Lemon tree is blooming

Here it is late December and you would think that most trees in the orchard would be fast asleep and ready for the winter. Not so in the backyard orchard in central Florida with some high temps at that 80F mark. High temps this time of year are generally around the low to mid 70F zone. I am just branching out to a couple of citrus trees to have some variety in the backyard orchard. I have noticed that the lemon tree is starting to show signs of going into bloom as you can see from the video. After getting posts from YT friend in southern California I guess it is not so unusual. Anyway I just wanted to share my experience on this unusual winter orchard bloom.

Very warm Christmas in the orchard

Well today was Christmas day but it almost felt like summer time. In the sunshine the temps were pushing 85 degrees and slightly humid. I would almost say unseasonably warm, but that would not be totally true because this is after all central Florida. I did a small video yesterday and made an orchard walk to show how my apple trees are staying in full leaf. I am not to sure how to address this if we don't get colder weather. I guess I will just have to be patient and hopefully it comes. Otherwise I may be left with the decision of pulling the leaves off the apple trees to force dormancy. Maybe it will not come to that and winter will set in over the next few weeks.

Feels like fall today

I spent a little time this morning walking in my backyard orchard. Let me tell you if feels like fall lately. For Central Florida many times even when the temps are cool you just don't see the color. Well I have tried to make it a point the incorporate the color in my backyard orchard by planting trees and shrubs that show your eyes that it is fall. I am here to tell you it is working and I can't tell you how much it changes how I feel about this time of year (my favorite time).

Orchard is growing in numbers

Yesterday I planted 3 more trees in my backyard orchard. I transplanted 1 tree to another location that seems to be having some issues. Back a couple of months ago aphids really attacked my trees and really punished a couple of them and 1 tree was killed. It seems as though the aphids may have spread a fire blight type of canker. Anyway I transplanted a tree that just seems to have not recovered. Maybe the new location will be better for this tree.
Well the garden is going to sleep I can tell everyday that the season is moving more to winter and the trees are starting to go dormant. Blueberries, crape myrtles, maple, elms, and muscadines in my garden are all giving up their leaves. Soon winter will be in full swing and shorter days and cool nights will be the rule. I love this time of year and look forward to it. Live everyday as though it was just for you.

First low chill of 2011

Well tonight is the first night below 45 degrees here in central Florida. I think that we will make a target of 150 hours of temps under 45 degrees to put on apples. Stay tuned!

Aphids on apples

I am growing or should I say trying to grow apple trees here in central Florida and it so far is doable. The one thing I have had constant issues with is a very small green bug called "aphid" its a simple looking little bug, however it would be a huge mistake to underestimate them. I have found that the new tinder growth is their target and they will stop at nothing to milk the sap out of it. Having said all of that I have found a method to control them and I use the word control very lightly, because that is all I can do is control them. How you ask! Sulfur orchard spray by Bonide.

The Beginning

This blog is to document my trial and error effort of growing apples and pears in Florida. I started this journey with the physical work in the backyard garden/orchard about 6 months ago with the planting of multiple apple trees. I planted 3 different varieties of trees all of which were low chill hour type trees. First is "Anna", second is "Dorsett golden", and finally "Ein shemer". The chill hour requirements on these trees are only about 150/200 hrs below 45 degrees. Hopefully this is the right combination for central Florida. Also I planted 2 varieties of pear trees "Hood" and "Florida home". The pear trees I planted in a espalier fashion and will train them on a 3 wire trellis.