One of the best sweet treats for summer are figs. At Westbury Community Garden we have four varieties of figs. They are Banana figs (large yellow), LSU Purple (purple, teardrop-shaped), Celeste (large, light purple/brown), Petite Negra (small dark purple/black, teardrop-shaped). There is an early harvest in May and the main harvest in June – August….
The experience at Westbury Community Garden and at Ray Sher and Gary Edmondson’s yard. Our method for protecting the citrus trees in the February 2021 freeze had minimal success. That year we piled leaves against the citrus tree trunks surrounding a 5-gallon bucket of water and wrapped the whole thing with a blanket. Most trees…
The Teach For America Volunteer Group joined our WCG members in preparing the orchard beds for planting replacement fruit trees at the March, 2022, workday. The remaining roots of the frozen trees from 2/15/2021 Winter Storm Uri were removed, weeds were removed, most of the bed’s diameters were extended, a grass barrier was installed and…
The both orchards received some much needed TLC at the May Community Service Day at the garden. Fifteen members came out to join the crew and earn some volunteer hours. Some worked in the Butterfly Gardens while another group focused on the citrus trees that haven’t been adopted yet.
Goal: To improve the health and bring into production our many citrus trees which have been in the ground for 8 years without significant fruiting. Care and Feeding of Your Tree (per Texas Agrilife Agent, Robert Richter) Feeding: Fertilize ASAP with at least 10 pounds of Microlife (which WCG will supply) to anyone adopting a tree. Add…
Our mulberry tree in the North 40 is loaded with berries right now. If you have a few minutes, take a small container to the garden and try some. Mulberries are the sweet, hanging fruit from a genus of deciduous trees that grow in a variety of temperate areas around the world. Thought to possibly…
It’s July and fig trees are bearing lots of delicious figs. The yellow figs are Banana fig, and are ripe when they slightly change color to a deeper yellow, and when you touch the fig and it is tender, it is ready to pick. If you don’t pick it right away, it will ferment and be…