Fruitnut, don't be sure tunnels will be so perfect here in the humid northeast. There's an article in Goodfruit (mid-May) about cherries cracking under plastic just from water in the soil (seepage) in Michigan. The researcher who penned the article indicated that there are other complications as well and that success is reliant on more than just throwing up a hoop house. I think your idea is great, but like I keep saying, I'm addicted to the great out-doors. I hate the look of plastic and so far it seems if I select the right varieties and do a bit of extra spraying the fruit will be as good as I need it to be. A little fungicide is probably better for the environment than all that plastic. Still, I hope someone on this forum in my climate takes you up on your suggestion. It seems like the only way to go for organic production of nectarines here and I'd like someone else to do the pioneering for me.

canadianplant, I'm an RN. My specialty is wellness. First, let me assure you there is very little difference between fructose and sucrose. In fact sucrose is a simpler molecule than the sucrose sugar molecule, and is absorbed via the gut more quickly and can cause faster insulin spikes as well as quicker blood sugar spikes. The amount of sucrose a bird might ingest attempting to peck at a fruit would be very small over a period of time. Not enough to cause any sort of issue with the development of type 2 diabetes. Far less than if that same bird decided to ingest 1/2 the fruit it was pecking at. However, all that being said, if birds lack the enzyme responsible for breaking down the sucrose molecule, they cannot absorb sucrose via the gut at all, and it will simply "go in one end, and out the other", in a rather uncomfortable manner (i.e., stomach ache and diarrhea). So, no chance of even considering causing diabetes in a bird. It would be moot. Which I'm not even sure is biologically possible within the avian population. Also, canadian, most of us plant our trees within our yards. I have a hugely biodiverse yard over my acre+ lot. My fruit trees and most edibles are intermingled within my yard. My stone fruits are in two main areas of my yard, but still scattered amongst my other plants. Many California natives, as well as Mediterranean plants, plus many other producing plants such as blueberries, figs, grapes, citrus, sapotes, mangos, guavas, cherimoyas, bananas, etc. So, I'm not planting in "blocks". Birds are great at spotting their meals, whether your lovely cherry tree is in a monoculture block, such as a commercial orchard, or among other plant life, as in my yard. Those little red cherries are like gigantic red flags saying, "eat me". Applying 8 lbs. of sugar diluted in water over an entire orchard would not make any significant difference in the permaculture of that orchard. Sugar is organic, it breaks down very rapidly. It is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. I think this is a splendid, wonderful, safe, organic option. Harvestman, thanks for mentioning this, I am going to read the article, I think it is an amazing option, I really hope it continues to have success. Wow, what an ingenious, sensible, inexpensive and safe solution. My only concern for me would be ant attraction. We have an awful, awful issue with Argentine ants here in S. California. But, I am going to read up on this, as I have about as bad a time with birds as I do with ants :-) And netting is unattractive, a pain in the bazooka, and only partially successful, as any fruits at the outside of the netting will be damaged. We have such a time with birds and cherry trees here, this is what one of our CRFG members has done in her yard, in order to be able to keep the birds from her cherries. Unfortunately, I have way too many stone fruits to do this. Although, I can tell you, I have SERIOUSLY thought of doing this, and most of my trees are in two long orchard rows. It wouldn't look very pretty, but it could get me fruit. Now, if I can just keep the bloody snails out of my trees, life would be sweet. And fruity. Here is a link that might be useful: San Diego Union Tribune: Low Chill Cherries

I grow mostly apples in the central piedmont (Durham County). But I'm experimenting with other fruits and I can tell you a few of my experiences after 5 years of fruit growing. Start your orchard before you have kids! I'm so glad I did because I can hardly find the time to maintain it. I can tell you that apples take a lot of work, if you want quality fruit. At least that's been my experience. I have to spray for everything; cedar apple rust, brown spot, plum curculio has been a devastating insect as well as apple fly maggot. But I've managed to harvest some decent apples recently. I really love Grime's Golden (antique) and Liberty (modern). If you want a care-free fruit, nice tree structure, a bountiful harvest every fall of beautiful blemish-free fruit, the Fuyu persimmon takes the cake. This fruit requires no spray here at my place. Figs are another fruit I'm trying that are showing a lot of promise. I want to start blueberries but just haven't found the time yet.

I posted earlier about Tranquil Waters... a GREAT plant. I grow a few more Stamiles' on this thread right now. Here's my take: ABSOLUTE TREASURE- Gorgeous flower. Major rust magnet in my garden. I love the bloom and keep the plant, but I wouldn't recommend it based on the rust-magnet factor. I have several Stamile plants within touching distance and they are regularly unaffected. DRUID'S CHANT - Grows right next to ABSOLUTE TREASURE in my garden and is alway vigorous. I divided it in July (we've had a drought this year) and didn't do anything special to the pieces I put back in the ground. They look like they were never disturbed. Great plant - I highly recommend it! ALL FIRED UP - Amazing plant. Even though I'm not fond of oranges, this is one of my favorite plants year after year. Great blooms, great foliage, great plant. BLUEBERRY FROST - Almost tossed this one last year. I've had it for 3-4 years and it never did much. This summer, WOWEEWOW! Even though we had a pretty bad drought, BLUEBERRY FROST was an amazing performer. RAINBOW EYE - much nicer now that I've moved it to a place where it gets some afternoon shade. In all-day sun, it has a tendency to scape-blast in my garden. I was going to get rid of all of it last summer - dug it and didn't do anything with it. Last December, I planted it in my garden (it had been on my back porch in a grocery bag since July) and said,"if you live, you live." I told myself that I would sell it all at my Daylily Club's public sale (July 2007) if it lived. It was so pretty in its new spot that it never made it to the public sale. :) LAVENDER RAINBOW - What a great plant! Beautiful blooms, great plant habit. I love this one! CHANCE ENCOUNTER - Lovely and vigorous. LET LOOSE - I didn't think I would like Spiders - this one changed my way of thinking. I needed tall and yellow so I took a chance. It is currently the only thing blooming in my garden, although WILD AND FREE (Stamile), has put another scape. I love-love-love this plant!! CERISE MASTERPIECE - I brought this one home from the Stamile garden last April. It is a magnificent plant. Tall scapes, large blooms, amazing color. It was the first plant I ever spent $150 for and I don't regret it for a nanosecond! There are several others, but this post is long enough!! Meg :)