How to keep those worms out of your apples and pears You might not know their names, but you’ve probably met codling moths before. Codling “moth” sounds kind of cute and fluttery; you’ve encountered it as the “worm” in your apple. Yuck! Messing with the life cycle of the codling moth Codling moths are a serious pest for apple, pear and walnut trees. Control them by interrupting their life cycle at various points. Here’s a helpful diagram from UC Davis Integrated…
It is such a satisfying experience to reach up into an apple tree and pluck a shiny apple from a branch. Should you take a big, juicy bite and see that the remaining apple in your hand has brown yuck and half a worm inside—and you just swallowed—it may be time to take out the artillery. The Codling Moth lays its larvae on the developing fruit and leaves of apples and pears, and it can also attack walnuts. When the eggs hatch, the young…
Make your organic orchard bountiful by fertilizing your fruit trees. In our latest, research-based video, Tricia explains IF, when, and how much to fertilize your fruit trees. Keep reading here to learn…
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February 28, 2013 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
It’s really quite simple to apply your “outdoor” organic gardening knowledge to your house plants. Who doesn’t want a lush mass of greenery inside during the winter months? When…
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February 14, 2013 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
Do you have shrubs and trees on your property? Then you’ll need pruning tools to keep them trimmed and healthy. When you wander into the pruning tools section of our website or down that aisle in…
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Have you ever massaged a persimmon? Hoshigaki massage is one way to preserve persimmons, and enhance their sweetness too. There are many ways to preserve persimmons. In our new video Tricia talks about…
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The pomegranate can play many roles in your edible landscaping Pretty in three seasons, you’ll enjoy its shiny leaves and crinkly red-orange flowers in spring, and uniquely shaped rosy fruits in…
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December 27, 2012 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
You’re ready to plant a fruit tree—but how do you decide on the best pruning and training system? We’ve got easy answers for you. The University of California says pruning and training…
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December 14, 2012 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
You can see it all now—it’s a sunny day and you’re sitting at a wooden table in your olive grove, eating olives and crusty bread, and drinking wine with your friends and family. You grew…
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December 10, 2012 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
Top-of-the-line orchard tools, books, and organic sprays spill out of our Professional Picking Bag. An experienced orchardist will appreciate the high quality of all these tools and sprays. The books are…
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November 30, 2012 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley
USDA Zone 7 is typically considered too cold for olive trees. But we’re gardeners, which means we want to grow beautiful trees that aren’t recommended for our zones. That goes both ways too—for…
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Do you have a favorite apple? Would you like to make your own apple cider with your favorite apple as the only ingredient? Surprisingly, that would not taste very good. Create the best apple cider with…
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