
Hi @ATECMDbackyard , Where in Ellicott city are you? I am in Shady section close to the YMCA, and target between old Columbia Road and Montgomery Road.
Hey @kakasamo great to hear from someone in the area! I live right off Centennial lane near Centennial high school. Chateau Ridge lake community. What have you grown successfully in this area? Would love any advice as well.
Oh that’s awesome. I have a grown some pomegranates, figs, blueberries, raspberries, and Carnelian cherries.
Wow that’s a lot of good looking fruit! Looks like a good harvest!
What pomegranate variety did you get? I would like to grow one here, not sure which ones can survive in ground though. Im also thinking about starting some figs, debating on doing it in ground or a grow bag.
By the way is that a reflective plate? How much do you think it helps? I would like to extend some areas in my yard in terms of daylight hours.
I have a number of them, the ones that actually produce fruit are my Russians: Desertnyi, Salavatskyi, and Russian 26. I have a WonderfulThat I keep in a small pot, it was originally sold as a bonsai from walmart.com. That one produces as well, but the fruits are minuscule. I am tempted to put it in the ground,
I grow them along my most south facing wall, that is somewhat sheltered, and quite close to the house.
I do have a Heliostat and I really enjoy it. It is very advanced, brilliant device from Wikoda, In Massachusetts. However, I use it to broadcast a beam of sunlight into my north facing kitchen, so I can Enjoy looking at my basil on the windowsill as I watch dishes in the winter.
BTW, @naeem is also local to you and me, and he’s my inspiration along with Scott. Naeem is extremely knowledgeable and very successful at growing a lot of fruits, especially figs!
Great I will try to get some of those varieties. I’ve seen salavatski online a couple of times. Beautiful fruit and pictures from your garden. I will try to find a good spot for them in my yard.
Wow, I will need to look into the heliostat. Would never have known about this without your post. Learning so much here
Yes I have seen Naeem’s figs posting and he is really inspiring me. I think I need to get a shed up so I can overwinter them in pots for the warmer varieties. I still debate about whether to go in ground for the hardier varieties. So great finding people in the area with this hobby!!