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Inland Empire - California Rare Fruit Growers
April 2015
Next Meeting – Thursday April 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
President:
Larry Dodson
Vice President:
Sandy Millar
Secretary: TBD
Treasurer:
Glenn Bauer
Membership:
Lee Johnson
News Letter:
Jess Castillo
Directors:
Dominique “Frenchy”
Bidegaray
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center
7621 Granite Hill Dr., Riverside, CA 92509
Next Meeting – Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m., Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center.
Notes from Larry Dodson, Chapter President
I’m so excited! The dreams of the IE CRFG demonstration garden are coming to
fruition with the addition of scores of trees donated by Dave Wilson Nursery, arguably
the supplier of the finest fruit trees available in California. Orchard committee chair
Sandy Millar will tell you more about it. Thank you all for your support and hard work
on this project and to Dave Wilson Nursery for the trees.
As we promised, Tom Spellman had us mesmerized with his talk at last month’s
meeting. The information provided to us will be put to good use in our gardens.Tom is
a sales manager for Dave Wilson Nursery, and he arranged the donation of trees for
the orchard. We were at full room capacity with the largest number of attendees that
we have had in a long time. It was good to see the new folks and the old timers that
hadn’t been with us for a while.
Edie Cole
Harlan Delzer
Andy Johnson
Dr. Charles Lee
Eduardo Salas
Angie Venegas
Don’t Disturb the Roots
Some fruit tree gardeners unwittingly do damage to their trees by digging around
them to loosen the soil or to remove weeds. I was reminded of this by a wellintentioned volunteer who dug around the fruit trees to break up the soil at a
community garden project with which I am assisting. Feeder roots are shallow and
should not be disturbed by digging that can cause suckering from the rootstock. If
weeds are a problem, they should be cut off close to the ground. Leave the roots of
the weeds in place and add a layer of mulch. The roots of the weeds will decompose
and add nutrients to the soil. The mulch will help maintain soil moisture and prevent
sprouting of more weeds.
Speaking of mulch, keep in mind the advice of our friend Tom Shea. Don’t use mulch
containing redwood. Tom warned about toxicity that can impair plant growth.
Helen Hibbing’s article in the Fruit Gardener Magazine
Helen Hibbing has become the unofficial photographer, editor, and prolific writer of fine articles
for our chapter newsletter. If you haven’t seen the latest issue of the Fruit Gardener Magazine,
check out the article written by Helen about John Chater at our meeting last October and his
pomegranate research at the University of California, Riverside.
Upcoming Programs and Garden Events
April 24 Earth Day – IE CRFG at the Community Hospital of San Bernardino
April 25 & 26th. 68th Annual Riverside Community – Flower Show & Garden Tours
( IE CRFG Plant Sale at the Riverside show- event details and web link below)
May 7 IE CRFG Meeting - UCR graduate student Kelsey Schall discussing research on
the biological control of the Asian citrus psyllid and Argentine ant control
2015 Flower Show (IE CRFG Plant Sale Outside- Get with Sandy for booth support)
Elks Lodge, 6166 Brockton Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506
Saturday, April 25: 1 pm - 6 pm
Sunday, April 26: 10 am - 4 pm
2015 Riverside Elk’s Club Flower Show “Ocean of Blooms”
By Sandy Millar
It’s that time of year! Time to introduce our fantastic club and organization to the local “plant loving”
community…and earn money for the chapter, too! Monies we earn through the plant sale finance our
club parties, our projects and scholarships!
Once again this year, the Orange County Chapter of CRFG has offered us their unsold plant material
from the Fullerton Arboretum Green Scene (http://fullertonarboretum.org/event_green.php) The
combination of their generous donation and plants offered by our members provides us with
awesome variety!!!
There are many reasons to participate in this event: help our chapter, build friendships with
fellow members, gain knowledge of plant material and earn a free plant and free admission to
the flower show!!!
*Shifts are just two hours and information is supplied for each plant! I will bring the sign up
sheet to the next meeting. Not able to attend meeting, email me at [email protected]
If you have plants to donate for the sale but cannot be there on sale day, please bring them to
the meeting on April 2nd.
Many of our members delight in entering items in the show…go to the following site for all of
the details! http://www.riversideflowershow.info/68th%20Annual%20Schedule.pdf
IE CRFG Demonstration Orchard at Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center Update
By Sandy Millar
Forty-three trees!!! We currently have 43 trees in the ground and thriving! If that wasn’t
enough, the majority of the weeds and large stones have been cleared, too! Many thanks to
our members and the JMDC staff!! It is truly a sight to behold!
Our next work party will be at 3 P.M. on April 5th. We will be planting the remainder of the
Dave Wilson Nursery donation, twelve pomegranates and nine figs, along with a few
subtropicals. Please come, and join the fun as our dream becomes a reality!
See you there!
ANTIOXIDANTS FOR YOUR GARDEN
by Helen Hibbing
On March 5, 2015, Tom Spellman gave an interesting and informative presentation on Antioxidants for Your
Garden. He stated that antioxidant values of most foods can be found by using the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical
Absorbance Capacity). He stated his ORAC units are on the conservative side, so the actual units could be 1-1/2
times higher. He provided Wikipedia's definition of Antioxidant: "An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or
preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a
substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals which start chain reactions that
damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit
other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as
thiols or polyphenols." He then spoke in detail on the following fruits:
Pomegranates
(Approx. ORAC units: 2900 per 3.5 oz.)
Pomegranates are native to the Middle East and parts of China. They can grow in harsh conditions, such as in
areas that receive less than five inches of rainfall per year.. Tom Spellman advised to plant pomegranates in dry,
hot areas of one's yard. Pomegranates will grow in just about any soil condition, including alkaline soil. Tom noted
that pomegranates do not like to grow in a tree form as a standard tree but rather in a bush form. Tom mentioned
he had participated in many taste testings of pomegranates directed by Jeff Moersfelder, Curator of the National
Clonal Germplasm Repository at UC Davis in Wolfskill near Sacramento. This repository has been in existence
since the 1950s and has some varieties from Dr. Levin. Tom referenced the book, Pomegranate Roads: A Soviet
Botanist's Exile from Eden by Dr. Gregory Levin. For an interesting synopsis of this book,
see www.davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3047/ Tom mentioned that Dr. Levin's favorite pomegranate was
Parfianka, which has a dark color, has non-detectable seeds, and doesn't have the high astringency of Wonderful.
He said one can mix the juice of Parfianka with that of Wonderful to decrease the astringency. Tom agrees that
Parfianka tastes great. He also likes the variety, Eversweet.
Blueberries (Approx. ORAC units: 2400 per 3.5 oz.)
Blueberries are naturally found in New England and Canada and grow as an understory plant. Blueberries like an
acidic soil and a lot of water with fast drainage. They do not like stagnant water. Tom advised planting blueberries
in raised beds or in containers so one can regulate the soil acidity. Tom grows his blueberries in the following mix:
1/3 peat moss, 1/3 forest bark, and 1/3 sandy potting soil. He grows blueberries in full sun on his cement patio in
wooden wine barrels (approx. 35 gallon capacity). He drills extra drainage holes in the bottoms of the wine barrels
for fast drainage. He said one can place pieces of screen over the drainage holes to keep in the potting
soil. He noted that Highbush varieties can take full sun. He said blueberries are self-fruitful but produce more fruit
with a pollinizer. To acidify the soil, one can add apple cider vinegar or rainwater to the soil. One can also use
humic acid based fertilizer and soil sulphur. Fertilize January to June. Blueberries produce fruit on the tip wood so
only prune in late July and early August before September. Do not prune during the winter or one will be cutting off
the fruit bearing tips. He plants three or four different varieties in the same wooden barrel and trims all into a single
mound. He likes the following Southern Highbush varieties: Misty, Emerald, Jewel, and Jubilee. He said
blueberries require two conditions: fast drainage and acidic soil. Be sure to irrigate regularly. He said the wine
barrels last four to five years so he re-pots every four or five years into a new wine barrel. When he re-pots, he
trims the roots in relation to the plant size. He likes Top Hat Rabbiteye variety, but it is less productive than the
Southern Highbush varieties. Pink lemonade, a new hybrid between a Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush,
produces pink colored berries. For instruction on growing blueberries in containers,
see www.davewilson.com/community-and-resources/videos/blueberries-planted-container .
Blackberries (Approx. ORAC units: 2036 per 3.5 oz.)
Raspberries (Approx. ORAC units: 1220 per 3.5.oz.)
Boysenberries (Approx. ORAC units: 800 per 3.5 oz.)
Cane berries, such as blackberries, raspberries, and boysenberries need to be grown on a structure to keep
them off of the ground and in a manageable condition. Give them a dedicated amount of space, and consider
installing an 18 inch root barrier to contain the plants' roots. They like a moist soil condition but not
stagnant. Prime cane varieties product berries on first year wood so one can cut them to the ground every year.
They do, however, also fruit on second year wood. Anything except a prime cane fruits on second and following
year wood. He likes Prime Arc 45 blackberry even though it is thorny. He also likes Chester and Triple Crown
blackberries, which are thornless.
Red Plums (Approx. ORAC units: 940 per 3.5 oz.)
Black Plums (Approx. ORAC units: 1100 per 3.5 oz.)
Start with a small one year old tree, and cut it to 24" to 36" in height to achieve low scaffolding. Avoid having a lot
of thick growth in the center of the tree. Avoid feeding with too much nitrogen and over irrigating. Concerning
dormancy in California: One has no control over the number of daylight hours and the temperature, but one does
have control over the amount of nitrogen fed to the tree and the amount of irrigation. Feed three times per year: the
end of February, mid-April, and the end of June. Tom uses a low nitrogen fertilizer: 3-12-12. On September 1, he
cuts back on the amount of water.
Cherries (Approx. ORAC units: 670 per 3.5.oz.)
Tom recommended Minnie Royal and Royal Lee cherry trees for our region. These are cross-pollinating, low chill
cherry trees that grow well in our Inland Empire climate. Tom said these cherry trees will have erratic blooms the
first two years, but by the second, third, or fourth year, the flowering of these pollinating trees will coincide. Minnie
Royal and Royal Lee can be espaliered into gorgeous fans. For a video on planting and training a cherry tree into a
fan, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QajI4lqEYwE
Blood Orange (Approx. ORAC units: 750 per 3.5 oz.) and Other Dark pigmented Citrus
Dark pigmented citrus include Rio Red grapefruit and the blood oranges: Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinelli. Tom
noted that citrus fit in well with our Mediterranean landscapes. Citrus have beautiful, fragrant flowers and nice
green leaves. Citrus trees are versatile and can be espaliered or made into a hedge of ten different varieties with
four foot centers. Some of the varieties could be lemons, oranges, etc. so the hedge would yield fruit at different
times as well as fragrant, showy flowers and have year-round interest.
Red and Black Grapes (Approx. ORAV units: 800)
Tom stressed to choose the right grape varieties for our growing area, such as from the American Hybrid
series: Suffolk Red, Canadise, Princess, and Interlaken. Princess forms 18" long clusters with no powdery mildew.
He said the Concord variety also does well in California. For instruction on how to prune grapes,
see www.davewilson.com//community-and-resources/videos/how-prune-grapes-canetype and www.davewilson.com//community-and-resources/videos/how-prune-grapes-spur-type
Black and Green Olives (Approx. ORAC units: 670 per 3.5 oz.)
Tom mentioned that black olives have a higher ORAC value than green olives. Olive trees are drought resistant
and live an average of 500 years. He has seen olive trees grown in 10' long by 4' to 5' wide north-south facing
hedgerows. He likes the Sevillano olive variety.
Strawberries (Approx. ORAC units: 1540 per 3.5 oz.)
Strawberries are very versatile. They can be grown as a groundcover or as a tower. Tom said to avoid the new
commercial varieties because the strawberries are grown for size and lack flavor. He emphasized the need to
control for snails and sow bugs. Tom mentioned the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine has test
grounds for growing strawberries. Tom prefers Sequoia, Quinalt, and White Alpine strawberry varieties.
Avocado (Approx. ORAC units: 780 per 3.5 oz.)
Hass avocado is the number one variety, It produces fruit from late spring to mid-summer, and the fruit hangs for
seven to nine months. Reed avocado, commonly called, "cannon ball" fruits from the end of August/September to
the end of November. Stewart avocado is a Mexicola type with thin black skin. It has a type "A" flower. He also
mentioned Fuerte and Pinkerton avocados. He said avocado trees require a 6" to 12" thick layer of mulch under
the trees. He also said young trees need to be protected from freezing.
Tom's overall advice is to choose a size of tree that is manageable for you, and keep it that size. His exception is
avocado trees because the avocados will hold on the tree for six months. One does not need to climb the tree to
get the avocados but can use a nine foot fruit picker and pick avocados each week. He advises to let avocado
trees reach 15' tall. He has about 70 various fruit trees in his orchard.
He stated other foods high in antioxidants are: pineapple, mandarin, kiwi, apple, apricot, pear, peach, loquat,
banana, tomato, cranberry, red beans, pinto beans, peppers, red cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale,
spinach, dates, almonds, pecans, prunes, raisins, and red grapefruit. He also mentioned that non-filtered apple
juice, green tea and a little red wine never hurt!
Tom Spellman and Dave Wilson Nursery are well-represented on the Internet. See:
www.DaveWilson.com/community-and-resources/videos-list
www.YouTube.com/DaveWilsonTrees
www.FaceBook.com/DaveWilsonNursery
Article from Discover Magazine.. submitted by Jess Castillo...
Time to pay your dues
If you have not paid your annual dues, please mail a check to 7711 Lippizan Dr., Riverside, CA
92509.
Your CRFG membership must be up to date to be a chapter member. CRFG membership of
$36 includes the six mailed copies of the Fruit Gardener Magazine. If you desire to receive the
electronic version of the magazine, the membership cost is $25. The chapter membership is an
additional $10
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