Garden Source

The Mayhaw tree, Crataegus aestivalis, is a slow-growing native North American tree that reaches a height of 30 feet with a rounded canopy that spreads to 35 feet or more. The dark green, deciduous leaves are often three-lobed and have red/brown undersides. The sparkling white, showy springtime flowers appear before the new leaves unfurl and are followed by the production of large, red-dotted fruits. The spreading, low branching habit of growth makes this best suited for planting in a large open area of turf. If regular pruning can be provided to keep low, drooping branches pruned, it can be located closer to a walk. Mayhaw trees have small, round reddish fruit that are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter and resembles a crabapple. It ripens from mid-April early May, hence the name mayhaw. After frost, the leaves turn a beautiful yellow. Although the tree is naturally found in wet, shady sites, it is well adapted to drier, better-drained land and produces more and better fruit in full sunlight. The trees are long-lived and are known to produce fruit for more than 50 years. They are more resistant to disease and can withstand low temperatures better than common fruit trees.

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The Eggplant Long Purple-Japanese/Chinese, ‘Solanum melongena’, has a milder, more delicate flavor than regular eggplant. The Long Purple has few seeds and a thin skin that makes it easy to cook. Eggplant is a very international vegetable. The unique and tasty dishes cooked in Japan, China, Italy, Russia and other countries make eggplant a useful and tasty vegetable for your garden. Try eggplant dipped in flour and sauteed in olive oil, stir fried with bean sprouts, peppers, and tomatoes, or roasted and combined with olive oil, chopped onions and tomatoes. Long Purple has 8 to 10 inch long, 2 inch in diameter eggplants. Plant in the spring, 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date. Ground temperature needs to be very warm for seed to germinate. If nighttime temperatures drop below 60 degrees, the fruit will not set. Eggplant prefers rich, deep, loose soils with large amounts of organic material. Provide 1 inch of water a week if it does not rain.

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Protect your fruit trees, berry bushes, shrubs, and vegetable crops from bird and small animal damage with Bird-X bird netting. This durable, tough polypropylene netting with UV coating is available in five sizes to suit your specific pest control needs.

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