Have any Fruit Trees?

[KeithBC]

I planted dwarf apple (2 kinds) and dwarf peaches (2 kinds) and one lone almond tree last year. Ours had fruit the first year, but alas the deer ate them before they were ready to be harvested. This year I'm going to be prepared and try to keep those pests away. I've heard that you can hang mesh bags of moth balls on the trees to keep them away or sprinkle human hair around them. They ate the fruit and shredded up the leaves...little b*stards!

In my experience, the only thing that keeps deer away is an 8-foot high fence. I have bought supposedly deer-proof bulbs in the past. The deer obviously didn't read the label and chowed down on them, deer-proof or not.

[Russ]

I agree with you Keith.

A friend of mine bought a house near an orchard (deer heaven) and promptly planted 300 tulip bulbs. The bulbs were up about 3 inches and she was so excited. The next day she was literally crying because the deer mowed EVERY single one to the ground.

[brenda67]

Oh, yes! In fact, in addition to eating lots of them fresh, we froze so many last summer that we were able to have strawberry shortcake for lunch today. At the peak of production in June, we fill two or three big bowls every day. This is a typical day's harvest:


We have three beds, each about 18 feet long and three feet wide. One was already here when we bought the place, and other two we planted ourselves. For the beds we planted, we started with six plants in each. They spread by themselves, so now the beds are all full. In fact, we have to thin all three beds out every year now.

To keep the birds out, I built a berry house over them. It is a simple wooden structure, tall enough to walk around in, with nylon garden netting over the top and sides. There is a door that we keep closed normally.

In the photo, all the greenery in the foreground is strawberries. You can see the wooden posts of the berry house.

OMG...that is AWESOME! The berries are beautiful...I'm absolutely in love with your setup too! Thanks so much for sharing your info & pictures..

[brenda67]

I agree with you Keith.

A friend of mine bought a house near an orchard (deer heaven) and promptly planted 300 tulip bulbs. The bulbs were up about 3 inches and she was so excited. The next day she was literally crying because the deer mowed EVERY single one to the ground.

OH I will be bawling if the deer eat my 75 Tulip bulbs I planted in the fall..

[Dallas Dollars]

There is a Pecan tree where local people come and collect them by my school.

[annymoll]

Oh, yes! In fact, in addition to eating lots of them fresh, we froze so many last summer that we were able to have strawberry shortcake for lunch today. At the peak of production in June, we fill two or three big bowls every day. This is a typical day's harvest:


We have three beds, each about 18 feet long and three feet wide. One was already here when we bought the place, and other two we planted ourselves. For the beds we planted, we started with six plants in each. They spread by themselves, so now the beds are all full. In fact, we have to thin all three beds out every year now.

To keep the birds out, I built a berry house over them. It is a simple wooden structure, tall enough to walk around in, with nylon garden netting over the top and sides. There is a door that we keep closed normally.

In the photo, all the greenery in the foreground is strawberries. You can see the wooden posts of the berry house.

Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I have trouble with strawberries.I hope I can produce like this at some point!

[madhen]

I have mostly dwarf or semi-dwarf trees. A little of everything: apple, cherry, plum, pluot, persimmon, a variety of citrus, some nut trees, peach, apricot, nectarine, fig, and probably some I've forgotten. In re: shrubs, I have grapes, kiwi, and blackberries. I also have strawberries, both regular and alpine.

Never had any luck with gooseberries - I think I'm in the wrong zone.