Growing Fruit Trees in Hell

[leopard lizard]

Looks like I am the first one here. Our area has alkaline soil, temperatures that range from freezing to 100 plus and hot drying winds in the afternoons. The main problem is the continual false springs that bring things to life than freeze them over and over again until they just don't come back anymore. We even had a mini tornado whip through last summer that took all the leaves off the trees just before a heat wave so some trees didn't recover. The Dave Wilson method of growing small trees close together in a sheltered environment is my main hope (possibly constructing a kevlar biosphere) but I am also hoping to find things that will grow here anyway.

Our trees that have so far survived the temperature extremes/rabbits/gnawing rodents/ march of the sphinx moth larvi/winds/tornado and goats are: JUJUBE--Ling and Lang (fruited first
season--always green and glossy despite the winds and doesn't leaf out until it is safe)
PIX ZEE PEACH (no fruit yet/can't keep the cover on)
QUINCE (has 4 fruits on it this year)
HALLS HARDY ALMOND (no fruit but pretty)
PLUM, GREEN GAGE
APRICOT, HARCOT(lost half of the branches that faced the tornado but coming back)
FIG, BROWN TURKEY--comes back as a bush each year--plan to build it a little house)
pOMEGRANITE--stays in the house each winter

As stated, the traditional fruits will need some sort of heavy duty constructed wind-proof protection to ever fruit but I have high hopes for the jujubes. Any one else have something bizarre that can survive in gardening hell?

[Ed Laivo]

I know the Fallon area and it can be a bear in the winter and spring. Dave Wilson Nursery has done a lot of work with growing fruit trees in the Las Vegas area. So the soils can be dealt with by maintaining a good thick mulch (see videos on You Tube "dave wilson trees"). Then you may consider building wind tunnels which are being used in many situations like yours around the country. These are plastic house structures that are open at both ends. it allows wind to go through but offers a little break and protects against late spring weather changes. Keeping the trees low is important so you can give the structure a low wide profile. I am not sure that the wind in Fallon would defeat this attempt but it is worth a try.

[leopard lizard]

The wind tunnels are intriguing. We are in an undeveloped open area with no trees or fences or buildings to serve as windbreaks. The roof of the chicken house used to end up in the neighbor's yard regularly. I think the people in town with fenced yards have better luck. They also don't have the amount of rodents, etc. that we have. One year something ate every leaf and small branch off our Hall's Hardy Almond--couldn't have been the goats or a deer as it is completely fenced in and couldn't have been rabbits as the damage was clear to the top of the tree. Must have been the groundsquirrels or rats or something. This week I went out to worship my 4 developing quince fruits and they were gone and the tips of the branches with leaves were all laying on the ground. Don't know if it was the Ravens or climbing rodents again. I am beginning to think the only hope is a screen house with small trees planted close together in raised beds. A place in town grows vegetables in hoop houses and theirs haven't blown away yet but that is quite an investment.

[treeplanting]

Originally Posted by Ed Laivo

Then you may consider building wind tunnels which are being used in many situations like yours around the country. These are plastic house structures that are open at both ends. it allows wind to go through but offers a little break and protects against late spring weather changes.

I'm working with a tree planter from Winnemucca, NV in the high desert that is trying to establish young trees. I read about the use of wind tunnels and would like more information or some images showing how this is done. Are there any video clips on YouTube of this system? I've asked William to join the forum so he can provide more details. Based on his schedule it may take him a couple of weeks to respond. Thanks for your help. -Robert