Question: i planted the peach and pear trees (two of each next to each other) last week. they now have pea size fruits on them. my husbands friend said to pick these off the first year. Is this right? why or why not?PLEASE Peggy - Colorado City, TX Answer: If I were you, I would follow your friends' advice. Right now you are most concerned about getting your tree well established. Good growth to the…

Question: Hello- I am writing to you with a question about L.E. Cooke Co.'s Purple "Cooke's Special" Wisteria. My question: What is the expected mature height and width of this plant? I am about to install one of these plants in the garden of my home in Phoenix, Arizona. If you can help in answering my question, I'd certainly appreciate it. Thank you.Sincerely, Tom Answer: Hi Tom, Good choice of wisteria! The spring blossoms are…

Question: I was wondering will Prunus Mume 'Rosemary Clarke' do well in my area? I think we get about 350 chill hours a year. Nanthawat, Burbank, CA Rosemary Clarke Flowering Apricot Answer: Absolutely! All the Flowering Apricots (Prunus mume) require only 100 to 150 hours of chilling. A good choice for your area. See more details: Flowering Apricots

Question: I was given a dwarf fig tree for Christmas sent from you. It has been growing beautifully up until a couple of weeks ago. It has been in my sun room the whole time. The leaves are getting splotchy and one is almost completely yellow, and just fell off. I don't know what to do!! Help me please. Janice, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Answer: Your question raises a lot of other questions. Since we do…

I have a favorite Flowering Crabapple.  When it is in bloom, in my mind nothing compares to it. Pink Perfection Flowering Crabapple The Pink Perfection Flowering Crabapple out shines every other tree in our budwood orchard when it is in full bloom.  It glows.   This Crabapple is not for everyone or every climate.  There is a drawback to the Pink Perfection Flowering Crabapple. It gets scab badly. But that is only an issue of…

  Burgundy Plum Spring Bloom Everyone first notices the unusual (for us anyway) formation of the clouds in this photo. Burgundy Plum Bloom (and pruned hard for budwood - not fruit) What is not unusual is the yearly, stunning white bloom of the Burgundy Plum.   Most of us only think of the edible plums for their summer fruit and forget about the attractive spring bloom.  The Burgundy Plum has one of the nicest.  Again you…

At last!  The long days and nights to finish the 2010-11 catalog are over.  It is at the printer's and we will begin mailing it out this week.  Now I have a little more time to enjoy the blessings of spring. Prairifire Flowering Crabapples and California Poppies outside my office window (trying unsuccessfully to hide the irrigation pumps) The last 2 weeks the sales staff spent a lot of time in our annual training.  Part…

What's wrong with me? This has become one of the most beautiful springs with desperately needed storms creating dramatic, picturesque skies and the blossoms bursting out all over - and here I am missing it all! Red Baron Fruiting/Flowering Peach - Illuminated by flash It is the time of the year where I am hunkered down in the office day and night wrapping up this season and preparing for next season. Heavy time is spent…

Question: can I put 3 blueberry plants into one half whisky barrel, as your vendor said it would be ok?.they are a northblue, southmoon, sunshine blue. Thank You. Gil - Coos Bay Oregon Answer: Yes - but I wouldn't. I like the idea of blueberries in large containers. Here is what I like about the idea. You can control the planting media. Blueberries love acidic soil in the 4.0 to 5.5 pH range. Many of…

Question: My area has (on avg) about 350 hours per year of winter chill. I have been dissapointed in my Katy Apricot (no fruit) and my Blenheim Apricot (occasional fruit) over the last few years. What is your most reliable apricot for mild winters? Ed - Somis, CA Answer: Ed, We have a recommended variety for you. In fact it came from a nurseryman near you in Camarillo that had the exact same problem. He…