Recession/gardens/fruit trees

[46Barb]

We are supposed to only have a garden in the far back of our property in our subdivision. I think with the way the economy is, no one complained when a few neighbors put in a garden in most of their backyard; they actually shared excess produce which was nice.

[zr1sparky]

Love this thread .... the idea of dropping fruit seeds as you hike is such a cool idea!

[2mares]

If it is in state parks it really isnt a good idea. Fish and wildlife and the forestry service do actually manage habitat in park areas and wildlife reserves and probably wouldnt be to happy about hikers going around planting trees. The first thing I learned when hiking in these areas is that you are not susposed to leave anything behind or take anything out.

[LauraC]

Since you brought up the subject of apples, I have seen more crab apples here (mostly on the ground) than anyplace else. What's the deal with them? Do people grow them deliberately in Tennessee and who/what typically eats them here?

It's hard to grow fruit in an apartment complex.

By the way, our governor, said if the House healthcare bill becomes law, it would cost the state, $1.4 billion. Wonder where that money would come from?

[46Barb]

LauraC, my neighbor gets crab apples from his son and makes crab apple jelly from them.

[yarddawg]

Originally Posted by 2mares

If it is in state parks it really isnt a good idea. Fish and wildlife and the forestry service do actually manage habitat in park areas and wildlife reserves and probably wouldnt be to happy about hikers going around planting trees. The first thing I learned when hiking in these areas is that you are not susposed to leave anything behind or take anything out.

Second this. Planting apple trees, or any non-native fruit, on state or fed land just makes more work for the people doing alien plant control.


You can plant seeds from commercial varieties on your own property but you might not like the results. It's not that the seeds are infertile, most of them will grow, even from hybrid varieties. The fruit won't be quite like the parent, could be better, could be worse, could be fit only for making jelly. The problem for most people would be the size of the tree. Standard apple trees are LARGE trees, they're grafted to control size. Several of my relatives have antique apple varieties they inherited along with the family homeplaces. They rival the size of maple trees and in a heavy bearing year limbs the size of my thigh will shear off from the weight unless the apples are thinned by hand (try that in the top of a tree the size of a medium sized maple).

[2mares]

The flowering crabapples are probably planted as ornamentals. They are very pretty in the spring. Im sure there is some wildlife that eats the fruit, but the ones I've seen in town sure make a mess. I have also made crabapple jelly.