Search found 93 matches

by jack oostenbrink
Sat 21-Jan-2023, 08:54
Forum: Plum
Topic: caterpillars?
Replies: 1
Views: 1619

Re: caterpillars?

It is quite common for European plums like prune plum or Green Gage to take a rest on alternate years (though usually there is a reduced crop not a nonexistent crop). In addition to that we had a very cool moist spring which may have affected the fruit set for your plums and reduced pollination. At ...
by jack oostenbrink
Sat 10-Dec-2022, 13:17
Forum: Sweet Potatoes
Topic: Sweet potatoes in winter, inside
Replies: 1
Views: 3309

Re: Sweet potatoes in winter, inside

I think you will have success this way, though the plants will be on the weak side as they come out of winter. I had better success with rooted plants in soil then those in water. By the way, we did manage to get abundant harvest of tubers from our potted sweet potatoes done in large 25 gallon pots....
by jack oostenbrink
Fri 21-Oct-2022, 13:57
Forum: 1. Cover the ground with organic matter
Topic: Wood chipping
Replies: 1
Views: 3009

Re: Wood chipping

I used a chipper called a BearCat from Echo. The fine chips is probably it's best feature. I struggle with any larger branches especially if they are forked since the feeder chute is fairly small so everything needs to be chopped up by hand to make it slim enough to fit through the feeder. A second ...
by jack oostenbrink
Fri 09-Sep-2022, 13:48
Forum: 3. Saving seeds
Topic: Saving and sharing seeds: ideas
Replies: 2
Views: 4003

Re: Saving and sharing seeds: ideas

thanks for this very inspiring post! I recently heard of a refugee family from Ukraine that has moved to Chilliwack. They had, in there very limited luggage, a significant seed collection. Her comment to someone questioning her choice of luggage was...you've never gone hungry! Good point on not spre...
by jack oostenbrink
Sat 27-Aug-2022, 10:25
Forum: Bokashi
Topic: Bokashi hacks
Replies: 1
Views: 1715

Re: Bokashi hacks

Maybe crazy, maybe won't work, but Andrew loves experiments, so in his honour here's what we're up to. We've just got our first full bucket of bokashi. We're learning. As so many have noted on this forum, keeping the bokashi process going requires us to move it from its first bin to another in orde...
by jack oostenbrink
Sat 27-Aug-2022, 10:19
Forum: 3. Saving seeds
Topic: saving marigold seeds
Replies: 1
Views: 1169

Re: saving marigold seeds

As long as everything is good and dry you will be fine Lana, to have some petals mixed in. I am remembering the old icecream pail of seeds in my grandfather's workshop, he haversted the entire finished flower and dried them in the sun before storing them in his shop. In spring when it was time to so...
by jack oostenbrink
Sat 27-Aug-2022, 10:16
Forum: General Questions
Topic: Fighting a maple tree
Replies: 3
Views: 2239

Re: Fighting a maple tree

Ah, sigh, I wish it weren't so! :) Thanks Jack. I had no idea about root pruning and its effects. Do you think even digging the trench deeper and putting some sheet of metal as a vertical barrier in the trench is just a losing battle? No, I think this will work at least for a few years If I do the ...
by jack oostenbrink
Sat 27-Aug-2022, 10:10
Forum: D. Permaculture
Topic: Espalier apple trees
Replies: 1
Views: 2775

Re: Espalier apple trees

The trees have had a nice opportunity to put down some roots. As a result if you do the hard cut back in early spring, the tree will respond by pushing out some strong new growth which you can train for your espalier. Because they are partially established you will likely get two tiers if not the st...
by jack oostenbrink
Mon 22-Aug-2022, 14:45
Forum: Beans
Topic: bean shoots all eaten
Replies: 1
Views: 1368

Re: bean shoots all eaten

I doubt that your issue is pill bugs as they tend to feed on decomposing organic material. If you are getting small and numerous holes in the leaves as they emerge (often killing the plant before it has a chance to put out more leaves) you are probably dealing with a flea beetle or bean leaf beetle....
by jack oostenbrink
Mon 22-Aug-2022, 14:25
Forum: General Questions
Topic: Fighting a maple tree
Replies: 3
Views: 2239

Re: Fighting a maple tree

Kurtis, you are fighting a bit of a losing battle because if you trench and cut the roots or the tree you are root pruning the tree which promotes an abundance of feeder roots in the very place where you are trying to combat the roots. I the nursery industry root pruning is done to promote a dense a...

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