I got a surprise last year when picking apples from a tree my grandfather planted at least 40 years ago. I didn't bother to spray it or anything, as it needs a few years of pruning to bring it back. The few apples I got that were edible were yummy from one side of the tree, yet the apples from the other side were definitely not "eat off the tree" apples. When I took a closer look I realized that the bark on one side was completely different from the other side. Apparently my grandfather was practicing this method a generation ago. The other apple tree on the property was similar but the trunks had not inculcated and one of the two died due to neglect. I will try to send a picture, but it's really nothing spectacular. If you plant them close enough I guess they become one trunk. If I end up cutting it down I will definitely be able to see if these were once two trees(or more). There is crab apple near my house that looks like one tree, but last year I noticed that the blooms were quite different on each main branch. I doubt that this is a multi-graft crab apple. I am now assuming that the closer you plant them the better so they simply inculcate.

I thought I'd respond to your interest in some of the Honey line of nectarines. At DWN they grow more than 1100 different types of fruit trees each year and offering every product to every market is a great way to confuse people and dilute their ability to get the right fruit to the right markets. You are right, Honey Blaze is an excellent nectarine, one of the most widely planted nectarines in the world in terms of acreage. However, it needs a lot of heat to generate its true potential as such it has a limited geographic appeal as a home garden or wholesale variety. Honey Kist, which ripens roughly the same time, has more predictable flavor and a wider geographic adaptation which is one of the reasons it is available in their retail division. Honey May, is only suitable for very low chill locations. Honey Diva is a pretty late variety which will harvest in the mid to late September range unless you are in the southwestern states. Again, that limits who can grow it successfully. I'm confident that Dave Wilson has no less than a dozen sub-acid nectarines that are in Honey Blaze's time slot for maturity but every fruit has it's own limitations. There is no universal fruit for all locations, for all palattes or for the range in grower ability. Likewise, it would be impractical to offer all twelve selections at your local or mail order nursery. The staff of your local retailer would go crazy trying to understand the nuances of each variety. I'm sure that dividing the market amongst the dozen in the example will drive up the costs as well. But I agree, and submit that all of the Honies are great nectarines.

prairiemoon, Thai basil has a different flavor, almost completely different, more cinnamon/licorice-like. Darn it's been so long, I can't remember the taste. Unless they are trying Asian recipes, they probably wouldn't enjoy it. Our garage is semi-heated so I have the Confection squash there. Last year it was kept under my husband's workbench in the cellar. The Pennsylvania Crook Necks are sitting on a bench in another part of the cellar where it is cooler. The cellar used to be very damp (old fieldstone foundation) but a few years ago the walls were sprayed to keep out moisture. So far so good. Those are also supposed to keep for 6 mos. I wasn't going to grow them again since like many butterNut types, they are watery but a recipe for caramelized squash was fantastic (roasted with brown sugar). Confection is very dry so I have used it mashed or cubed for Thai curries or other casseroles. I use either squash in recipes for baked goods esp my favorite pumpkin ale bread. I usually add either lime or wood ashes to the garden. We burn wood so there's always plenty of ashes available. I found a source of nicely composted horse manure on Craigslist. The owner mixes manure, kitchen scaps, ashes, etc and turns the pile with his tractor bucket all winter. In the spring it is beautiful and he only charges a nominal fee to load our utility trailer. When I build a lasagna style bed, I give some of the layers a good sprinkle of ashes. I need to re-check suggested application amounts. I love Alaska nasturtiums because the leaves are so pretty. Two years ago I had a lovely yellow climbing nasturtium that did great. Last year it was a bust and didn't climb the ladder I have leaning against the wall. I might not have watered it enough since water priority went to the veggies beds last year because it was so dry. I have cooked with flowers in the past but I'm not a big fan. I grew borage last year specifically for the pretty blue flowers that taste of cucumber but never used it. I have started file folders for recipes to use during different times in the garden year when there's a lot of sugar snaps, spinach or zukes. I started digging out my old herb recipes that I put aside when I didn't have fresh herbs to use. i.e. Rosemary jelly is very nice and good in thumbprint cookies. Opened up pickled tarragon sugar snaps this weekend. Some people liked them, others didn't because of the tarragon flavor and red peppers. The bizarre cucumber from Baker Creek was Poona Kheara. Very nice eaten fresh. You don't have to peel but the skin turns brown as it gets bigger. Starts off almost white. Seemed ok in pickles but I just did easy recipes like freezer dills.

I am going by the peach bible, Peaches of New York, for the origin of Indian Free. Here is what it states: Indian Blood Freestone. 3. Am. Pom. Soc, Cat. 28. 1873. 4. Ga. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 25. 1876. Blood Free was probably raised by John M. Ives, Salem, Massachusetts, and is distinct from Blood Cling in having its stone free. The American Pomological Society placed the variety in its list of fruits in 1873 as Indian Blood Freestone but in 1897 shortened the name to Blood Free. Tree vigorous, hardy; fruit of medium size, compressed; apex roundish; skin greenish-white overspread with splashes and stripes of dark red; flesh blood-red throughout, juicy, coarse, tough and meaty; quality fair; stone free; season very late. This description (besides the fair rating) seems accurate, in particular the "very late". This description is also quoted in the ARS system which likely has the Indian Free that nurseries are propagating today. I looked at that Texas bulletin and it stated mid August which seems too early. So, I think the Indian Free of today is this same peach with reasonably high probability. There were many red-fleshed peaches floating around the US so there always could have been a mix-up somewhere over the years. Scott