I used the Burpee 72 cell seed starter kit. I read that this was a good way avoid any damping-off problems.
I am hoping that the fluorescent lights will be just warm enough to keep the seed tray at the right temperature. The seed tray is setup inside the house.
I notched the Santa Rosa plum above two buds and above 1 branch. The intended form is a bush. My intention in the way I notched it was to create 3 strong laterals.
I just cut a large branch off the orange tree. I'd say it was 15 percent of leaf volume from the tree. I cut the branch off because it is 1 of 2 branches that does not seem to fruit well. I have also noticed that on these two benches have leaves that are fairly yellow especially around their edges.
The objective of the fig training is too create 3 laterals I think that is called a vase structure. The experiment is that I cut the 3 inches from 1 of the 2 laterals on the fig tree. I want to compare the subsequent growth. I am assuming that the branch that I cut will have more growth and branching below it. And that the branch that I did not cut will grow taller with less branching. I also cut a notch just below the crotch above a bud that is in a good position to form the third branch of this they fan structure.
First round of printing the to Apple and to pear trees. The final form will be a fan. I've left a few buds above the two top lateral. The pruning book seemed to suggest this would promote the laterals having a wide crotch so long as I notched just above the lateral buds. I have done this notching by cutting with a hack saw see photo.
