Suggest fruit plantings please

Suggest fruit plantings please (post #16216)

PASDENOM on Sun, 01/31/2010 - 09:35

Fruit and Berries

I have a new bit of space available after a pine tree was cut down. There are tree roots, so whatever gets planted needs to be able to grow around the decaying roots. The location gets mostly morning sun and some filtered afternoon sun.

Zone 6, heavy clay soil conditions. Acid loving plants never do well, no matter how much amending the soil gets. Hot, humid summers alternating with drought every few years. Paved driveway on the other side of the tree roots. Slight slope with fair drainage. Squirrels, rabbits and deer eat even plants they're not supposed to like.

Am I being too ambitious? Is there anything that will survive and produce edible fruits? I've been looking at fruiting bushes and dwarf trees but can't read through the catalog descriptions of fabulous results in any conditions. Please tell me what's worked for you in similar locations.

Without fencing, your plan is (post #16216, reply #1 of 5)

Ruth in reply to PASDENOM [original] on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 08:14

Without fencing, your plan is probably doomed, unless you're willing to "share" (and I'm talking lion's share) with the critters. How large a space is it, roughly?

www.vegetablegardener.com

Roughly fifteen feet by (post #16216, reply #2 of 5)

by PASDENOM in reply to

Ruth [original] on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:46

Roughly fifteen feet by fifteen feet is the area that gets reasonable light and wouldn't overlap with roots of a maple tree that is set further back.

I would suggest checking your (post #16216, reply #3 of 5)

by Astrid in reply to PASDENOM [original] on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 16:48

I would suggest checking your local phone book to see if there is a local County Extension Service in your area. They have a plant list which will tell you what plantings do well in your specific area, and what will soon be eaten by local critters.
That gives you a start.
Joining a local garden group or club is also very enlightening and a fun way to meet new people, and they usually have good garden sales in the spring and fall.

New Mexico home organic gardener Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience. Emerson

Big Pine Tree roots & stumps (post #16216, reply #4 of 5)

by Noel-in-England in reply to Astrid [original] on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:17

Big Pine Tree roots & stumps containing resin - will NOT rot away.Employ a contractor with a Stump-grinder if you can - and dispose of as much 'wood' as possible. Then dig-in some well-rotted cow or horse (Horse is best) manure, renting a cultivator. Clay is usually fertile - the cultivator just needs to be emplyed, along with the manure. Manure 'opens up' the soil & encourages worms, which encourage good drainage & bacteria.

Fence out your deer. Six feet high & strong posts. Below, utilise chicken-wire for a Height of approx. 2 ft. & tuck it underground for a depth of 18" in a curving-out kinda fashion so the digging critters come across it but can't get through it.
Sqirrels? Hell - get your BB gun out / and/or give them something else to eatthat distracts them.

15ft x 15 ft sure ain't TOO big; - perhaps 3 Dwarf Apples [ MM27 or MM106 with differing fruiting times])in a central triangle, and between these, to give a hole planting plan that looks like the points of the Star of David - one each of a Red
Currant Bish, a Black Currant Bush, and a White Currant Bush. If
you don't like Currants - try a Gooseberry bush.

Preparation is the key:- uh - "Fail to prepare - prepare to fail " ain't a bad little phrase.

Have you considered fruiting (post #16216, reply #5 of 5)

by mickhicks in reply to PASDENOM [original] on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 07:48

Have you considered fruiting hedges? They provide a barrier and create a frame around a garden at the same time as providing fruits such as Loganberries, Grapevines and Blackberries.

Suggest fruit plantings please