Saturday, September 20, 2008

Container Peach trees for balcony gardens

My sister Katie and I went to Plantmark, the wholesale plant heaven, to choose the ingredients for the edible balcony garden she is creating.
When she saw these densely-blossomed peach trees, she said we really should get them.
I said we really shouldn't.
I said those traditional fruit trees like peaches and apples are prone to too many diseases, too much trouble, just stick with figs and persimmons. Trusty and delicious.

Katie DeAraujo with little
strawberries, passionfruit, peach & lime, herbs & salad, and more.
And a very hungry sister taking the photo, wondering about lunch...

But I took another look at how beautiful they are, remembered how wonderfully, presumptiously wrong I have often been about things I've not tried, and dashed back for them at the last minute.

Enlightened by this site on container peach tree care, I'm starting to think peach trees may be HAPPIER grown in balconies: They will be under close surveilance, so can be tended swiftly and intimately when predators and ailments strike. The fruits and blossoms are safe from possums. You can control their water, so it recreates their conditions in their native China: A deluge once a week, with water sitting in a tray, then let them dry out a bit till next time. Liquid Fertilizer every 10 days, so you could make a rhythm of it and feed them after each Alfresco Sunday Brunch.

I've got some neem oil to organically treat the leaf curl fungi that was (predictably) having a go at some baby leaves. We will just take it on as a challenge. But there is one problem: how are the bees going to make their way up to the 7th story and make sure the pretty miss gets pollinated, so we can enjoy her peaches?

And peach care advice gratefully welcomed.

The bike repair joint at CERES , with its celestial protection construction.
We popped in to the wholefood cafe, by the Merri Creek, for a delicious late lunch, and enjoyed strolling though the perpetual CERES creativity. Plenty of healthy blossoms here

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