Hello, this is sisterhood. This is our first post in this Community. We share the interest for gardening and planting all kinds of plants including trees that fit in our small space.
The fall season is ending soon...very very soon giving way to winter. Some of our backyard fruit trees will soon go dormant and we won't be seeing lush harvest till next growing /fruiting season. Next year!
We are fortunate to be able to grow fruit trees even with a small backyard. Aside from the benefit of getting a free and organic fruit supply, you get more nutrients from eating freshly picked fruit.
There are also advantages to planting fruit trees or even non-bearing ones. They absorb the CO2 emissions and convert them to fresh oxygen. They give shade and provide cooler surrounding especially during hot summer months.
Oranges
Millions of oranges once grew in Orange County. It has 34 chartered cities including Anaheim where I live.
As the county became popular more people and migrants settled in. The land became more expensive and trees had to go to make room for houses. Today there are only a few remaining privately owned orchards. Most houses though have orange trees in their backyards, us included.
Ours is a dwarf tree and has a lot of fruits. We have to put wooden support to save the branches from breaking and the fruits as well.
Oranges contain more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. It has the highest vitamin C among citrus fruits. It is also high in potassium. One can enjoy the health benefits by eating the fruit or by squeezing to extract the juice.
The orange tree has small white fragrant blossoms. The extract from the flowers is made into orange blossom water for culinary purposes and orange blossom essential oil for aromatherapy.
Persimmons
Persimmon is an exotic fruit that looks like a tomato. Eating persimmon offers a lot of health benefits. It contains betulinic acid an anti-cancer compound that has the power to cause tumor cells apoptosis. Or if one already has a tumor, it can prevent from growing larger. Other health benefits also include controlling blood pressure, maintaining blood sugar levels, enhancing visions, and more.
This is our final harvest of persimmons. The tree will soon be dormant in a few weeks.
Guavas
Guava is a tropical tree but it thrives here in Southern California because we do not have harsh winters and have warmer summers. The guava fruit contains a lot of vitamin C, more than twice the recommended daily allowance, and more than twice the vitamin C content of an orange. It also contains other nutrients like iron and calcium for healthier bones.
Aside from the fruit, the leaves also have health benefits. The leaves are boiled to make herbal tea. It is known as a natural remedy for diarrhea and upset stomach. Because of its antiseptic properties, it can also be used to cleanse wounds and cuts.
Tomatoes
Tomato is botanically classified as a fruit but it is also referred to as a vegetable based on its culinary application. Although tomato season is between summer to fall, we still have a few to harvest this season. Maybe, these are our last harvest too.
Goodbye sweet juicy summer fruits! See you next year ...in more abundance, please!
