Bucky, You asked about apple, pear, peach and cherry. In terms of water tolerance. Pear is most tolerant. I've not lost one yet, do to drowning, but they will abort their fruit if they sit in standing water too long. In terms of apples, 111 is pretty tolerant, but I lost an apple on either M9, or M7 (I can't remember which, without looking it up). Don't know about the other apple rootstocks you mention. Peaches aren't water tolerant at all. They need to be in a mound if you have standing water, or if you dig a hole and find it filling up with water. I've found cherries pretty tolerant of water, on Colt rootstock. I understand Mahaleb is not water tolerant. Mazzard is supposed to be fairly water tolerant (Have some of those going in this spring). In terms of mound size, obviously bigger is better. I've built mounds by hand, and by Bobcat. Either way, they will keep young trees from drowning. It's a common practice for commercial peach orchards around here to plant trees in terraces, to get them up out of the flood zone. This is preferable to mounds because it takes longer for the terraces to wash down vs. mounds. However most hobby growers would be disagreeable to terracing their yards. Nevertheless mounds can be maintained by adding organic matter to them in the summer. This will protect them from washing away, and add volume, while helping to maintain moisture. Still, you'll want to monitor your soil moisture in the dry part of summer to make sure your trees get a drink if they need it. If your digging an hole and if fills up with water, you have the same problems I've had, and except for pears, and some select apple and cherry rootstocks, you need to keep your trees out of that standing water.

I have grown a cover crop or I have covered the garden bed with shredded leaves, but never both at the same time. Sometimes a few leaves will get trapped in the cover crop but that is not the same as laying down 6 to 8 inches of leaves which would smother any cover crop you are growing. The leaves will have a Carbon to Nitrogen ratio of between 40 and 80 to 1, almost adequate to promote proper composting. When I have plunked down a goodly amount of leaves on the clay soils of NW Indiana and SE Ohio, shredded and unshredded, over the winter we found the soil the following spring to be more workable and that plants grew better with only a small amount of compost added, much less then the previous year when no leaves were added. If this new plot is now ready for planting I would seed Buckwheat which will be ready to cut by the time the leaves start to fall and then cover that cut Buckwheat and the soil with the leaves for the winter.

Hi Dan, My greenhouse setup sounds kind of similar to yours. My primary purpose of the greenhouse is to grow things directly in the ground. I have two beds, slightly raised, with an aisle down the middle. It works great! We're in chilly MT, and we don't heat our greenhouse and the soil never froze last winter. BUT, we insulated the perimeter of the greenhouse with styrofoam that extends 16" deep. This helps prevent the frozen soil outside from conducting the cold to the soil inside. I know nothing of tropicals, but I can tell you that your overall idea is a good one. In cold weather, I cover the plants with a row cover, or sometimes even a thick comforter at night. I'm surprised at how warm the ground is. Oh, and I also have some comfy chairs to hang out in. In the spring and fall (especially spring), it's a wonderful place to spend time.

Well I went to the plant sale this last weekend, Sorry I did not post earlier my life has been in chaos so to speak. Long story I will not bore you with the details.... However I did purchase some plants, although they were not my first choices but here goes. I purchased Episica 'Silver Dust'Silvery green foliage, dark green veins, red-orange blossoms. Episica 'Tricolor' Silver green and white variegated foliage, copper green veins, red-orange blossoms. Compact grower. Streptocarpella saxorum Basket plant from Southern Africa, quickly growing to 8" tall and 12" across. Branches freely. Bright, inderect light. Outdoors in summer; year 'round bloom indoors. Care as for AV's. Also I happened upon a real whole plant (roots and all a pot too!) called Episica 'Kee Wee'?? A very dark green with red netting foliage.(I don't know what color it blooms? but for a $1- I thought that was a very good buy.) Also a Streptocarpus 'Texas Hot Chili' Bright red blossoms, wide yellow throat medium green foliage, compact grower. A streptocarpus seedling that is a lovely royal purple with interesting white speckles on it's "throat" very gorgeous. Last but not least I have been looking for a pineapple sage for the garden for over 2 years now sheez and when I found one I jumped upon it (not literally of course - I simply had to have it!) The rest are all cuttings or leaves. I also purchased a planted seedling of Chirita tamiana. I have read quite a few posts on this unique little plant and am quite interested in it as well. What a lucky find. She is small but all ready has a nice fat blossom forming as well. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all of them will at least attempt to grow. For the whole lot of plants it cost $10.00 I feel like a burglar in a candy store!! Everything was in my meager budget and I sure hope they all grow! Although, I wish they had more streptocarpus at the plant sale I can still say I am really am excited!! I saw the picture of 'Michelle' that Larry had posted I am in love with that plant shy to say, I even made it a desktop picture for my computer..... now that is what I call addicted! I am going to try and attend some of the local meetings. I discovered them at the plant sale. They have one that meets in the morning, and also one that meets in the evenings. I am sure with my chaotic work schedule that I should be able to make one or the other - yes you can say I am really hooked. Thank You everyone for all your advice and input - I really do appreciate everyone's help and input. Sincerely, Barb