November & December 2008
Winter Planting
 For some great fall & winter planting
take 20% off all available plant stock until the end of December
At this time of year our attention naturally falls on thoughts of the coming holidays. I'm still harvesting fruits, mostly Elmwood Kiwi, Hardy Kiwis, Persimmons, and Pomegranates. The Figs are done, the last I picked were a few weeks ago, the LSU Purple. Pierre is helping me get more plants in the ground (lots of different nut varieties). Our weather being mild insures us transplanting into Christmas and if it stays mild and the ground doesn't freeze we'll plant on sunny days in January to March. Last year in January & February we planted a shaded area with all of our currants - Red, White, American Crandall, & Josta. They were well rooted in by the time Spring came. So, even though Thanksgiving is coming and Christmas and New Years, we still have our nose in the ground.
The Elmwood Kiwi should be ripe for Thanksgiving. I picked them on November 11th when they were still hard and they'll still need to soften. Persimmons are a staple at this time of year with our family. Juliet ate 5 hard Persimmons last Saturday. She also scored her 1st soccer goal of the season! My baby greens salad at last night's dinner included Anna Kiwis halved and Russian Pomegranate seed arils (pulp surrounding the seed) tossed with feta and pine nuts and "Italian Dressing." At breakfast a few soft persimmons usually go into the blender with orange juice and a touch of honey for a delicious smoothie. The harvest goes on.
Because our plants are rooted in pots they can be transplanted in the ground later into the year than bare root plants. Generally Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, Nuts, and Juneberry can be planted in our area as long as the ground isn't frozen. I have planted Figs and other marginal varieties (Pomegranates and Feijoa) in the fall but I usually plant larger sizes like 3 & 5 gallon and I pick the "perfect spot" microclimate, out of the wind. That's a good rule for quart size Grapes, Pawpaw and Kiwi. The smaller sizes are risky planted in the open. When planting quarts or 4.5 inch pots in the fall I make sure I mulch 1 or 2 inches high around the plants and 3 feet out from the plant. If it's a row of Strawberries, I throw loose straw over the plants, just enough to cover them but so I can still see the plants. Row covers also work, especially in windy areas. Potted strawberries planted in the fall in zones 7 & 8 have a good crop when spring comes. Strawberries also benefit from enriching the soil to a depth of 4 inches and the rows should be 3 feet wide. Blueberries are very good for fall-winter planting too, but more soil prep is usually needed. Most soils have to be amended with peat and mulched after planting. There's a bit more work for a Blueberry bed. Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry all benefit from 5 foot wide beds. Raspberries and Blackberries usually need soil enrichment down for the first 4 inches, Blueberries only need peat. It is an excellent time in our area to make these beds especially since the soil isn't too wet to work. The mulch after planting blankets the new plants and makes them resist drops in temperatures. When I say enrichment I mean store bought or home supplied manures and composts and top soils and slow release organic fertilizers.
Purchasing indoor plants at this time? I have a few tips. A freeze during transit to areas north of our nursery can happen, so we send early in the season and watch the weather. If your tropical plant arrives and you have your heat on, the humidity change could be extreme from the greenhouse environment they were used to. The first cold nights a citrus will benefit having a plastic bag draped around it till morning to keep in humidity. A dry cleaning bag is thin, light and works well. Excessive leaf drop usually indicates a stress where the humidity could be low. Bathrooms where showers are taken may be just the spot to introduce your new plant to your home. Setting a citrus too close to a window can keep it too cold at night or too hot if it's too close or on top of a radiator or heat duct. 70 degree bottom heat is best in a sunny room. Coffee plants are fine in a normal living space and seem to grow best in a terracotta pot indoors. Strawberry Guava also are easy indoors and Bananas should be as well. If it's having trouble it is usually due to being pot bound or too wet. Rosemary benefits from some cooler temperatures at night with room in the pot for winter root growth. Experiment with different areas of the house with different plants. Many of our customers plan areas for plants in their construction ideas.
Anyway, All is well and beautiful
Take Care
Michael
ps - It just rained here all day and now we shouldn't have to water our newly planted nut trees until early summer if at all - Fall really can be a great time to plant!
Holiday Plant and Gift Card Sale!
20% off ALL PLANTS & GIFT CERTIFICATES!!!
currently in stock, good till the end of December
$25 Gift Certificate for $20
$50 Gift Certificate for $40
$100 Gift Certificate for $80
$200 Gift Certificate for $160
$500 Gift Certificate for $400
$1,000 Gift Certificate for $800
(gift certificates valid to 1 year after purchase date. Plants guaranteed for 1 year)
Gift Cards for a special gift
Pick your favorite picture from our site, we print it & send it with a handwritten message if you like.
all available online right now or by calling us at 800-524-4156 8am to 5pm
Edible Talk
Blue Ridge Permaculture Network
Greetings All, Below you will find info on upcoming spring Permaculture class, a Rain Barrel workshop (Saturday), the next Relocalize Cville meeting, a prunning workshop, the next Green Matters workshop, the Bioneers conference, the DC Green Festival (both this weekend), a Women in Green presentation, the GreenBuild 2008 conference and a Local Futures conference. For more information about the upcoming Permaculture course, see our website: www.blueridgepermaculture.net. If you know anyone else that would like to sign up for this newsletter, or if you have an announcement, email Christine at christinegyovai@gmail.com.
Hi Michael,
...
Wendy Johnson was the Head Gardener at the Green Gulch Zen Center in Sausalito, CA. Green Gulch is on Hwy 1 as you go from Sausalito to Muir Beach CA and toward Muir Woods. Wendy is currently working on the Edible Schoolyard Project in Berkley, CA with Alice Waters of Chez Panisse Resturant. Alice is the person who essentially started the kitchen garden concept of having a fresh garden just outside the back door of the resturant.
Wendy released a book this spring entitled Gardening At The Dragon's Gate." It is about Zen and gardening - a really good read. She is a very talented gardener.
Good Winter Reading! Hope to visit your nursery soon.
Jeff
Hi,
We live in Asheville, NC and it is my 4 year old twin daughters' wish to visit your nursery (!!!?)....really. We are going to be in Virginia late December and I was hoping you were still open your regular hours. One of my twins keep your catalog next to her bedside and studies it daily. It is her "favorite book". I want to encourage their interest and have promised them each a plant from edible landscaping for Christmas. Besides buying plants can they see or tour greenhouses or orchards (in Dec?)? Any information or advice you could give me would be much appreciated. Hopefully you have catalogs on hand as well as Ruby and Christel's is falling apart.
Thanks for your time.
Christine
We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about Plant Talk - our online discussion forum. We do check the forum on a regular basis. You are of course always welcome to call us with any questions (434) 361-9134 or email Michael at michael - AT - ediblelandscaping.com...
Persimmon Recipes
Persimmon Bread
Michael
We received one tree as a gift at least 20 years ago. Reliably it produces at least 15 quarts of pulp - this year lots more.
1 Cup Persimmon Pulp
1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cups Flour (whole wheat and white)
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
Optional - Nuts
Combine the wet ingredients together and beat well
Combine the dry ingredients and add to pulp mixture
Add nuts if desired
Bake in an 8x11 inch pan at 325 degrees for 45min.
Grandma Chisholm's Persimmon Pudding
3 Cup Persimmon Pulp (best if strained through food mill)
3 Eggs
1 3/4 Cup Milk
3 Tb Melted Butter
1 1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Cup Flour
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Salt
Combine all the wet ingredients and beat well
Combine the dry ingredients and add them to the pulp mixture and beat well
Bake in 9x13 inch oiled (butter) pan at 300 degrees for 1 hour
Prunning 101
 November 22, 2008 1pm to 3pm
Pruning 101 to free people with pruning paralysis.
Hands on workshop! Bring gloves, pruners, loppers and warm clothing and hat. Pierre will explain the fundamentals of pruning: why, when, how and the lingo!
We will briefly expound on Fibonacci numbers, spirals and how it applies to pruning trees. We will cover fruit trees, berry bushes, grapes and kiwis.
Aspiring grafters will learn how to store their scion wood for grafting!
Attendance limited to 15.
Participation $25 (no one turned away for lack of funds, contact Janet)
Information: www.ediblelandscaping.com
email: info@ediblelandscaping.com
Festive Holiday Ideas
Exotic Edibles like coffee, mango, citrus tree, carambola star fruit are very festive for the holidays. They'll look great in your Florida room.
Wintergreen: The perfect holiday hot tea can be picked from this evergreen groundcover with its showy, tasty, red fruits. Wintergreen looks very pretty planted near entrance ways.
Lingonberry: This highly praised European Plant is ornamental in flower, leaf and fruit. Grow them just as you do blueberries. They may be set as individual specimens, in rows, or planted together to form a solid ground cover up to 12 inches tall. Bright red berries set against dense dark leaves. Berries can be picked into the late fall and taste very good. Zone 2-8 In hot summer areas plant in the shade.
Tea Camelia: A true camelia, but harder than most. Use for green and black tea. A very pretty evergreen ornamental with profuse white flowers in the fall. Zone 7-8
Flying Dragon: Hardy Citrus - One gorgeous tree! Dwarf corkscrew growth with large talon like thorns. A true citrus hardy through Zone6! Makes and excellent yard specimen or prize winning bonsai.
Olive: This classic evergreen grows well in a pot, is self fertile and our care guide instructs you how to cure your olives.
Meyer Lemon: One of the most popular citrus. Known world wide for its large gourmet lemons with their distinct mild flavor. Plants have fruit at this time.
Shiitake Mushroom Log: Need something for the person who has everything? How about a Yule log? This "Yule" log will transform into a harvest of Shiitake mushrooms. These will fruit with spring/summer conditions, they will NOT fruit in cool months.
Arp Rosemary: Hardy, high oil content.
Coffee Plant: For the gourmet coffee fans! Makes a beautiful garden-like indoor plant and yes, you can harvest the coffee beans! Shiny, tropical foliage. Care guide included. Zone 9-10
Michael's Two CDs
"Just What Would I Do Without You"
and
"Market Stage"
are both available at CDBaby.com
If you get a chance to listen, I'd love to get your feedback on any of the songs. (michael - AT - ediblelandscaping.com)
1/2 price sale!
50% off the following items!
Pawpaw - 1Qt $20 now $10
Heritage Red Raspberry - 1Qt $7 now $3.50
Coffee - 1Qt $15 now $7.50
Banana's - 1Qt $15 now $7.50
Flying Dragon - 1Qt $18 now $9
Diamonte - 4.5Inch $5 now $2.50
Order Persimmon Fruit for the holidays
We have some Persimmons to sample this year. They are all $3.00 a lb
Ichi Ki Kei Jiro
Smith's Best
Miss Kim
Gwang Yang
Ruby
TamKam
Makawa Jiro
All are Ecologically Grown - no pesticides
Just give us a call for your order as these are not available online...
Driving Directions to Edible Landscaping
Edible Landscaping, 361 Spirit Ridge Ln., Afton, VA 22920
Questions: 434-361-9134, Orders: 800-524-4156, Fax: 434-361-1916
Please note that online map programs and GPS units will generally get you to our driveway but then route you to the residence of one of our neighbors - the final right to 'stay on' Spirit Ridge Lane should be ignored, we have posted signs which should help you find us.
- From Richmond: Interstate 64 west to exit 107 (Crozet), go left on Route 250 west for ~ 5 miles and take a left on Route 151 south. Stay on 151 for about 7.5 miles then take a right on Chapel Hollow Road, go about 1 mile and our driveway is on the left.
- From Staunton: Interstate 64 east to exit 99 (Afton), take a right on Route 250 east for about 3 miles and then take a right on Route 151 south. Stay on 151 for about 7.5 miles then take a right on Chapel Hollow Road, go about 1 mile and our driveway is on the left.
- From Lynchburg: Route 29 north to route 6 west. Go right on route 151 north for about 2 miles and then take a left on Chapel Hollow Road, go about 1 mile and our driveway is on the left.
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