Anyone planting fruit trees this month? I want to plant a dwarf or two so I can pot it, but I also would like to plant a Meyer lemon and an Anna or Dorsett apple. Do you have these now or are you considering one or more.

I want another peach tree.

Howdy Alma,
Only thing I would suggest is using a plastic or NOT ceramic/clay pot. The pot will heat up in the summer and inhibit the root development. Just wondering .... why do you want to keep the tree in a pot?

I planted a peach tree in the ground at my former home at Pte Tapatio. It did very well. Even the birdies thought so. Didn't get too many fruit due to bird thievery.

Marie, if you already have a peach, what kind is it and do you think it produces well?

Susie, I'd only put a dwarf in a pot. And I'd like to do that so I can move it if it doesn't do well in one location.

I have no idea which two I have. All I know is one produces great it is in bud right now and the peaches develope by April/May. The other one produces great too. but they are small and do not ripen until summer and it is too hot then and they do not taste good.

Marie, do you have a problem with the birds getting to the peaches before you? I did. Tried everything to keep them away including hanging old CDs DVDs from the branches. They ignored them after 3 days. I through a net over the 5 ft tall tree and cut slits so I could reach in and pick the ripe peaches. The birds eventually figured out my plan and started using the slits like a doorway.

So far not too many problems although I am not sure why. We have a bird city in our oleanders that line our driveway!

I found a very pretty "Improved Meyer lemon" at HD yesterday. They had several in two different size pots but the larger ones were so broken, I went for the smaller one. They also had some fruit trees grown in CA, most with chilling hours under 400. Dave the Garden Guy says we now have only 300 or less CH, thanks to our ever-increasing heat. I did buy a pretty little "semi-dwarf" peach. Can't remember it's name.

HD had pink lemons with variegated leaves. I was tempted, but the plants were not in good shape. Has anyone grown a pink lemon?

I have had good luck with an Early Alberta semi-dwarf that I got from Stark Bro. Nursery a few years ago. I got 32 perfect, delicious peaches off of it last year after putting it into an oak barrel filled with miracle gro potting soil a few months earlier. It had done ok in the ground but did much better in that barrel not having to compete with oleander and other tree roots any more. I purchased another one last fall and just recently planted it into an oak barrel as well.

Wow! Linda! Talk about a miracle! Your yield seems extraordinary to me... who struggles with birds eating ripening fruit. Do you use tap water to irrigate the peach? Rain water? Congrats on your success!

Talking to Dann_L a few days ago via email he said he felt water quality from spigot may be a strong reason his veggies didn't produce much in last few years. You obviously have good soil with the Miracle Gro soil and I know Dan amended his soil to perfection.... Maybe you all in Tucson area have better water than Phoenix Metro?

Hi Susie !

I do not know why the birds left me the peaches. When the tree was in the ground in a more isolated spot in the yard both the birds and lizards got them. This barrel is right outside the kitchen door so there is more human activity by me there so perhaps the birds are scared off more.

Yes, I use the water from the hose. When the rain barrel is full it will get a treat of rain water mixed with miracle-gro fertilizer. Our water is very hard but tastes good. This year I am saving old panty hose and plan to cut them up and stretch each section over individual peaches for extra protection.

Linda won't the birds peck through the panty hose if they really want those peaches???

We shall see Margaret. Hopefully it will make them look too strange and they will fly by. Plus I do not think the panty hose will taste too good.

Well I think it's a smart move to put the barrel/tree in a human traffic area.... for sure. I put "footsies" over my tomatoes last spring.... stunted the growth of the 'mater. Was not good. This year I'll attempt to throw a net over the plant. I have 4 'maters on one already and hope to protect them to ripen! Birds here are ViCIOUs.

Linda you must post photos of your peach tree with it's panty hose on.

Glam shot

Ok you two !

Girls just wanna have fun, Linda.

When you two are biting into rock hard store peaches I shall be enjoying my perfectly ripe, juicy and stylishly dressed fruit !