Since my last post the nectaplums were robbed by a racoon or something when ripe. I was pretty sad. I tasted some of what was left over and acceptable to eat and it seemed like it was really good! Not caging the tree was no good…
I did cage the muscadine grapes and had my most success ever! No coons or birds look to have disturbed them. I did find a new issue though. These were all bought from Willis Orchards. I had good experiences with them. Only upon visiting this forum have I heard about issues. I had purchased 2 Bronze Tara and 2 Bronze Fry. My most productive grapevine is black and not bronze, so it’s clearly not one of what I ordered. The bronze one at the end is far superior in flavor. I don’t recall which is which sadly (I planted them A/B/A/B but didn’t keep track further). I think I’m going to rip out the biggest and most productive one and propagate from the better tasting one. That hopefully also keeps the male/female balance. I think I’ll start a post about trying to identify which is which.
I’ve had a good bit of experience trapping animals now in my havaheart trap. I’ve found personally for the best success that I need to stake the cage to the ground (coons drug it away one night), cover it with a tarp (coons dig under or go in from the sides) and use a twist tie to secure the bait to the bottom (coons drag it out and don’t get caught otherwise). Doing all of that I’ve had pretty good success. The last time we went to a barbecue place I took home all of the bones as leftovers and I’ve been just securing them to the back of the cage. My biggest issue now is that I catch possums most often. So far I’ve just been letting them go as I haven’t seen them disturb anything.
I started a separate thread about flooding wet roots
One of my cherry trees perished due to gummosis and flooding. The Nectaplum lost a lot of leaves. I think I’m going to need to dig it up and raise it. I may also try and do the same with my nectarine and peach.
And finally I have two figs, Violette de Bordeaux and Celeste that have small figs. Maybe I’ll get to taste them this year! They are both potted and potentially I will plant them in the ground next to the Panachee Tiger fig. Those paw-paws aren’t doing so well there.