I recently counted how many fruit trees are on our property and was sort of astonished when the number totaled 16. Three of the fruit trees are Mandarins - 2 Clementines and 1 Seedless Kishu. I look forward to the period in which those little Cuties are available at the store. We buy boxes and boxes of them and practically live off of them for weeks, fruit bat style.
Because it makes sense to grow that which you eat the most of, we decided on the Mandarin trees for the most impact. Ours are still babies and have yet to produce, but they did put forth a few flowers this past summer. Then we had watering issues, and the flowers dried up and dropped off.
I took some pictures of this beautiful Salvia 'Hot Lips' [Salvia x microphylla (grahamii)]* which has finally filled out and started blooming like mad in the past few weeks. It's far too close to the Seedless Kishu Mandarin on the left, and I plan on moving the salvia a couple feet to the right in the picture so it can cascade over the "v" of the wall. It's very happy in this little area.
Side note: this was the very first plant I propagated from a cutting! Fun times.
BUT imagine my surprise when I spotted this little guy in the salvia's overgrowth:
My very first homegrown Mandarin! Exciting!
*Thank goodness for Google, because in order to look like I have any idea abut what I'm talking about, I will start posting Latin in addition to common names of plants. Even though once here I said I would never do that. I'm purposely not linking to that post!
Oct 27, 2009
My Darling Clementine
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9 comments:
ahh- getting one's first fruit is always a treat; particularly when its a surprise. i had spied a few nectarines in my trees earlier this year and couldnt wait to taste them - then the deer came....
so it looks like i *will* have to install some deer deterent fencing - i was hoping to avoid it, but its gotta be done.
congrats.
garry
"Fruit bat style" ... Ha ha!
I know latin names seem pompous sometimes, but they're actually very useful. Especially since common names vary from place to place. After working at a nursery, I learned to love how easy it is to communicate by using scientific names ...
How exciting! and I bet the taste will be completely wonderful!
How exciting. Wish I could grow citrus in my garden.
Gardening is so fun! Congratulations on your first plant growing from your cutting!
vickie
Congratulations! The first fruit is always special. It is something that is worth waiting!
I think you will be please with Clementine. I bought a couple, and I was surprised that the first couple of crops had seeds in them although they were sold as seedless. After two years, the seediness disppeared and they are indeed seedless, and very sweet.
Very nice!
Folks are always a bit stunned when they ask what I grow. Even when they narrow it to fruit. I get out "Two figs, a couple of kinds of grapes, blackberries . . ." and their eyes glaze over before I ever get to the loquat, the pineapple guava, citrus, etc. etc. It is so easy to do a lot on very little land. Thanks for inspiring folks!
Selling out, eh?
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