Persimmon tree

My Persimmon tree is fruiting this year. First came the bell shape flowers then out popped the fruit. I’ll take a picture of them this weekend.

While researching different persimmons to grow here I found out Saijo was the “best” in terms of taste but its a astringent type so it has to be extremely ripe before eating. I’m not sure if I’m into that. The other super tasty one that isn’t super astringent and can be eaten fresh is Fuyu.

Theres an old Japanese method called hoshi gaki, sort of a loop hole to the astringent factor, you clip the fruit of with the branch, peel the skins leaving a bit of the bottom, massage and dry them, this way it will also be preserve and you can eat these guys throughout winter.

Another cool thing about persimmon trees is that after all the leaves have fallen the orange fruit hang on till they get ripe into November. For some reason I could see this pissing my neighbors off.

Recap: 4/09 – 2 years after planting

The garden is visibly more lush this year and you can really see all the runners and clumpers in the shot below. The perennials are well established after 2 years.

Over the winter of 08 I planted winter rye and clover as a cover crop from Seeds of Change I didnt take pictures but I’ll make sure to do it this year.

Recap:4/08 – 1 year after instant succession

Choppy panorama

Sunchokes

Cinnamon Vine

Chives

chamomile

Oregano… Read More

Thyme

Borage

French Sorrel

Italian Dandelion – Chicory

Good King Henry

Ansie Hyssop

Burnet, Salad

Rosemary

Lemon Balm

Lovage

Sweet Cicely

Japanese Edible Daylily

Yarrow

Strawberry

Spearmint

Aa

Arugula

Gooseberries

Goumi

Sajio Persimmon

red clover

white clover

lambs quarter

chickweed

violets

wood sorrel

purslane

dandelion

Species list:

1. Sunchokes
2. Cinnamon Vine
3. Chives
4. Chamomile
5. Oregano
6. Thyme
7. Borage
8. French Sorrel
9. Italian Dandelion
10. Chicory
11. Good King Henry
12. Ansie Hyssop
13. Burnet, Salad
14. Rosemary
15. Lemon Balm
16. Lovage
17. Sweet Cicely
18. Japanese Edible Daylily
19. Yarrow
20. Strawberry
21. Arugula
22. red clover
23. white clover
24. lambs quarter
25. chickweed
26. violets
27. wood sorrel
28. purslane
29. dandelion,
30. Mitsuba
31. Gooseberries – Poorman variety- suppose to be the sweetest one and best for fresh eating. The Berries fruited after 1 year of being planted.
32. Goumi – Fixes Nitrogen, will take out in 4 years or so and replace with Goji berries
33. Sajio Persimmon –  suppose to be the tastiest but is astringent

Recap: 08/07

3 1/2 months after installation

                                                                   The persimmon tree started off as a twig but grew 2x as large with branches and leaves within the summer.

Recap: 5/07: Sheet Mulching/ Planting

 

I used a method called sheet mulching, which is made up of a layer of non human poop, a good layer of newspaper(most newspaper use soy ink, dont use glossy pages they have toxic ink in them), a gigantic layer of compost and I topped it off with some wood chips(its hard to find seedless straw in the city). This way the sheet mulch kills everything underneath it while loving it. You then plant your plants by slashing a X into the newspaper and folding it in underneath itself. Everyone will love you for doing this.

Those grey buckets are filled with free compost from the NYC Give Back events.

Im using keyhole beds to maximize the little space i have.

I used a method called sheet mulching, which is made up of a layer of non human poop, a good layer of newspaper(most newspaper use soy ink, dont use glossy pages they have toxic ink in them), a gigantic layer of compost and I topped it off with some wood chips(its hard to find seedless straw in the city). This way the sheet mulch kills everything underneath it while loving it. You then plant your plants by slashing a X into the newspaper and folding it in underneath itself. Everyone will love you for doing this.

Those grey buckets are filled with free compost from the NYC Give Back events.

Im using keyhole beds to maximize the little space i have.

Plants were ordered from the following nurseries. 1-4. had the most awesome healthy plants to 5. had mediocre but a wide selection:

1. Sliver Hill nursery  - Perennials Plants in Union Square Farmers Market
2. One Green World
3. Oikos Tree Crops
4.Rain Tree Nursey
5. Ritchers

Recap: 3/07: Forest Garden, Queens, NY

Got a permaculture certificate in 06 in MA. decided to try out what I learned back home in NYC.

site (front lawn) before implementation

Site: Lawn in Queens, ny in early March 2007. This is where I will plant a Edible Forest Garden also known as a Food Forest. I have a very limited space, 20x30ft with path and I have to be sort of considerate of my neighbors. In order for it be a forest garden though I will need different levels so a tree, shrubs and various ground cover layers. This form of gardening I believe is the most sustainable and is a form of no till and is low maintenance  and theoretically  can grow totally independently in 10 years.

Quick Design (analysis not posted)

Keyhole beds and a swale that will catch some path rain runoff.