Hey , thanks for all the kind words.
Martin , I hear what you are saying about the root pruning task. I think all of the self watering 5 gallon containers could use it this Winter and there are 40 or more of those. The 25 gallon pots all need it too except for my only single trunk tree in the 3rd photo which is one of my RDB which was root pruned this past Winter.. I call that tree my Martin tree ,it doesn't look as good as yours , but I was inspired to try it by your nice looking trees.
Dominick , what can I say , mea culpa , although some of these are multiples for instance in the last photo in the top row all of those are Gino's Black. So I am not going for as many additional varieties as focusing on the ones I expect to do well here. I only have around 50 varieties not the 200 like you!
Dan , I use an organic potting mix with compost as a base and add extra lime , organic fertilizer called Pro-Gro, perlite and a little worm casting.
Usually I add 1/4 cup of Pro gro every other week as well and water with seaweed extract when the spirit moves me.
On a hot Summer day I usually water twice a day filling the resevoir and top watering a bit. The plants are mostly 3 years old and of decent size so they really can move some water. I need to set up a drip system on a timer once I really establish consistant pot locations after thinning the herd a little.
Danny K they overwinter in the barn basement which is bermed with soil on three sides and bermed with snow on the other. At 20F below zero winter nights it is 22F to 25F in that basement , mostly it stays around 30 to 35.
Jason , I went down to F&M Tool and Plastics in Leominster, Ma and bought a pallet and a half of these pots. I don't think they make them anymore , but they still make the barrel that Bill of Bills Figs fame uses.
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BLB , everybody needs flowers. I have to have at least a few of those April in Paris and Spencer Supreme sweet peas growing out of a crate on one of the benches. The fragrance is wonderful the stems are long and sturdy and they don't mind hanging intead of climbing. Best of all my wife loves them.