Uncle Josh Gardens

Uncle Josh Gardens 🌱 Master Gardener & Fruit Tree Grower 🏡 | Homesteader 🌾 | Tech Enthusiast 💻 | 10 Years of Growing

09/04/2026

Are you growing apples? 🍎🌳

One of the easiest ways to check if an apple is ready is the lift-and-twist test. Gently lift the apple and rotate it. If it releases easily from the spur, it’s a good sign it’s ready to harvest.

Color alone can be misleading, so taste and variety-specific ripening signs matter too! 🍏

What apple varieties are you growing? 👇

09/03/2026

Have you ever seen this on a fruit tree? 🌳🔥

Before buying a fruit tree, always check it closely for signs of disease. Brown, scorched-looking leaves along with rapidly dying or curled shoots can be signs of fire blight, a bacterial disease that can spread through susceptible pear and apple trees.

If a tree is already showing suspicious symptoms at the nursery, I’m leaving it behind! 👋🌳

And remember, susceptibility varies by variety, so choosing more resistant varieties can make a big difference.

09/03/2026

Have you tried comfrey in your orchard? 🌱🌳

Comfrey might be one of my favorite chop-and-drop plants. It produces tons of foliage, grows back quickly after cutting, and those leaves can be spread around fruit trees as mulch, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil as they break down.

I grow Bocking 14 Russian comfrey, which is sterile and won’t spread by seed. Just choose your planting spot carefully! Its roots can be tough to remove, and even small root pieces can grow into new plants.

I’ve already chopped mine down about three times this year, and it keeps coming back! 🌿✂️

What’s been your experience with comfrey?

09/02/2026

Why are bees drinking from my pots? 🐝💧

With temperatures pushing 100°F and no rain, every time I water my container plants, the bees show up! They collect water to help regulate the temperature of the hive and also use it when preparing food for the colony.

And surprisingly, bees can be attracted to water with small amounts of salts and minerals, which may help supplement nutrients they need. That’s one reason damp soil and water around pots can be so appealing. 🪴🐝

Just make sure any water you intentionally provide is free from pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

Did you know bees need water to help cool their hive? 🐝

09/02/2026

What’s your favorite fig? 👇

Alma might be mine! This honey fig was one of the biggest I’ve ever harvested, and it was perfectly ripe. 🍯💛

Dark spots, a little splitting, honey dripping from the eye, and almost no milky sap when picked. Inside, it had beautiful pinkish flesh and an incredibly sweet, honey-like flavor. 🤤

Just make sure you check your figs often because once they start ripening, the birds and squirrels will be watching too! 🐦🐿️

09/01/2026

What else are you cleaning up on your fruit trees right now? 🌳✂️

One thing I watch throughout the season is ground clearance. Branches that start growing downward can get in the way of mowing, make the tree harder to work around, and give squirrels easier access to your fruit. 🐿️🍐

If a branch is hanging too low, I’ll usually remove it back to a good lateral branch or the trunk. Catching them while they’re young makes the job even easier!

08/31/2026

Have you investigated chill hours before purchasing fruit trees? 🍑❄️

Not every peach tree needs the same amount of winter cold. Red Haven typically needs around 800–950 chill hours, while Contender is often listed closer to 1,000+ hours.

That difference can affect when trees break dormancy and bloom, which is especially important if late freezes are common in your area. 🌸🥶 A later-blooming variety may have a better chance of avoiding freeze damage.

Chill hours aren’t always listed on the plant tag, so look them up before you buy! 🌳🍑

08/31/2026

Do you like muscadines? 🍇☀️🌿

If you’re growing grapes in the hot, humid Southeast, muscadines are hard to beat! 🍇🔥 They thrive in our climate, are naturally more disease resistant than most bunch grapes 💪🌱, including strong resistance to Pierce’s disease, and established vines can produce tons of fruit! 🧺🍇

Bronze or purple, which is your favorite? 🟡🟣👇

08/30/2026

Have you ever pruned a tree with just your hands? 🌳✋

Catch young water sprouts early enough and you can often snap them off cleanly with your thumb before they become a bigger problem. Easy pruning with no tools required! 🌱

Have you tried this on your trees?

08/29/2026

What are you planting in your fall garden? 🥬🌱

Kale, cabbage, collards, broccoli, and cauliflower are some of my favorites for the cooler months. Many actually get sweeter after a little frost! ❄️

What’s going in your garden right now? 👇

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Tempe, AZ
85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287

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