Xtremehorticulture

Xtremehorticulture of the Desert

‘Interlaken’ Grape is a Close Alternative to Thompson Seedless

Leave a Comment / blackberry, desert, grape, selection /

Q. Can ‘Interlaken’ grapes take eastern, southern or western exposure?  What about blackberries? ‘Thompson Seedless’ dessert grape. Sorry, no pictures of ‘Interlaken’ but similar. Blackberries popping up through the mulch, after removal, where ever there is irrigation. Could be ‘Womak’ or possibly ‘Rosborough’ two varieties I would recommend for our climate. A. Both grapes and blackberries should be grown in full sun, away from hot walls, along with soil improvement, irrigation, and mulch. Put them at least 10 feet from hot west and south-facing walls so the heat from the wall during the summer doesn’t hurt them. Blackberries are more of a colder climate type compared to most grapes. Neither grapes or blackberries will do well in hot locations without the air mixing so it’s not so hot. ‘Interlaken’ grape is a seedless desert grape, similar to ‘Thompson Seedless’. In fact, ‘Interlaken’ grape has ‘Thompson Seedless’ genetics in it! For that reason, it should do well in Las Vegas. All blackberries like the cooler climates of the Pacific Northwest and do quite well there ripening in about one week or less. Research done in Yuma, Arizona, by the University of Arizona points out that a few blackberries have grown well in hot desert climates.   Based on that research I grew several varieties of blackberries. Both blackberry varieties ‘Womack’ and ‘Rosborough’ did the best in our dry intense heat. ‘Brazos’ was also recommended for desert climates but it developed leaf scorch during our hot summers. But ‘Womack’ and ‘Rosborough’ varieties didn’t. All suitable blackberries for our desert climate ripened in one day in May.

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Desert plants: Jojoba

Leave a Comment / Desert landscape plants, desert plants, selection, Simmondsia chinensis /

JOJOBA Andrea Meckley, Certified Horticulturist [email protected] Description:  Evergreen shrub Mature size: 6 feet tall x 6 feet wide Water use:  low Exposure:  all day sun Origin: Sonoran Desert Uses:  Hedge, screen, or foundation plant Hardy:  to 15 degrees F Despite its scientific name Simmondsia chinensis, jojoba does not originate in China.  The botanist Johann Link originally named the species Buxus chinensis after misreading a collection label “Calif” as “China”.  This hardy shrub has leathery grey-green egg shaped leaves and the female plant produces edible nut-like fruit.  Jojoba provides year-round food for many animals, including deer, javelina, bighorn sheep, and livestock. The nuts are eaten by squirrels, rabbits, other rodents, and larger birds. Only Bailey’s Pocket Mouse, however, is known to be able to digest the wax found inside the jojoba nut.  The name “jojoba” originated from the O’odham people from the Sonoran Desert who treated burns with an antioxidant salve made from a paste of the jojoba nut.   In large quantities, the seed meal is toxic to many mammals, and the indigestible wax acts as a laxative in humans. Jojoba nuts contain more than 40 percent “oil,” which is actually a liquid wax. The wax is highly resistant to oxidation and is stable at high temperatures. These properties make it a very high quality lubricant, equal to sperm whale oil. Only sperm whale or jojoba oil is acceptable for some industrial applications. The wax is also used in cosmetics. For these reasons and because sperm whales are endangered, jojoba is being developed as a commercial crop in several countries.

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Small Front Yard Tree Not Messy

Leave a Comment / desert landscape, landscape, selection, small tree /

Q. I want to plant a tree in my front yard where it gets southern exposure sun and space is approximately 9 feet from house where it will be planted.  I want something that does not get over approximately 20 ft. at maturity, does not drop fruit, seed pods or anything messy, and is drought tolerant.  I was considering a Western/Mexican redbud, Hawthorne, Raywood Ash.  What do you know of these trees?  Do you have any better recommendations based on my needs? A. Here are a few notes on the trees you mentioned from Andrea Meckley: Western Redbud – litter form leaves in the fall (plant is deciduous) and spring flowers  Multi-trunked so not a good shade tree.  15′ wide x 13′ high at maturity meets goals. Hawthorn – I assume you refer to “Majestic Beauty’ Hawthorn Patio tree-Evergreen with little leaf drop and April flowers that are not much of problem.  Prefers morning sun, not southern exposure.  Matures at 20’h x 8’w although I have not seen much larger than about 10′ high in the Las Vegas area. Raywood Ash – Leaf litter in late winter because tree is deciduous.  Matures at 30′ h x 20′ w. Here are a couple of trees to look at with your requirements.   With the information you gave, the Mulga Acacia (Acacia aneura) sounds like the one I would suggest. Mulga Acacia – Evergreen with small spring flowers are not a big litter problem.  Matures at 20’h x 15’w.  Can be a shade tree with a ball head or lower branches kept on for more shade.  Hardy.   Considered ‘bulletproof’  on the Southern Nevada Regional Coalition Plant List.  Smoke Tree – Leaf debris (deciduous) in late fall.  Matures at 15′ x 15′. Multi stemmed, so leave natural for more shade or prune for tree form. From Andrea Meckley

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Avocado Not a Good Choice for Las Vegas

1 Comment / cold hardiness, freeze damage, selection /

Q. I saw an Avocado potted tree at Lowe’s hardware and was thinking of planting one in my back yard. My question is: When is the best time to plant this tree? Is fall okay? I’m thinking of the winter freeze that might occur. I hope I hear from you soon, in case they sell them out. A. Remember that avocados are very iffy here in the Las Vegas Valley. It will freeze back so keep it against a hot South or West wall, trellis it near a warm winter wall and keep it draped with some sort of sheet or crop cover at nights when you think it might freeze.             Pick a variety that is more cold-hardy if you can find one. Anyway you cut it, it will be an experiment so get ready for the possibility of losing it. You can plant it this fall but protect it this winter and in succeeding winters. Frequently asked questions about avocado click here

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Avocados High Risk in Las Vegas Area But If You HAVE to Plant One….

4 Comments / avocado growing mojave desert, cold tolerant, freeze tolerant, selection, varieties /

Q. Do you have recommendations/suggestions for new avocado and lime tree plantings for Las Vegas? I currently have a Meyer lemon tree which is doing great. A. I don’t like to recommend lime or avocado for this climate, particularly avocado, unless you have a very warm spot in the landscape that can give off a lot of winter warmth and protection from winter winds.             These plants are very tender during the winter here and the chances of losing them due to winter cold is extremely high. That being said, if you decide to move ahead with a lime then any of the limes would be a good choice depending on your preference. Rangpur and red limes, although cold hardy, are not limes at all but could be used as a substitute. To my knowledge there is little difference in the true limes abilities to make it through the cold here so that would not be a consideration.             As far as the avocado goes, I would select a smaller selection to give it a better chance of surviving. Make sure the rootstock is also cold tolerant or you could lose the roots while the top did not freeze. Here are some recommended cold hardy varieties from a Texas website: http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/fruit/varieties_avocado.htm Cold hardy varieties: Brazos Belle: Produces medium-large, purple-black long fruit. Season: October-November. Fantastic: Produces green, paper thin skin, supposedly the most most cold hardy of all. The fruit has a creamy texture. Joey: Selected by Joey Ricers in Uvalde, Texas (just outside of San-Antonio). Produces medium size, egg shaped purple-black fruit. It has excellent flavor. Heavy bearer. Season: September-October. Lila: Produces medium size, green fruit. Season: September-October. Don’t confuse this variety with Lula, which is popular Florida variety and commonly used for rootstock. (Lula is cold hardy to 25F) Poncho: Produces medium to large green fruit. Cold hardy to 15F

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Having Trouble Locating Copena V1 and F1 Nopal Cactus

5 Comments / cactus food, copena, eating cactus fruit, eating cactus pad, nopal, nopalitos, selection /

Nopal cactus growing at the Orchard. Copena V1 and F1 have different shaped pads, different flower and fruit colors. Q. I’ve been having a difficult time acquiring these two varieties of nopal. Do you know how I might find them? A. They are not really varieties but selections. Varieties in the horticultural sense meant to be cultivated varieties. I have them at our facility in Las Vegas but they would have to be propagated from a couple of pads. The only other source I know of would be in Hermosillo, Mexico. You could try contacting Everardo Zamora at the University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico, but getting across the border into the US might be a bit difficult or time consuming. Everardo Zamora ([email protected]) There are other selections/varieties available online that you could look at being grown in southern California and Arizona. There are some with some huge tunas (fruits) that are very eye-appealing but I have never grown them, only the Copena’s which are grown commercially in Sonora.

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