Alan, any more benefits than growing the figs in pots? Also, would your well house the same as an unheated shed or barn? Was not sure if over-wintered plants can stay there. Better than outdoors, but still very cold.
My well house is built into a hill so that it barely reaches freezing when it gets as low as -20F. It’s much like a root cellar with just enough humidity that I don’t need to worry about watering them all winter. I just have to make sure voles (mice) don’t eat them.
I have no idea how I missed this originally, but while doing some research tonight I saw it for first time. I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the photos and how neat it is to see two of my favorite fruit growers get together like that. If I haven’t said it before, my little orchard is always open for tours to anyone who lives or visits the Nashville, TN/ Bowling Green, KY area. (That includes you, @RobThomas , @Lucky_P, and others who live nearby)
Speaking of who lives where, that reminds something I’ve thought about for a long time. Not that this site isn’t absolutely perfect already, but I’d like to make a small suggestion to @scottfsmith that I think everyone might enjoy- especially new people who wonder if there are any people from their geographic area on here. What I was thinking about was a big map of the country (perhaps even a world map) with a “pin” showing where each growingfruit.org member lives (just town. And you could make it voluntary or have the option to opt out if someone didn’t want to say where they lived for some reason.
I think it would be fun to see at a glance where all we live, who is near us, etc. Its mostly available anyway in the introduction thread, but a visual representation via map would be fun. Anyway, just a thought. You can “like” this post to let scott know you agree that a “members map” would be nice. Meanwhile, I’m sure Scott could do it, though I’m sorry to him that I’m suggestion something that would require more work! Thanks 4 all you do.
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CMan, that is a great idea, IMO. You can count me in. You should make a post on the topic so folks who don’t tune into this will be aware of it. You could also mention it on the introduction topic.
I agree, this is a great idea. I think google maps might have a way to create such map. I’ll look into it.
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Try this link for now. I created this map as a test. It’s a public map to anyone with this link. So all of you should be able to click on it and add your genreal location. It is not public on the web meaning that if you search for it on google you won’t find it. You can reach it only through this link below. I also added the location of a few common nurseries just for reference. We can create as many categories as we’d like. I would like to find a plant hardiness zone overlay. try it out.
EDIT, I took Alan’s suggestion and created a new thread. I’m still not sure if the map will work but feel free to try it out and report back to the new thread.
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I had another visit with Alan today and figured some of you might be interested in some pictures. I didn’t take as many pictures, as this time was focused more on talking and picking. I also had my family with me, as we were on the way home from a wedding in upstate NY.
Here’s one of Alan with my daughters in front of a pawpaw tree. We wandered through his orchard, sampling and talking.
After a while, my younger daughter needed to visit the restroom and that was a very good thing, since it got them introduced to Alan’s wife. She was an instant hit and my daughters spent the next two hours with her, while Alan and I continued out in the yard. Both of us were surprised that we didn’t hear anything, even though we continued for quite a while.
My older daughter said that Alan’s house was more fun than the wedding, especially after she went inside. She had liked the time outside with us, but got a bit bored when we stopped to talk for too long, which slowed the flow of fruit to her. Once she went inside, they got to make caramel apples, and talk herbs, and just generally have a great time.
In this pic, my older daughter has a bag of sage, while my younger daughter had some waved under her nose- she had been terrorizing everyone with it, so she had it coming…
Here’a sample of the fruit I brought home. A few of the fruit here are from my yard (like 6-7 Goldrush that fell, at the top center of the pic), but the vast majority is what I brought home today. I’ll followup with some posts comparing the various cultivars.
A big thanks to Alan and his wife for hosting us today!
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Wow !!!
What a blast!
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Thanks for posting the pictures. You all look like you had a good time.
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This was great!
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Thanks for posting. Nice pic. Your older girl is going to be quite tall!!!
Look forward to hearing your fruit report.
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Oh no, my report card is coming and the rain ate my homework.
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When people come in and show interest in my hobby and I give them a bag of apples or let them pick blueberries their so appreciative. I always say those that show interest gets the fruit.
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Craziness likes company. I will always be generous with my fruitcrazy friends. They almost make me feel sane.
We are not alone!
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Don’t worry- it is the fruit competing against each other, not grading you. 
When we got home, I took a brief look around the backyard with my older daughter and she had a few comments for me:
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She used to think our backyard was packed with trees, but yours is more. She noted that I have strips of lawn in between my trees, even if the grass is only 8-10’ wide.
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Your trees are taller, while most of mine are 8-12’ (with a few exceptions like peaches growing too big) and have fewer low branches- mine are low enough to be gnawed on by rabbits.
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My best fruit looks like your bad fruit (which I thought was overstating the case slightly, depending on the type of fruit).
She’s already taller than mom, but has quite a ways to go (8+") to catch me. Another 3-4" would be good for sports though.
True- our wives got to discuss how crazy their husbands are!
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This is the 2nd time I’ve had pawpaw and I’m still not sure what to make of them. I wasn’t all that fond of them last time. This time I cautiosly tasted it and found it pretty good. Then, after a few minutes, I noticed some flavors I wasn’t fond of. So it varries quite a bit as you eat it. Either that or I can’t take more than a few bites.
I did notice that the best ones have been the seedlings from Edible Landscaping that I found on the ground and were half black. Alan said he wasn’t fond of them and that Overleese is better. He felt that Sunflower, which wasn’t ripe yet, was the best of the 3.
I was impressed with the high brix- I hadn’t realized that pawpaw were that sweet. The two from the ground were 21 and 22 brix. One picked slightly soft from the tree was 24 brix. Of the 3, the two from the ground were much better (less harsh/unpleasant flavor). But, I’m not sure if the picked one was from the seedling or from Overleese. It could just be that I like the ones which have fallen and that all 3 were from the same tree.
The small one in the pic is from Overleese, but it wasn’t as ripe (only 12 brix and a lighter color), so that isn’t a fair comparison.
I was surprised when both my daughters and my wife liked it. Each thought it tasted like something different:
Older daughter- like pineapple. I could see this, as it has a bit of the same tingly aftertaste.
Younger daughter- like a mix of pineapple and mango. I agree, it has a bit of mango texture.
Wife- like a non-smelly durian. No comment from me, as I wouldn’t go near durian.
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Peach notes-
Heath Cling- A+ review. My older daughter said it was the best peach she’s had. That seemed a bit of a reach to me- my recent Carnival peaches edge it for me, as they has more sugar and acid. Nevertheless, it was very good. Younger daughter liked it a lot as well. 13-17 brix, good firm, juicy texture.
Indian Free-The best (and largest one) one had good flavor and a nice acid tang (12-13 brix). Great coloring. I liked it, but a notch below the HC.
I think the kids were much more impressed with HC. The small one (first pic below) had even more coloring, but not enough sugar (10-11 brix).
A couple other yellow ones (Victoria? a late O’Henry?)- All were turning to mush, without much brix (10-11). Similar to the late ones I got at the farmer’s market last weekend. It’s a tough time of year for peaches, which makes HC and IF all the more impressive.
All the apples have been very good so far.
Apples-
Jonagold (dark red)- 15-16 brix and extremely good. Juicy, crunchy, sweet, and huge.
Jonagold (striped)- 15 brix and pretty good, but not quite as good as the dark red strain. Maybe a bit less explosive crunch?
Suncrisp (15-16 brix)- also juicy, with good crunch and full flavored. Very good as well.
Hudson’s Golden Gem (17-18 brix)- Favored over the striped Jonagold by co-workers, though both were liked.
And this last pic didn’t come from Alan’s fruit, but I did a tasting today at work with them, so I’ll add them. Interestingly, the two things with the lowest brix got the most positive comments (Black Beauty muscadine and Florina Qurina). The FQ is a Fuji like apple- sweet, mild, with some floral notes. I let the Old Nonpareil go too long, as most were destroyed by yellow jackets.
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cracked me up!
again, great!
I thoroughly enjoyed this thread from beginning to end.
Such wisdom, such beautiful fruit; and family.
And a shout to everyone commenting. Such a fun read.
Thank you,
Dax
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RedSun, hey, watch it, you young whippersnapper! “I thought he is a 70 years old dinosaur.” Seventy isn’t so old!
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