The Wisdom of the Gaucho

Nothing says Autumn quite like fresh apples, and nothing says organic, sustainable, local agriculture quite like growing your own fruits and vegetables right in your own backyard.  If you’re interested in growing apples but are concerned that your location may be unsuitable for growing them, you’ll be happy to know that there are many varieties well suited for warm climates. One of the most important factors in deciding if a fruit tree will be successful in your area is the number of chill hours required.  The definition of chill hours varies, but generally is defined as the number of hours below 45 degrees during fall and early winter.  This time is required for the tree to go dormant and begin its preparations for budding and fruiting the next spring.  Figuring out your USDA Hardiness Zone ( find it here ) will help you determine the number of chill hours in your region and from there can help you investigate which fruit trees will flourish in your yard. ...

You can probably easily imagine the appeal of fresh fruit trees in your backyard. Having oranges, apples, plums, pears, and even avocados available right at your fingertips is the dream of any fresh food enthusiast. Unfortunately, very few people have the space, time, or confidence to plant numerous fruit trees in their yard. The truth is though that with even a little bit of room, some creativity, and plenty of research on the front end, you can successfully have delicious fruit year round. I would love to claim to have come up with these ideas, but the credit lies with a progressive thinking organization named Dave Wilson nursery. Take a look at their website which houses a plethora of great information about planting fruit trees in your yard. The concepts behind Backyard Orchard Culture are truly simple; plant what you enjoy eating, keep trees to a manageable size, embrace successive ripening, and plant what will grow in your yard. Planting fruits that you enjoy eating se...