Micro-Orchard Fruit Tree TOUR, 3 Year Fruit Update || Black Gumbo

It has been three years since I first began what I call my backyard micro-orchard. I'm using the Backyard Orchard Culture method made popular by Dave Wilson's Nursery. How is it progressing? Come along and see what's growing, fruiting and making me happy on this full tour of my fruits.
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Black Gumbo shares our suburban, backyard, sustainable gardening efforts. We work a small-scale teaching garden, much like the typical Zone 9a backyard garden and raised beds, the kind of gardening accessible to all. We also grow lots of fruit and berries. We tend to take the slice of life approach and hope you will enjoy our family, our dog, our cooking, our adventures, and occasionally some commentary and advice. We love family, joy and friendship, and we invite you to enjoy these things with us!
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[@enigmaticreverieproduction5169]

Wooooooohhoooooo, best channel to watch while I work!

[@WILLITGROW]

scott it is great to see what you are abel to do in such a small space. just awesome.

[@Dee.C]

I love fresh apricots . The trees are looking good .

[@allanturpin2023]

Hey Scott. Thanks for the update. Nice to see your hard work is already paying off.

[@nazishiweda2225]

It's always a blessing to eat from your handwork. Well done.

[@vibezonly69]

Awesome stuff Scott. Excellent content, very informative, and I learn something new in every video. I’ve been in the vegetable garden every day!

[@angelasheppard7197]

Thanks for your of success and hearing of death due to freeze. Shows real life.

[@ModestoMundo]

Thank you for the inspiration. Planting my first apple tree this weekend, a Carnavale!

[@gryphonrampant24]

I put in a row of five bareroot fruit trees this winter based on your guides. So excited for them to leaf out when spring properly arrives for us.

[@damainkerek810]

Really happy for you on the Anna’s

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

Thanks! Looking forward to the pomegranate series.

[@tamararoberts9307]

Perennials are the smartest 👌

[@carleanr4051]

I so enjoyed my lil’ look-a-round!😃. I have a peach, blueberry and mulberry and also blackberry and grape that I don’t have a clue what to do lol. I’m headed to your playlist now! Thank you for the video(s)💚🪴 Hopefully my little fig tree comes back from the freeze we had in December…

[@SowGoodGardener]

Thank you for the tour! I’m going to have to do one soon myself on my backyard orchard here in the city limits of Fort Worth. You’re so right about that feeling you get from growing your own fruits. Please jump on a pomegranate ASAP because I have (2) of the Wonderful varieties and they’re super easy and grow VERY quickly. Keep up the great work and stay blessed my friend! -Calvin

[@markoliver-ww9ld]

I have 21 oranges on my orange tree, 7 feet high, I'm gonna keep small.

[@LatinosOver40]

I have about 90% of all your trees you have. I'll put out a Garden Tour soon. I'm not as advanced as you in terms of gardening techniques, but I'm learning from folks on the internet. Love your videos,,, Javier , Houston, Texas

[@borracho-joe7255]

Good stuff. I have my “front yard” orchard going this year and I like the continued motivation!

[@garynorcal4269]

I enjoy watching both your successes and failures. I too, live on a ¼ acre lot and enjoy my gardens. I am expanding into containers this year & may add some berries too.

[@j.b.6855]

Nice video Scott. Our zones are quite different, but I have gleaned a lot of info from your channel over the last few years. You have influenced me to thinking more about perennials, last year it was blackberries and raspberries. Sadly it looks like the raspberry didnt make it over the winter. I still have hope it may, but it hasnt shown any sign of life. I will give it a few more weeks. If it doesnt I have a large planter to fill, the bottom 22 inches of a 55 gallon barrel. Anything that doesnt work out is an opportunity to try something in its place. Still lots of time to think about it as I start flowers next week. Some of those are perennials, including my single seed challange.

[@WILLITGROW]

looks diff??? lol yes now that the grass is cut we can see that phobee has legs!lol

[@GardeningWarrior]

you're just jealous of Phoebe's beauty

[@markoliver-ww9ld]

😂

[@caroleangel9287]

Love the videos, one of these days we will have leaves on the trees in Denver too. Maybe…🤷‍♀️

[@vicwickgardens9174]

I need to learn more about notching. Please do a video on notching 😊

[@ScottHead]

I did one last year you might find helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHPdoauMh9qhpdU

[@givemeaminutetothink]

I love my pomegranate trees (I have two) and recommend them! I'm in zone 7b in the DFW area. I would imagine they would grow well for you, since most are zone 7-10. Mine flowered in the first year, and even fruited decent in the second, and other than needing some protection from the thorns (more like spikes) while pruning, they are super low maintenance. Of course, mine are in a spot where they get hit by the sprinkler so I don't have to worry too much about irrigation. I will say, for the consideration of space constraints, that my pomegranates are already taller than I would like, and they were barely 3' tall when I planted them. They will naturally want to grow in a large bush habit, which sort of weeps at the top in a rather attractive manner. I basically treat them like a hedge, and just shape them how I want around the top and sides. I also follow the advice of an article that shows up when you google pruning pomegranates, written by Trina Tobey, in order to assess how many trunks to leave and so on. I know you will do your own research as well. For my part, the juice from fresh picked home-grown pomegranates was infinitely sweeter than store bought and in particular my mom enjoyed mixing it in with her tea.

[@pd8559]

I trimmed both my figs to the ground as both. Only had the two varieties so happy I didn't lose the one that looked dead last week both now have growth from the ground showing. Nothing on any above ground wood which turned out to be dry and dead as sticks all the way to the ground. Both plums, pear and apple are going into their second year as well as the European and native American grapes. Blackberries and Dorman red raspberry. I just finished building wire cage cover for the strawberries as this year I want some for me not all for the critters.

[@davidward1259]

I need to check out Kuffle Creek Apple Nursury's info for hotter zones. We have a big problem with cedar apple rust and I had given up on apples as it seemed all the resistant varieties are zone 7 and below (I'm in 8A). Thanks for posting that tip in the video. I did enjoy another tour!!!!

[@scottlarkin4748]

Great job Scott

[@FlomatonFamous]

Fruit trees look great! Shell is from my county

[@ScottHead]

That's cool, the Reverend Morgan that I don't think I mentioned is from my county right here. Pretty cool.

[@FlomatonFamous]

@@ScottHead That's cool, I've never heard of it and now I've got to add it to my collection. I just grafted 12 old southern varieties the other day and now it's time to get them in the orchard.

[@HillTopRooted]

Every time I see Lucy she gives me hope! Last we spoke about citrus and the freeze wreaking havoc, you suggested patience. Well, all of my citrus are still without a single leaf. 😢 Moro Blood Orange, Navel Blood Orange, Myer Lemon, Key Lime and a Pink Eureka Lemon all naked, still. I continue to feed and water. Not giving up just yet. They were all loaded with fruit before the freeze. Every time I think it’s time to throw in the towel, you do a video and Lucy says hold the line! 😂 I thought I might have lost an apple as well. It just began to leaf out yesterday! I was so overjoyed, I yelled out in surprise! It’s always the simple things that bring the most joy. Seeing new leaves on the apple tree was like seeing an old friend I’d not seen in years! Patience was never my strength but I will continue to hold the line and have faith 5 of my old friends will show up any day now! 😊

[@DeanFamilyAcres]

We have Anna and Golden Dorsett as well, if only the deer would leave them alone. Looking forward to seeing how your orchard grows this year!

[@GardenObsessions]

Hello! It was nice meeting you on the meeting. Subscribed and looking forward to watching your garden grow.

[@tammyohlsson7966]

I am so excited to hear your successful growing Apricots! My grandson’s favorite. I didn’t think it was possible. I’m going to get one. Tropical Gold. Blessings!

[@ScottHead]

This is the one I got, and from this orchard: www.willisorchards.com/product/tropic-gold-apricot-tree#.ZCSsI-zMKJ8

[@wildchook745]

I love having fruit trees around my yard. I add to it as I go. I keep them under 6ft. I have 5 young fig trees. We've been eating our White Adriatic and an Ukn purple variety in the last 2 months. Oh cool, now I know how to train those branches - ta. Nice orchard tree.

[@ediyershi8809]

Selamat malam saya kembali hadir dari Indonesia 🇮🇩. I like the way you explain about plants, even though I don't really understand English. I am amazed by the pomegranate trees and plants around your house. Greetings to all

[@tamararoberts9307]

Wish I had room for fruit trees 😢 but i have black raspberries and strawberries at least

[@ThienNguyen-eg4dh]

You look happy!

[@iartistdotme]

The deer have really munched down my Meyer Lemon. I'm installing an electric fence around my TINY garden and know that the cat is going to hate it but - only way I know to get food from my own yard.. Your orchard looks so inviting. I have 6 thornless blackberries in grow bags against a hog panel but know nothing about them even though we have wild blackberries everywhere. I'm just too old to worry about the thorns so am trying these out. Appreciate all your info on fruit - do you ever give space to strawberries? I have 3 Greenstalks that I almost have filled with strawberries but they are sparse - but clean and not eaten by bugs. I'm hoping this year to work harder at learning these two fruits better. Your channel is so inspiring and informative. THANKS!

[@ScottHead]

I grew some last year, seems the bugs get the berries before I do.

[@tamararoberts9307]

Slugs love my strawberries ugh , it's a war lol

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

Only fruit tree I have is an American Perssimon. We have been looking for figs but we can’t decide which one we want. I have several patches of strawberries and a Blueberry planted with my pine trees. They are coming awake wonderful. Things are looking great with your orchard Mr. Scott!!!

[@jenniferlroberts5994]

I have a White Imperial currant, a Crandall Black currant, three thornless, upright blackberries: Ponca, Quachita, and Apache, arriving Saturday!!

[@shirleytruett7319]

The muscadine grapes grow wild here in SC I have a hard time keeping them out of my yard , and I love jelly made from them . Mix muscadine and Concord grape juice and you will get an AWESOME jelly

[@DDWASH9595]

Scott hopefully all is well would love a pre spring update on the orchard I just put in two apples from Home Depot and been watching your old videos for best practices

[@ScottHead]

I'll be pruning apples and showing the status tomorrow, though video might not come for a day or two.

[@CuriousinNY]

That is AWESOME! Congratulations on your orchard. QUESTION: 1) you said that you trim your trees to keep them small. I noticed when looking through the nursery catalog that trees come in 3 different sizes. Standard, semi dwarf and dwarf. What size were your trees when you bought them? I’m thinking of starting to buy a fruit tree. Maybe a peach. 2) do you have a video of notching your trees to make them produce branches? If so, please post the link to that video. Thank you for your inspirational videos.

[@ScottHead]

Does not matter what size it is supposed to be from the nursery. Just summer prune to stunt it. I have a whole playlist of Backyard Orchard Culture. here is the video you want about notching: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHPdoauMh9qhpdU

[@CuriousinNY]

@@ScottHead thank you.

[@Katydidit]

I am going to watch through your Playlist for how to prune citrus! My lime is beginning to take off now. More specifically I would like to see how you prune for selection of best growth on Lucy... and also how to determine which branches are most easy to graft upon and which should automatically be culled... other than just the center growth. I am new to growing citrus. I have 2 blood oranges growing from seed ... now on the 3rd year, and something keeps eating off not only the the top new growth but every leaf on the entire stem. What might that be?

[@ScottHead]

Hmm, not sure what could be munching on the citrus, I think you'd need to catch it in the act or find some hard evidence like eggs or poop to get an idea.

[@gopxrock4950]

Apples and pears are the 2 most popular fruit trees to grown. In addition, you must have grapes because they are so tasty. Several years ago, the little girl start buying fruit trees from the store. We don't know that most of the trees were grafted. Some of the grafted died and we was growing root stock instead. That's what happen when you let the root stock take over or buy a bad grafted tree. Some of the trees she planted was too low and it took forever to get fruits. Some we grown from seeds. I have planted the big red Globe Grape and there is 1 cluster of fruit in less than 2 years. 2 pears that able to produce good fruits. Pomegranate that was small and tasteless, but last year they was pruned and now the fruits is getting much bigger already. Planted blood orange for several years from seeds and no flower yet. I started planting apple from seeds. It's just a fun project. You have to plant a lot of apple to get a good one from seeds. Of course, I buy 3 grafted apple this year just in case the apple from seeds is a dud and then I can graft onto them. The apple are the Gala, Pink Lady, and Snapp Stayman apple trees. Gala and Pink Lady can be for zone 9 and Snapp is up to Zone 8. I'm in zone 9.

[@carlam.9529]

Have you ever grown black raspberries ? They are my absolute favorite !!! If you try them, you will never be satisfied with plain old raspberries or blackberries ever again !!!

[@ScottHead]

Never tried them. They grow in zone 9a?

[@carlam.9529]

@@ScottHead I don't know. You'll have to do your research. But they are the best !!!

[@katrinalynn6]

with me being disabled im doing more fruit and things that stay in year round i got blueberries a lemon tree im getting a peach next year and raspberries and figs this year

[@amymarques5489]

I insulate my fig trees for winter to keep them protected from the frost, prevents all that die back. "Grow Figs Where You Think You Can't." by Steven Biggs is a great resource :) Love the micro-orchard!

[@billmoore6688]

Enjoyable look around. What are the bags laying on the ground around your fruit trees?

[@allanturpin2023]

They're mulch that slacker Scott still hasn't put around his trees.

[@ScottHead]

They're mulch that slacker Scott still hasn't put around his trees.

[@ScottHead]

I actually did a couple of the trees this week, so there's that, lol

[@noramaegomez197]

Hi Scott, how are you doing this week? Wonderful I hope . I want to put a raised garden bed planter in my front yard like the size of yours that you have . My problem is that I have gophers terribly is there any kind of wire mesh that I can lay on the bottom of my planter before all of the hugelkultur stuff ? Lowes carries mash gallon type basket things but that’s not what I want. I want something like sheets of mesh wire??? Any help is appreciated.🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@ScottHead]

1/4" Hardware cloth should do it, not sure why they call it that but that is what will work for the bottom of your raised beds.

[@noramaegomez197]

And thank you so very much Scott !

[@lizpoole82]

Os your blackberry a thornless variety? I have an Apache and was wondering if they sucker a lot. Trying to decide where to plant mine.

[@ScottHead]

Yes, thornless. Arkansas Freedom Prime and also a Caddo

[@tranlong2842]

Đẹp quá

[@monkeytechahoo1]

I’m doing some research before I even start with fruit trees. My question is: If I start the trees in pots (Year 1) and then plant in ground (Year 2 or 3), should I restart the Growing Season count? I live in 8b/9a Mobile AL.😊

[@ScottHead]

I wouldn't. Just depends on how you prefer. My citrus, for example, they live in pots and I have a rough idea of how old they are because I know when I bought them. But I don't know if it too 1,2 or 3 years to get them grown to the size I purchased them at, the nursery know that but not me. But my apples and fig trees I started them from scratch, either grafts or cuttings, so I know their exact age.

[@monkeytechahoo1]

@@ScottHead Thank you. I’ve bought a house and am learning the sunlight route for Spring & Summer (bought my house Aug 22) and may either plant fruit trees in ground or pots next year. Love your channel and have learned so much from you.

[@katrinalynn6]

im looking into semi shade or shade fruit trees

[@baxeelelle]

hi, you speak a lot about that big freeze, what was then the lowest temperature to cause these damages?

[@christianhansen3292]

send me a fig cutting!

[@christianhansen3292]

tried pink lady apple it died and i tried some other variety it grew fora few years but never got fruit and eventually it dried up on. i live in Houston btw near the gulf. would luv to try the apricot variety

[@user-rt9tq2mq7g]

Root barrier? Or no

[@Zwerchfell]

is there a reason you have no fig trees in the ground?

[@ScottHead]

I do but its out in the front yard. Also, the goal was to grow many varieties to find the few I liked the best, then plant in the ground.

[@CuriousinNY]

@@ScottHead what is your favorite? Do you have a video picking rope figs and showing what they look like and how good it tastes? If so please share it here with a link.