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foolishpleasure

We need some professional help here

16 years ago

The following message is from a nursery selling trees. As a matter of fact their trees are not cheap. The cheapest one is $60.00 and some are as high as $130.00. Please one of you Guru

tell us if what they are saying is true or just a sales gimmick. If it is true it worth the money.

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***[ItÂs critical that you purchase an apricot tree that is already "branched". This is where the nursery prunes its young trees back to promote more branches. More branches mean more fruit, earlier production, stronger limbs and a healthier tree. This method has already caused our fruit trees to produce apricots!

Most nurseries sell tall, skinny stems with no branches  these are referred to as "whips". They can take several years to fruit and will generally be less productive when mature.

Our trees are pruned back and trained to develop a massive branching structure. This process means more work and an extra year for us, but the difference you experience is dramatic.

Before your trees are shipped, we give them one final pruning at no additional cost to you. This final pruning allows your trees to remain "dwarfed," which means you have more apples at a safe, easy picking height!

In addition, your trees arrive potted, with all of their roots intact. We recommend that you avoid bareroot, unpotted apricot trees. This is where the tree is pulled out of the ground prior to being shipped to you. This process leaves most of the fine roots in the ground and will take the tree up to a year to recover. Growing in containers takes more time and work, but it gives you a tree that grows much faster and healthier.

With proper care, you will be able to start picking fruit after the first season, or as soon as the first year under optimal conditions.]

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Comments (14)

  • 16 years ago

    Hi Foolishpleasure,
    you may get some advice here and some good advice from fig member that grows fruit trees also.
    But i would go to this link where the members grow different fruit trees and get there advice also.

    Here is a link that might be useful: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/fruit/

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks

  • 16 years ago

    All the advice is correct.
    It is absolutelly good advice about growing fruit trees,in General.
    But it is not compleete advice when about apricot trees,that you are interested to know.
    Apricot trees are very hard to make them fruit here in the US,compared to Europe or central Asia.
    Why ?
    Because of late freezes.
    The flower dies,because the tree flower at beginig of April.
    Here in NJ I had 3 different cultivars of Apricote,spent about 10 years trying to make them produce fruits with no success.
    Then I found out that in NJ,if one is lucky a harvest can be secured once every 6 Years.
    So you know ,Check your cooperative extension.????

  • 16 years ago

    I know about the late freeze which kills the April flowers. I have two old apricot trees which have not produced any thing in the last two seasons. This season I did an experiment by hanging Xmas lights on the trees and light the lights as soon as I see flowers. I think it worked because I have about 25 pounds of good apricot from the two trees. It is better than nothing. I figured out that it cost me about 17.50 of electricity during April for the two trees. I use the 5 watt lights. I am trying to add some more Apricot trees encouraged by my little success. I am known between the neighbors that I am a fruit tree nut. They call me crazy I try every thing. Better try and fail than do nothing.

  • 16 years ago

    Here is something I suggest that you consider:

    That website is trying to sell you something, and the something they are trying to sell you is exceptionally high priced.

    In order to convince you to spend a lot more money than you have to, they must convince you that their product is miles better (or in this case $110 better). They seem to think that the way to do this is by running down other people's product.

    You can check this nursery's reputation on Garden Watchdog, or here on Garden web in the evaluate vendors forum. They might have good trees, I don't know, but I suggest that you check them carefully before sending money.

    Bare root fruit trees ship and grow quite well.

    I planted 2 whips this spring and they are now well branched and as big as the potted trees that were planted at the same time.

    I planted 2 bare root apricots this spring that cost me $12 each, and they are the trees that have put on the most growth this year. They are very strong and healthy.

    I get apricots to fruit in a very cold zone 5, so it can be done.

  • 16 years ago

    That company is not on the Garden Watchdog anymore. They used to be there so my guess is like TyTy they threatened to sue unless they were removed because of all their negative feedback.

    My advice is that you should not buy from companies who do not want you to see what their customers think of them.

  • 16 years ago

    By the way there are still some reviews to be found for this company.

    Just click on the link and keep scrolling down.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Complaints Board

  • 16 years ago

    I have a lousy experience with WILLIS ORCHARD. Their fig trees did not show even one green leave in 4 weeks. They told me to cut the root and mail it to them for replacement. Now they turned very nasty and ignoring me. They claim it is not on their system even after 4 weeks after I mailed it. WILLIS ORCHARD = HIT AND RUM. I gave up. Lost about $100 in price=shipping and mailing. Not to mention my time, disappointment and my Kids disappointment.I want a reputable nursery but not WILLIS ORCHARD. This nursery is a total fraud.

  • 16 years ago

    foolishpleasure my favorite nursery is Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply.

    All the trees they sell come from Dave Wilson Nursery which has an impeccable reputation for labeling true to type.

    In a few more months their Spring catalog will come out. My delivery last year arrived December 24th and I planted Christmas day.

    Their minimum shipping is $ 30.00 though whether its one tree or ten trees. They usually have a free shipping sale though at some point. Last year shipping was free if you ordered 10 trees.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply

  • 16 years ago

    You know its a shame some of the good nursery's have retired such as Belleclare and Paradise. Some current ones from reading threads have bad service some good.
    Foolispleasure its my thought you may be able to get a nice small rooted plant from a member just maybe if you post in the other link about your situation.
    When it comes to figs there are some great folks that know what they have and either trade or put up there plants and or scion .
    I have good success this way over the years and its nice to know what your really getting as forum members can be very particular in there record keeping and experience in knowing what they have. One can tell just by reading the many threads and looking at there pictures posted on both forums. There still lots of honest folks.
    Martin

  • 16 years ago

    Yea Marin is right. If you are looking for anything other than the 4-6 varieties carried by the few truly reliable nurseries you are out of luck.

    Rolling River has a decent reputation and may be the exception as they have 32 varieties. I can't say for sure but given their stock it looks like they get their plant material from UC Davis.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Rolling River Nursery

  • 16 years ago

    Actually many of those for some reason are double listed and the first one needs the fig wasp so they have 20 total still not bad but nothing im interested in and or have.
    I just grow dark types.
    Martin

  • 16 years ago

    Save your money, let me send you some cuttings of late blooming varieties if you know how to graft to your existing tree. I have 3 varieties grafted on one tree. Jerseycot, Tomcot, and a seedling of large white apricot.

    Bass

  • 16 years ago

    Don't ask me how I got turned around and was posting about figs instead of Apricots in my last post. I'm just going to chalk it up to lack of sleep.

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