I can’t take it.
Every grapefruit… every apple… every pomegranate…
They call to me. They say, “care for our children!”
I have about 15 acres now, so why not plant lots of seedlings?
I just finished reading Cato’s De Agricultura, and in it he describes how to create a nursery bed for pear and apple seeds. That was 2200 years ago. And somehow we now think that planting fruit tree seeds will give us lousy plants.
Modern agriculture and science have stolen from us the joy of experimentation and the love of life.
I’m currently looking for some local Satsuma seeds to plant.
Today I have to figure out what to do about the ducks. I think I’ll just put up 3′ tall chicken wire to keep them out of the gardens.
If that doesn’t stop them, they’re all headed to freezer camp.
By the way, if you haven’t read Free Plants for Everyone, I think you’ll like it. In it I talk a lot about the beauty of plant propagation and seed-grown trees.
I’m headed out to go pot some plants up. If I finish that in time – and decide what to do with the ducks – I’m totally going to plant more fruit tree seeds. If not today, then tomorrow.
They call to me.
You can have greener thumbs by this weekend!
16 comments
“They call to me ”
Me, too. Apple, crab apple, pear. Plum, plumcot, peach. And not just fruit! Maple, honey locust, oak, shagbark…any seed I see I want to plant. And I will!
So I read the article you linked to regarding the Etruscan grape-on-tree, and the subsequent variations that developed. Well, one of those variations was short, espaliered maples as the framework…I just happen to have 12 or so maple seedlings, and some concords rooting. Guess what will probably be one of the GRG rows? Oh, yes!
Since we have work to do, smothering noxious weeds and making the dirt into soil, I have a whole growing season next year to get those maples big enough to plant out. And a growing season to root more grape cuttings. Excited.
That is fantastic. I can’t wait to see how they work out.
Because of your book “Free Plants for Everyone” I can’t stop starting plants! My husband is so tired of the plant nursery being in the garage and in front of every window in the house that he’s building me a greenhouse. The best part is I always have a plant to give as a gift for any occasion!
There seems to be some kind of cadre of grafting zealots out on the internet today whose sole function is to jump on people who say they’re growing fruit trees from seed and stop them: “It won’t come true from seed! It won’t taste right! It could have crossed with aaaaanything!”
(Well, yeah, it could have, but since it was grown in a commercial orchard of many hundreds, if not thousands, of trees of its kind, wouldn’t the odds be in my favor?)
Sigh.
Yes – they are everywhere, like the no-till people who freak out every time they see a Victory Garden.
Got mulberry cuttings rooting, apples started from seed, and trying to root some blueberry cuttings. Not sure if it the right time but giving me it a go. Free Plants for Everyone got me to try it. Thanks David.
Worth trying. Spring and summer are supposed to be best, but I’ve rooted some things in winter. Bottom heat helps – I have a heating pad I use.
It’s a compulsion, for sure. Especially after I watched your video on starting 21 trees from seed, it really hadn’t clicked until then. Nature is generous, I’m not going to refuse her gifts
Yes – there are a handful, or dozens, or even hundreds of potential trees in each fruit… plant!
Yes, so many of your followers hear them too!
Years ago I stated an orange tree from seed……for some reason I did not bring it inside when it turned cold…you can guess the rest.
When I saw your video of the peach trees started from seeds, I let loose. Hoping MY peach trees will produce this coming spring (maybe one more year) -they will be 2 years. Same with pomegranates. My lemon started producing last year. It is all a wonderful and exciting experiment for a plant nerd like me.
I always, always see God’s divine plan and a glimpse of Eden when I garden.
We have a few orange trees started from seed about ten years ago. One of them produced a few oranges last year. The others, nothing. Do you know if this is normal, nutrient deficiencies they do have some yellow leaves), or lack of grafting or pruning? I pruned them for the first time this year, but I tried not to cut too much. We always assumed they were Clementine oranges, but I don’t know anything definitely as they came from a neighbor’s tree. But they are small.
I do have to say that you also inspired me to start lemon and key lime trees. I have no idea where I will eventually put them, but there are about seven little seedlings.
You know it’s your fault i started a tree nursery and grafting apples and pears. I have ½ a small greenhous full of black pots saved for next season. We see a fruit tree on clearance because it got dry. We drag it home and restore it. My inlaws see us doing this. they brought us a 5 gallon bucket of chestnuts from a campground in Virginia. So now i have 3 buckets with screened bottoms. They are full of wet sawdust and chestnuts. What an i gonna do with hundreds of chestnut seedlings? This is all your fault. seriously I’m gonna make a big bed for 90% of tje seedlings. Pot up about 30 and sell the potted ones. Pull the bed apart next winter and sell 2″ tall dormant chestnuts.
I don’t have ducks but “Dirtpatch Heaven” cites your work and this might be a good time to go over and check out her work, as she knows about ducks. I think she does the 3 foot fences. Has been keeping them for years and doesn’t spend a lot to do it.
She is excellent. Our ducks were Muscovies, however, and took to flying over our 9-foot fence!
We have to trim 1 wings feathers twice a year
I have several satsumas still on the tree. You are welcome to them for the seeds. It’s a good tree with very sweet fruit. I’m about three hours from you in Covington, LA.
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