Sensible Landscape Fruit Variety Choices for the Working Woman


To let your garden feed you is a pleasure. And it’s a pleasure many of us want to bring into our lives. Fruit carries a lot with it: health, history, and enjoyment. Humans cultivated apples not just for sustenance, but because we loved them.



Like most things in life, the reality of growing fruit is messier than our idea of it- wasps get into the grapes, rust spores splotch pear leaves, apple trees become tangled and wormy. But messy things are usually worthwhile. And there are some fruit trees and shrubs that make themselves easier for us to enjoy than others.



Here are five favorites for Madison, Wisconsin:




5. Currants (ribes)

Currants would be my number one choice, except for the fact that the shrubs aren’t particularly beautiful* and not everyone likes this fruit. Tthe red, pink, and white varieties are quite tart, and the black varieties usually have a musky taste before they’re cooked (my young neighbor describes them as “dogfood-y”). That being said, I love them all, and the neighborhood kids usually strip my red and pink bushes bare before I can get more than a bowlful.

Red, pink, and white currants look like jewels and are great with creamy things. Norwegians eat them with vanilla custard, and there’s nothing better on top of a cheesecake. Black currants are less jewel-like but incredibly nutritious and make some of the easiest and best jam (there’s plenty of pectin and acid in the berries). I can never have enough black currants. All these varieties are easy to grow, easy to maintain, small in stature, and resistant to pests.

I should also mention that currants, especially black currants, can be hosts for white pine blister rust, which won’t hurt your fruit, but can be detrimental to white pines. The good news is, there’s a lot of work being done to breed resistant varieties. If you have pines closeby, be sure to choose resistant black currant varieties like Minaj Smyriou, Chernaya Lisovenko, and Titania.




*There is an American black currant variety called Crandall that’s really quite lovely and has yellow clove-scented flowers in early spring. I should also mention that the black currant Chernaya Lisovenko has nice autumn color.




Some recommended varieties: Crandall is very good (see above), and Blackdown is my favorite European black currant for fresh eating (all black currants are delicious cooked). The pinks, reds, and whites varieties all taste like the others of their color to me. I like having one of each, but if I could only have one, it would be a red currant. They’re the tartest but the prettiest.




4. Juneberries (amelanchier)

Juneberry fruits are easy to love. They are juicy, and they are sweet, and they are purple. They grow on beautiful small trees/large shrubs that have wedding-like spring blossoms and brilliant fall foliage. Unlike mulberries, they don’t stain the sidewalk or your fingers. The only downside is they can be a bit rust prone, and I have never (not once) been able to get my fill of them. Because they’re so tasty, it’s not a fruit one gets a surplus from for baking and sharing (when I find a particularly delicious roadside tree, I keep quiet about it.)

Some recommended varieties: I haven’t met a juneberry I don’t like. Just find one that’s the right size and don’t let the rabbits eat too many of the branches in winter.






3. Peaches

This choice is a bit self-indulgent, because unsprayed  home-grown peaches in Madison, Wisconsin are rarely blemishless. The branches like to be pruned yearly, the flowers can get nipped by late frosts, and the trees have a reputation for being short-lived (full sized pear trees regularly live past one hundred, peaches often just reach fifteen).

That being said, they grow quickly, bear fruit young, don’t have a lot of serious pest/disease issues, and are really quite charming trees with willowy branches and leaves that turn bright yellow in October. But the thing that matters is the peaches. Until I grew them myself, I had never tasted a tree-ripened peach (ripe peaches are very delicate, so they are always picked and shipped unripe.) This year, my three-year-old tree gave us enough peaches to eat our fill, bake a pie, and send a few home with friends. I wouldn’t want to be without one.





Some recommended varieties: In zone 4/5 Wisconsin, our options are limited, but Contender, Redhaven, and Reliance are all great choices and have sweet pink flowers. Peach trees are self-pollinating, so you only need one.






2. Pie Cherries 

I learn a lot about gardening by watching kids, and kids like eating pie cherries from the tree. Incidentally, squirrels do too, and so do I, so I haven’t had a chance to make any pies or preserves. But the fruit and trees and both so good and problem-free, my answer has been to plant more of them- I have more of these trees in my yard than any other.

Sometimes called “sour cherries,” they aren’t really very sour if you wait until they’re fully ripe to pick them, and they are much easier to grow than sweet cherries. Plenty of dwarf varieties are available and most all are self-pollinating, so they are ideal fruit trees for small yards. As a bonus, some have lovely spring flowers, and unlike peaches, which always seem youthful, cherry trees show character early.





Some recommended varieties: North Star is a great natural dwarf with dark red juice and Mesabi has a reputation for sweetness. Still, the classic Montemorecy cherry is hard to beat.






1. Pears





If you want fruit fast, don’t plant a pear. They have a reputation for taking a long time to bear. There’s a saying “pears are for heirs,” and for some varieties, the wait for fruit can be up to a decade (there are some exceptions- like Harrow Sweet, which usually starts flowering in the first couple years). 

But pears are also for heirs because of their longevity. It’s nice to plant something knowing that it can be enjoyed by your grandkids. In the meantime, pears aren’t so picky about the care they get. They have less disease/insect pressure than apples, and their form is nice even when they aren’t pruned.

Besides all that, the incredible yield from a mature pear tree affords you the opportunity to be really generous. You can give everyone you know a paper shopping bag full and still have plenty.

I think there’s nothing better than that kind of abundance, but one thing to be aware of is that pears (depending on the variety) are often ready to be picked all at once, and if they sit on the tree too long, they can rot from the inside. This can be difficult, but it can also allow you to handle the glut all in one weekend. And what’s better than dried pears?





Some recommended varieties: Harrow Sweet is not only precocious, but also disease resistant and incredibly good. Cabot is self-fertile and supposedly has lovely double flowers (mine hasn’t bloomed yet.) Seckel is sweet, reliable, and well-loved. An important thing to remember about pears is that most need a partner for pollination, so plant two. Bees and other pollinators aren’t as attracted to their flowers as some other blossoms, so it’s a good idea to plant them within 50 feet of each other to increase the chances of good fruiting.







Of course, growing your own fruit is not sensible- pleasure rarely is. If what you really want is to grow European prune plums, figs in pots that you move into the house for winter, or a giant apple tree that’s impossible to gather fruit from (but wonderful to climb), that’s what you should do. The joy of gardening is in playing and noticing and doing what you like.






2022 Not So Great Aspen Open - RESULTS ARE IN !

The 2022 Annual “Not So Great” Aspen Open was a resounding success.

Team America - captained by Graham Scheel handily defeated brother Zach Scheel’s Team Europe in a four person Scramble format at Foxboro Golf Club earlier this week. Scheel credit’s the victory to a “team effort” where everyone “pulled their weight”. First-year entrant Nick M. grew steadily better throughout the tournament. Seasosoned vet Eric Jacobsen had four good shots throughout the round - all of them on the par five seventh - single-handedly adding yet another birdie to the teams score. Even first-time golfer Lindsey W. knocked a ball at least 70 yards a fair number of times . Scheel was the captain and most consistent player,

Fun was had by all - even Laura, Zack, and maybe even Jaxon.

Joe Hoelzel's Raspberry Pie Recipe

Since its a well documented fact that THERE ARE NO RASPBERRY PIE RECIPES ANYWHERE! I wanted to share Joe Hoelzel’s recipe.

Here goes:

1) Find a Blueberry pie recipe

2) Use Raspberries in place of Blueberries

Done!

Reviews:

“ It tastes real good ! ” - Joe H

Joe Hoelzel - Pondering New Pies While Eating Melon

Raised Beds: Benefits, Drawbacks and Cost

When springtime rolls around in Madison, Wisconsin, we can’t wait to start planning our gardens and choosing which flowers and vegetables we’ll grow this season. But before we get to the fun stuff, we must decide what will be the best solution for our gardens: raised beds or in ground beds. While one solution isn’t better than the other, there are many considerations you should ponder before choosing the best option for your space:


  1. Soil conditions. This may be one of the larger factors in choosing whether to grow in a raised or in-ground bed. With raised beds, you are better able to control the quality, texture and condition of your soil compared to working with an inground bed where you may be stuck with less-than- ideal soil. If your home soil is rocky, clay-like or does not drain well, you may want to consider using raised beds. Lead and other hard-metal contaminants in the soil are another good reason to consider raised beds.  And beware if you have Black Walnut trees on your property! These trees produce a chemical called juglone, that can severely impact the health of other plants root systems. If this is the case for you, raised beds may help keep your other plants happy and healthy! 

 If raised beds are not the desired look for your garden, there are some amendments you can make to your soil to make it more suitable for growing. You may find there are less local microbes and mycellium in soil brought in versus the soil that is present on site. 


  1. Pets and pests. This may be an obvious one, but raised beds can do a lot to deter animals. Adding hoops or netted row covers over raised beds can also aid in keeping out unwanted pests. Those work well for in-ground beds too, but unfortunately don’t detract the pests that like to dig. For animals like gophers and moles, adding in a layer of protection on the bottom such as galvanized hardware cloth can help keep those digging critters out.  Chicken wire is another common solution but often less effective.


  1. Comfort and ergonomics. If you’re an avid gardener, you may know the strain that garden maintenance can have on the body. The constant bending and reaching can be difficult for some, so raised beds may lend some relief. Opt for a raised bed that is no more than 4’ in width to allow for easy access. Raised beds are also a wonderful option for people who use wheelchairs. Being able to construct a raised bed to your desired height will allow easier access and maintenace for all.


  1. Weeds. Raised beds can be a great solution for weed control. Adding in a weed barrier or cardboard at the bottom of a raised bed will add another layer of protection to your garden. This is more difficult to control in an inground bed which has a seed bank (although good mulching practices an no-till methods can help).


  1. Location. A nice benefit of raised beds is they can be placed almost anywhere in your space, unlike an in-ground bed that may be more restricted in terms of location. As long as there is good sun exposure, a raised bed can be placed in many locations, including near underground utilities.  You may want to be careful to locate any easements first though


  1. Cost and materials. This may be where raised beds lose compared to in-ground beds. Materials for building a raised bed can be expensive, especially if using lumber or steel. Red cedar for instance tends to be a popular option for raised beds. Unfortunately it is not local to us in Madison, Wisconsin, and it is also very expensive, making it a more costly and less sustainable option. There is also the cost of soil that needs to be considered, especially if you are planning on building a larger raised bed. In-ground beds are simpler and cheaper overall since you are mostly using what you already have on site. 


  1. Maintenance and permanence. While there is the obvious maintenance with in-ground beds, such as weeding and mulching, there is the less obvious maintenance of raised beds which may entail repairs later down the road depending on the material you choose to use. Lumber specifically may need to be replaced after some normal wear and tear which can add to the costs overall. Soil and compost may also need to be added in after compaction and breakdown occurs. Permanence of a raised bed may also be a factor, as raised beds are difficult to move, although not impossible. You are also more limited with your shapes and sizes compared to in-ground beds. 


While raised beds are often viewed as the shinier option, there are also benefits to an in-ground bed. Factors such as access to the site and overall aesthetics may determine the best solution for your space. Some trial and error may be necessary to figure out how to be successful in your garden. At Aspen Garden & Landscape, LLC we love both– either option can be good if it gets you outside growing things.



Fungus Among Us

Are you seeing something yucky in your mulch?  Does it look like a baby puked?  Or maybe a dog barfed? OR MAYBE AN ALIEN??? (sorry)

or... Maybe you have some unidentified black spots on your siding or car that seem to have come out of nowhere?

These are reminders that as long as we live in nature there will be fungus among us.  Most fungus species are harmless, some are delicious, and nearly all have an incredible usefulness in nature.  

Fungi do some amazing things that scientists are learning more and more about every day.  If you wanna read something really cool check out http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150202-six-bizarre-things-about-fungi:

But.... what about the dog-puke looking stuff in my yard?  Well - when weather conditions are just right, organic matter plus moisture combines with fungal spores that are just about everywhere in the environment, and….we start to get a few calls about what looks like dog puke in mulch beds. The technical name is Fuligo septics. Dog vomit slime-mold is a well-accepted common name. It typically dries up within a few days and the appearance is “less yucky”. To keep it from spreading, however, you can scrape it up and trash it, top dress mulch to cover the fungus, use a coarser mulch, or cross your fingers and pray it doesn't stay so moist.   You could also remove the organic mulch and replace with stone mulch - but before doing so read our wonderful blogpost "Why stone mulch is the worst."

When faced with this issue it’s probably best to remember the newly-coined Aspen proverb "Sometimes life gives you lemons, and sometimes it looks like a dog puked in your mulch." or… you could read this link: https://wimastergardener.org/article/dog-vomit-slime-mold-fuligo-septica/

Another funky fungus is called Artillery Fungus. It’s something we’ve seen more of in recent (moist) years. The most noticeable aspect of this isn’t the fruiting body itself, but the black spots that are “catapulted” throughout the area. They are especially noticeable on light colored siding - and they really stay stuck! For more info check this out http://rayhaluchinc.com/getting-rid-of-artillery-fungus/

For all of the anatomy fans out there, another “fun” fungus looks kinda sorta exactly like a gross phallus….So much so that I overheard someone calling it a “yucky dick-looking thing.” We won’t get into too much detail but they look especially gross when rotting. We’re a bit leery of linking to info on this on “the inter-webs” but feel free to google away such terms as “phallus mushroom,” “wiener fungus,” or whatever you like. You may, however, want to take care to not do this at work.

…Or, just keep your eyes open for a penis-looking ‘shroom near your petunias.… I saw one within a hundred feet of St Mary’s Hospital. It made me do a double-take.