Tips For Planting Apple Trees

There's no more rewarding investment than planting trees. Apple trees that you plant early next spring may start yielding fruit in three to four years. But they'll be giving joy almost immediately. Planting trees with your children can be especially rewarding. They'll grow right along with your kids. A picture journal that begins at the first day of planting and continues through the years, with your kids standing right alongside their tree in each picture, will give you family memories that will last a lifetime, as will the tree itself.

Now you might be thinking that I'm jumping the gun here in late October. Nearly everyone recommends planting fruit trees in the spring, although you can get away with it in the fall if you have mild winters and protect the newly transplanted roots with plenty of mulch. But good organic tree-planting practice starts in the fall even if your trees won't go in the ground until spring. We went to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to find out more. Here is what they recommend.

Find a good location for your trees. Remember, unless you or your neighbor have nearby apple trees for pollination purposes, you'll need to plant more than one. Apple trees need as much sun as they can get. Don't plant them in the shade of a building or beneath other trees. The more air circulation a tree has, the less likely it is to develop blights and fungus. A slight slope where the air will "drain" downhill if it's cool is best.

Consider the soil. You should have a good two feet of loam to plant in even if the soil underneath is clay or otherwise hardpack. The next step is a familiar one: start a compost pile where you'll plant the tree. Break the soil up in an area a bit bigger than the size of a root ball. You might first want to first throw down some rock phosphate to give your newly planted trees the minerals it will need next spring.

Some gardeners recommend throwing down lime or a source of calcium but don't over do it. Apple trees like a slightly acidic soil — pH of 6.8 – 6.5 — though they'll tolerate anything close. Then start working in as much organic material as you can until you have a modest compost heap. When spring comes, the ground will have plenty of good stuff for your tree and it will be more easily dug. If you'd rather not start a whole heap, throw down some compost where the tree will be planted. Do it again in the spring. The more beneficial microbes inhabit the soil where a tree is planted, the less likely it is that the tree will have problems.

The other thing to consider is which type of apple to plant. Turns out the type of tree you stick in the ground goes a long way to determining the problems (or lack of) they may have. The best source of information for this is you local nursery or university extension service.

These Nutrition Benefits Of Durian

The durian is a tropical fruit that originates in Southeast Asia. It is also referred to as the "King of Fruits." Although it is a delicious fruit, it has a foul smell. The fruit has an oblong shape with a thick, greenish-brown thorny skin. It is one of the heaviest fruits available. Length of the fruit can extend to 18 inches with a weight of up to 15 pounds. It contains vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, C and folic acid. The fruit is rich in calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium. Several trace minerals also occur in the fruit. It is a rich source of protein, phytonutrients and simple fats. The rich nutritional content of the fruit assures several health benefits.

Vitality

Few fruits have such a diverse nutritional profile as the King of Fruits. It contains several vitamins, minerals, phytonoutrients and protein. It also contains a relatively high quantity of fats. However, these are simple fats as the fruit has a zero cholesterol value. It is a soft and easy to digest fruit. When eaten, it quickly revitalizes the body. The fruit is an excellent supplement for underweight individuals. The fruit is also known to increase endurance and mental clarity. It is a rich source of vitamins B1 and B2, which assist the body to produce energy.

Muscles

Durian is rich in easily digestible soft protein. This makes it an excellent muscle builder. The high protein content also makes the fruit an excellent dietary aid for organ function. The fruit is rich in vitamins B1 and B2, which help to sustain the functions of muscles.

Digestion

The King of Fruits is an excellent source of dietary fiber. This enables proper digestion of foods. It cleanses the digestive tract of toxins which helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber also helps to prevent constipation and piles. The durian is one of the few fruits that contains the B group of vitamins. Vitamin B3 helps to maintain a healthy digestive system. Vitamin B1 improves appetite and facilitates production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This supports proper food digestion.

Antioxidant Properties

The fruit is a good source of ascorbic acid, which has antioxidant properties. A serving of 100 grams provides 20 mg of vitamin C. This vitamin improves the body's resistance against infections and diseases. It also reduces inflammation and helps wounds to heal faster.

Bones

Durian is a rich source of potassium. This is a vital nutrient for healthy bones. It prevents excessive loss of calcium through urine excretion. This helps to preserve calcium reserves in the body. Inadequate calcium results in osteoporosis, which is associated with bone density loss. The risk of fractures increases with osteoporosis.

Blood

The fruit contains various minerals, including copper, iron and potassium. Copper and iron are required for the production of red blood cells. The cells play a vital role in the distribution of oxygen throughout the body. A 100 gram serving of durian provides about 440 mg of potassium. Potassium helps to regulate blood pressure, which improves cardiovascular health. The fruit is also rich in manganese which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Durian is an excellent blood cleanser.

Tips For Planting Suitable Fruit Trees

Fruit trees come in varied sizes – dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard. Do you have a small area? You might find a dwarf tree fits in perfectly. Do you long for a large stately apple tree like grandma's? Then a standard is a good choice. Most fruit trees sold today are semi-dwarf. They produce a large crop, but the tree is more manageable when pruning and harvesting. Pick trees with different harvest times to ensure you have fresh fruit nearly year round.

Before you select the type of fruit, it's important to consider the tree's growing conditions. Soil type plays a role in the type of fruit produced. Plums do well in damp soil conditions. Pears and apples can tolerate drier soil, but need drainage. Peaches can get blight from too much rain and need a protected area. Also consider the pollinating requirements of the tree. Not all fruit tree varieties are self-pollinating so you will need to plant two of the same tree.

Carefully look at the features of the tree. A fruit tree needs a strong, straight trunk. Even a slight lean can cause problems later when it is mature and full of fruit. Make sure there is an obvious central branch. This 'leader' helps keep the tree in balance. Without it the tree will require frequent pruning. The other branches should create a 'candelabra' shape to keep the tree straight and balanced. Avoid trees with low branches, which encourage ground pests and can be difficult to mow under. The tree roots should be plentiful and undamaged.

Try this test. Dig a medium-sized hole one foot deep and fill it with water. The water should drain within three hours. If not, find another spot for your tree.

Dig a hole 18-inches deep and loosen the soil at the bottom and around the sides. Add compost in the bottom of the hole. Return some of the dirt to the hole, making a mound in the center. Place the root ball on top of the mound, making sure the tree's graft line is 3-inches above the ground. Spread the tree roots out evenly over the mound. Confirm that the tree is straight. Fill the hole with the remaining soil and gently push the soil down. It’s good to overfill the hole since the soil will settle when watered. If the tree needs staking, make sure to leave plenty of room in the line for the trunk to thicken. Mulch the tree, but don't cover the graft line. Deer love the bark of young trees, so include some type of protection around your new planting. Keep the tree watered, but not over-watered, for the first year.

Fruit trees more than most trees need water so their fruit can swell. When determining the planting location, make sure water is accessible. Your soil conditions can determine how much you need to water. You can bury a drainpipe or drainage hose close to the fruit tree, making it easier to get water to the roots. Soaker hoses are another way to water fruit trees. You can also use a bubbler head on your irrigation system. A moat around the tree base keeps the water in place and prevents any from washing away. Whichever system you use, fruit trees need the water to penetrate deep into the soil to the bottom of the root system. A well-watered fruit tree will be strong and healthy, better able to repel disease and insects than a weak tree.

Fruit trees need sufficient nutrients to create fruit each year. Most fruit trees should receive a dose of slow release granular fertilizer each fall to help the trees produce a bountiful harvest year after year. Do not over-fertilize fruit trees, which can produce a lot of new growth and very little fruit.

Fruit trees need to be pruned regularly to help maintain their health. Start by removing all diseased or dead branches. Wait until the tree is dormant, and before spring growth has appeared, if you are pruning to shape the tree. Immediately remove suckers when they appear. These are usually from the root stock and not the grafted tree. You could end up with crabapples instead!

5 Great Indoor Plants for Clean Fresh Air

You don’t worry about air pollution when you are in the house, do you? Indeed, if you are not safe from toxins in the air indoors, then how can you be safe anywhere?
Sadly, most household, even air conditioned ones, are not toxin-free. This is particularly true if you have a smoker in the house, if you cook with a lot of oil, if your window opens on to a busy road, or if your house is not well ventilated or doesn’t get a lot of sun. So no matter how well your house is done up, chances are you and your family are breathing in impure air.
Fortunately, there are a number of indoor plants that, apart from adding some color to your room, also serve to clean the indoor air quickly and efficiently. These plants are low maintenance and easy to grow. Of course, they aren’t just for homes. If you spend a lot of hours in an office cubicle or cabin, you should consider keeping one or more of these plants around to filter your air for you.
So choose a few plants from this list of five best indoor plants for keeping the air clean, healthy, and toxin-free:

1. Areca Palm
If trimmed regularly, the areca palm plant can grow shoulder height. Keep it in a corner near the window or door that opens on to the road. Be sure to wipe your plan’s leaves regularly.
2. Rubber Plant
If excessive humidity has turned your home’s atmosphere dank and foetid, you need a rubber plant to clear the air. Rubber plants can grow straight and tall, or in a bush, so keep in mind your space constraints when you specify what type your want at the nursery. Rubber plants soak up moisture from the air, thus making it difficult for microbes to grow. In dry weather, keep your rubber plant fresh by spraying the leaves with water every few hours.
3. Snake Plant
The Snake Plant, so named because of the shape of the leaves, is also colorfully called the Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plant. This is an ideal plant to place in your kids’ bedrooms, because it tends to absorb carbon dioxide rather than release it. For this reason, you should keep a few Snake Plants around, if you have a lot of indoor plants. This plant grows well away from the sun, but you must not over-water it.
4. Money Plant
Leafy and luscious, this creeper plant makes any room look peaceful and serene, but it also kicks ass when it comes to air cleaning! Money plants rid the air of formaldehydes and nitrogen oxides. They are very easy to keep, and will grow out of a glass bottle or a broken bulb filled with water. Money plants should be kept hanging or on high ledges indoors, as their leaves can be dangerous if accidentally eaten by household pets.
5. Chinese Evergreens
Chinese Evergreens are my favorite types of indoor plants because I just love their color and the way their leaves fan the air. The Chinese Evergreen is also a remarkable air cleansing agent in its own right. This plant can convert a smelly, polluted room into a fresh one in a day, simply by filtering out toxins.