Monkeys are Attacking my Fruit Trees!
Q. Chuck Kayser (rhymes with laser) sends this week’s missive from his Midori Farm in Kyoto, Japan:
He begins with the salutation: “Domo arigato Mr. Roboto”, the first part of which is the formal Japanese phrase for “thank you very much”, while “Mr. Roboto” references an unusual song by the band Styx from their 1982 album “Kilroy was here”. The song (about robots) became an unexpected hit and the phrase appeared all over in pop culture, including on The Simpsons. OK? We move on:
But before we do, a quick digression compiled from several Internet Sources: “Kyoto, officially Kyoto City, is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu”. “Kyoto” is known as the "City of a Thousand Temples," a testament to the many temples and shrines steeped in centuries of spiritual tradition. Wander through towering vermilion gates, serene gardens raked smooth by monks, and up to mountaintop shrines that whisper of ancient rituals.”
Back to Chuck, who writes, “I am a long-time listener and have advanced in my growing skills immensely due to your generous advice. Thank you so much for the years of wit and wisdom, making my long drives to the garden/farm as enjoyable as the time I spend there. I should mention, as you would insist, that I reside in Kyoto City, Japan and my farms and gardens are located in the mountains just north of the city. It is difficult to judge what growing zone in the US is most like my own, but let's say about 6b/7a, one with which you are quite familiar. (This is my approximate zoneage, except that my winters are harsher.)
“I am an organic grower/farmer, of mainly vegetable varieties numbering somewhere around 50. But this question is about my little fruit garden. I have three lemon trees, a loquat, a fig, two pawpaw, four blueberries and a raspberry that are all 2-3 years old. I want to move the lot of them to one of my farm areas with a proper fence as the monkey encroachment in the original garden has become just too much. Yes, monkeys. If there is an animal in existence to vie with your evil squirrels for top invader, it is probably the Japanese macaque. Troops of 30-40 regularly test my mettle and devour my Daikon radishes.
“So I have decided to move my fruit trees. Should I soak the ground with water and then pull them out by hand, or would digging them out be better? It is mid fall as I write this; should I do it ASAP, or do you think it would be better left until another time? No more Monkey Business! I am ready to partake in the fruits of my labor!
“I am among the many listeners who are looking forward to more great programming from you, Ducky and everyone else on your team, and any advice would be most appreciated. Domo arigato Mr. Roboto!
“PS: If anyone listening wants to know more about how food systems work in Japan, please look me up. (That goes for rockstar radio hosts too!)”
Spell out: MidoriFarmKyoto.com
A. My reply: You’re welcome, but as I have to prove on many Web pages, I am not a robot!
OK, let’s start with the paw-paws. You MIGHT be able to transplant a widdle baby tree, but the taproot grows fast and deep and trying to transplant a mature tree is doomed to failure (as is the case with other plants with deep taproots). And propagation from cuttings requires a specific rootstock, which may not be available in Japan. The preferred method is to grow new trees from seed, which is reported to work well. I’ll include a link to an immensely helpful Paw Paw Bulletin from Purdue University with the written version of this Question of the Week at the Gurney’s website. (Where you’ll find us under “Gardening Resources”.)
Raspberries: There are two basic types. My canes emerge from the ground as shoots in the Spring and produce large clusters of raspberries at the very tips of their canes at the end of the season. If you don’t (foolishly) cut them back, they will produce a huge crop all up and down the canes in early to mid-summer of the following year and then turn brittle and die. Existing raspberries do not transplant well, but the baby canes that emerge in the Spring are easy to move to another location.
Blueberries grow in a bush form that is relatively easy to transplant. Use shovels to dig a wide island around the plants before they flower, then push the shovels deeper underneath until you can lift the entire plant out, roots, soil and all. Strongly acidify the new hole with sulfur or milled peat moss (this only applies to blueberries), plop the plant in its new hole, and water well until abundant rains appear.
Use the same gentle ‘tush push’ shoveling procedure with the trees, then re-plant at the same height they were or higher. (Make sure the root flare is visible.) Only fill the hole with native soil and add no mulch; instead, spread two inches of finished compost over the area, beginning six inches away from the trunk and going outward at least as far as the furthest branches reach. Water well, especially during dry spells.
And finally, the fig will grow easily from new growth cut in the Spring. No root stock required.
Styx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc6f_2nPSX8