Fruit Trees in TV?
 

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We moved to the Twin Cities (MN), from the Bay Area (CA), 7 years ago because of a job. Doing so has been great in many ways but I miss the wonderful fruit trees we had in our backyard in California. Now our next move will be to TV. When we visited last spring I was concentrating on other things and failed to notice...Are there fruit trees in peoples yards in TV? Particularly Citrus. Are there rules and regs about plantings in TV? I have hear no vegetable gardens, but what if you buy a Villa? I mostly want container gardening and fruit trees is that okay in TV?
Susan

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Susan,

I see lots of orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime trees around. There was an article in the paper about a guy who did apple trees.

I'm not aware of any special limitations on citrus trees...I've seen them in the front and the back.

Lots of fruit pickin' going on today in advance of tonight's freeze.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Thanks, I was hoping that would be the answer. Is there any difference in gardening restrictions between Villas and homes without fences?

I can't wait until I have to worry about picking the fruit instead of whether the driveway was plowed.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Susan & Tom, not to worry about the driveway being plowed. Whenever we have six or more inches of snow,,the plowing is free. :joke: Of course, I'm kidding.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Susan & Tom: Great question. I'm from L.A. and was hoping I could have some citrus trees also, especially Meyer Lemon trees, the greatest lemons on earth. Also will do a veggie garden as well. Maybe we could compare notes when I move there too.

Kathie

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Thanks for the offer to plow Frank, I intend to call you if the snow gets to 6" or more in TV.

Kathie, Do you intend to grow your veggies in containers? I have heard that no in ground veggie gardens are allowed. Don't know if that is true. Of course we can compare notes when we both move there. I used to garden but don't do much anymore. I want fresh herbs, some tomatoes and fruit trees. I like Eureka lemons the best. Grapefruit sounds good and of course one needs a lime tree for margaritas.

I do so wish we were already there. I am so ready to play.
Susan

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Fruit trees are on my list when we relandscape our back yard. Can't wait to pick grapefruit and serve it for breakfast.I am also planning on some herbs mixed in with the plantings and a couple of containers for grape and cherry tomatoes. Life is just not right without fresh herbs,tomatoes,and fruit fresh off the tree.The best part is we can do it right here in TV.
::) ::)

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Better investigate before you invest. Limes won't survive this far north unless you get a lime-quat (Lime grafted on Kumquat stock). Fruit is yellow not green, but it's a lime taste. Be careful which orange, grapefruit and lemon you choose too. Some won't survive this far north. Some are self pollinating, others need a mate nearby or they won't bear fruit. Kumquats (especially Meiwas) do very well down to 25 degrees. They're tasty too. You eat the skin. Attend the Kumquat Festival in Dade City on January 26th for fun, food and quality tree stock.

As for vegetable gardens, check your deed restrictions carefully.

Skip

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

You should probably check with the Architectural Review Board. My wife checked into fruit trees, and where we are, Sumter Co. south of 466, she was told no fruit trees are allowed in the front of the house. If anyone has a variety of grapefruit tree that has done well in this area, we'd be interested in knowing. My wife wants to plant a pink grapefruit tree out back.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Yes, and fresh lemons and pink grapefruits are incredible. Nothing like them. I'll have to check about the veggie garden, Skip, my last house I had a garden plot about 20x30 with about 20 tomato plants, 10 peppers, and many other veggies. Including watermelons and pumpkins. So much fun, a lot of work but very rewarding. Never did well with corn, too many worms. Haven't done container gardening but worth a try in TV. Susan, I'll pm you so we can chat off topic.

If the veggie garden goes as planned, I'll set up a stand in front of my house to share with all of you. To be continued...... K.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

I live south of 466 in TV and have a pink grapefruit tree and a key lime tree in the back yard. I covered them and they seem to have survivied the hard frost.

A landscaping company said not to pick the fruit, that a frost only makes the fruit sweeter. :dontknow:

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Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

1rnfl that was so funny handieman 1rnfl

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Hand, sometimes hijacking a subject is worth it. :a20: You are so funny.

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How about Fruit Fly . . . will their be a lot of spraying?

Da Sgt

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

cold :2excited:

Susan&Tom, We too relocated from CA to MO and now we have a place in TV. The first thing we planted was Valencia Oranges and 2 Camellia's. None of these will go in MO. It is so nice to have all the beautiful flowers, fruits and veggies, we have missed for the past 10 years. :welcome: to TV

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Well I just got home from work and it is time for my daily TV fix.

To twynsmom, It makes me happy to hear that someone with a similar story is already living where we so totally want to be. I want to feel the warm weather and be immersed in all the activities of TV. All of yoiu enjoy it for those of us who live vicariously through you. It feels like I am there when I read of your exploits.

Kathie, I look forward to your PM although I have no idea how I will know when you do it. Does it come in the chat room? I have never been able to get into that. I am really not that bad with computers, but I can't figure that one out.

To Handie, you are entertaining...funny that you put your wife in the freezer...I keep my husband in the oven and its worked, he is very hot!

and Skip I always look forward to reading your comments. I think you must be very wise.

Susan

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Hi, I want to plant a grapefruit tree. Wish we could have Mangoes also, but I was told we are to far north.

Veggies -I heard that they can only be planted in a container, not to sure what the restrictions are, if any, if you live in a villa.

The house we bought has a lemon and an orange tree. Did not get any lemons this year, will have to find out why. If anyone in TOTV knows, please let me know.

We belong to a CSA farm here and I will miss our weekly pick up of organic veggies, berries etc.

Perhaps we should have a gardening thread here on TOTV - or expand this one to include veggies and herbs.

HB

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

susan&tom
Not to worry, I have a couple of lemon's next door and they have fruit trees.........
Fumar

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Fumar...another funny guy!

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Hi Hyacinth Bucket, I think that is a great idea. I don't plan on doing a lot of gardening, but I am interested in herbs and a few veggies including homegrown tomatoes for which there is no substitute...and of course the aforementioned citrus trees.

I think at this stage of my life I would like to experiment with both vintage seeds and maybe breed something new. It would be fun to swap seeds, plant cuttings etc.

If you start it now I will join you when we move to TV...still have to sell the northern home, like so many of us. I have a friend who is also moving to TV soon who I am sure will want to join us...am I right Nance?

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Hi Susan,

There is a heritage seed bank for tomatoes and other veggies. I can see if I can get some seeds from our local farmer.

There is also an international seed exchange program that I believe is for heritage veggies only. I am on there mailing list, I will let you know the next time I receive an email from them.

I have not explored the TV area to see if anyone grows veggies from seeds that are not modified in any way. Hope I find a place.

Looking forward to meeting you. It will be great to have a longer growing season.

Hyacinth Bucket

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HB,
Great idea for a gardening thread. I am totally out of my element with gardening in this climate. I could use a lot of help and advise.

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Your right Susan - my home is up for sale now so we sit and wait. I am a garden nut! We live in IL and have apple, pear and plum trees in our yard now.

The gardening thread is a nice idea, especially if you already live in TV. You can give us potential new comers many gardening secrets. I'm sure what we plant up north may not work in FLA!

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One of the times we have been to Florida, we visited a unique place called the Fruit and Spice Park. It is in Homestead, FL. I wanted to go because when we were in Thailand and Vietnam we ate some of the most indescribably delicious fruits that you can ever, ever imagine. The Fruit and Spice Park has them in their proper seasons. Might be a fun trip to take. Here is the link to it: http://www.floridaplants.com/fruit&spice/

Another catalog of interest may be Richters. They send me catalogs. I don't use them right now, because all I do is work, so I am not sure they apply to Florida's weather. This is their link: http://www.richters.com/
Gotta go
PS glad you are interested Nance.

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I planted eight citrus trees, one fig and three papaya. The citrus and fig are fine. The papaya looks very wilted. I hope they come back. The impatiens went kaput but I cut them back and they will return. All the palms survived! Life is good!

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I am a gardener as well, and will miss my big garden when I get TV. I usually plant a gareden 50x40 with herbs, veggies and numerious flower gardens. Actually looking forward to downsizing a bit, but am hopeful that I can plant some fruit trees, herbs and tomatoes. Has anyone tried the hanging cucumbers? Does holly grow in Florida? A garden thread would be great. Just waiting for my house to sell so I can join you all.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Hi Everyone,

Tony, the Administrator, has split this topic into two threads. To find the other thread please go to https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm...topicseen.html.

I do not know if there is an easy way to get all the great questions and thoughts moved to the other thread, so that there will only be one thread. Does anyone know of a way?

The new thread is not under General Villages Discussions.

Hyacinth Bucket

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

The lemon is probably NOT self-pollenating.

Skip

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Whoever told you that you could grow papaya up here is counting your money and snickering.

Figs should be just finishing their fruiting now.

Skip

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Skip, thank you. I guess next year when the tree is in bloom I shall play Mother Bee with a piece of cotton.

Thank you for the knowledge.

I like fresh figs, never thought to plant a tree.

HB

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Skip, my neighbor gave me three seedlings she grew from pits. Hers have done well.
All they cost me was a few minutes to put them in the ground. I think it's a pretty plant but I'm not crazy about the fruit.

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Sorry for the delay in responding to you. Just found the info you requested.

There are no annual contracts for weeding - cost is $10 per month

Pest control is $20 per month

Pruning, trimming and clean up is billed at $40 per hour, but you are charged in 15 minute increments.

Fertilizer application is based on actual quantities used.

They all sell trees and plants. I found the cost of there plants lower than in some of the nurseries I visited while in TV.

Fernview Farm - Sandra and James Harrison
352 245 7905 email fernviewnursery@aol.com

Like I said, I was extremely impressed with her, They will be doing our lawn care while we are away.

Hope this helps.

HB

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From the lemon tree that the previous owners told us when we first looked at the house in October was not bearing fruit this year for the first time (and we just took his word for it and didn't go looking), when we returned after being away for the month of January we discovered about a dozen or more beautiful lemons on the tree! Apparently they were green and hidden in the foliage in October. Our orange tree did about the same. In March we noticed both trees filled with flowers, so notwithstanding what we lose to birds, we hope for yet another good crop and are wondering if these trees are ever-bearing if we're getting two crops so close together.

We're in Village of Belvedere south of CR-466, and we have been told for sure (1) no fruit trees in front of the house and (2) no veggie garden ANYWHERE other than what can be grown in pots. I'm not sure if planting fruit trees requires approval from the Architectural Review Committee....

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Sidney, I can't speak for the AR committee, but the fruit trees...we had just about every fruit tree common to the U.S. in our backyard in the Bay Area, CA. including all the citrus'.

They all bloomed and produced every year. Citrus in my experience produce wonderful smelling flowers in the spring which develope into the fruit by winter. If the baby fruit falls off you need to adjust the soil composition around it.

The problem experienced by the former owner with the citrus trees you have, my guess, is that they were not old enough yet. They usually don't bear fruit for the first 2-3 years. They have to grow up just like us. :)

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We northerners really love the idea of having citrus trees. But my son-in-law, a native Floridian, keeps telling me not to do it. He says that in just a few years you have more fruit than you can handle and the oranges fall to the ground -- attracting bugs -- who attract little critters -- who attract snakes (shudder). Is this true? I think he for sure has my number regarding snakes, but is there any truth in what he says?

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another Linda, have no fear. I will take all of your extra fruit, we just bought an electric juicer. :)

Met one woman who has several orange trees, planted them about 15 years ago, and she has more fruit than she can use. She gives the fruit away to friends and worth while causes. Also sells some and makes some money.

She did not say a word of any of the problems you mentioned.

HB

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Linda,
Hyacinth's suggestions are valid and useful as always. Another point that I found to be convenient about fruit trees, especially citrus, was that you don't have to eat it all at once.
#1. It doesn't all ripen at the same time.
#2. The treestores it for you for quite a long time...up to a couple months.
#3. Giving away fruit makes you very popular with those who don't have trees.

Re: Fruit Trees in TV?
 

Another Linda,

My daughter has 33 fruit trees in her back yard. They are large mature trees that bear large amounts of fruit. In the 8 years she has lived here we have never seen any snakes near or around her fruit trees. We certainly enjoy the wonderful fresh fruit from her trees. There is nothing like it. YUMMMM!