Aaron S.
Mame
Is there going to be a contest for 2025?
2025 Contest
- Thread starter Aaron S.
- Start date
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Various contests are presented throughout the year by members.
Was there one you were thinking about in particular?
Aaron S.
Mame
Nothing in particular, just something that isn't too expensive or requires a lot of skills that a rookie doesn't have yet.
Gabler
Masterpiece
Fruit tree contest?
Aaron S.
Mame
That would be cool. I've always wanted an apple tree, at least until I see the price for one.
Dan92119
Mame
Grown from seed, cutting or airlayer? Seed might be best since everyone would be in the same position.
Aaron S.
Mame
I like seed. How long 5 year?
Dan92119
Mame
I like seed too, 5 years sounds good. I bought some tasty crabapples that I want to grow the seeds. Someone has to be in charge, I'm not volunteering! lol. Someone would also have to be the judge.
Aaron S.
Mame
Ok 5 year Fruit from seed. I wouldn't even know what criteria to be judged. Hopefully we can get a volunteer to make it official.
Desert O'Piñon
Chumono
This sounds like something I could join. Should we set up some parameters?
Are we talking about any fruit tree? Do tropicals count? Germination this spring? On what aspects will they be judged? Progression threads, or no pics until the big reveal?
Yeah, I think I'm ready to challenge myself.
Are we talking about any fruit tree? Do tropicals count? Germination this spring? On what aspects will they be judged? Progression threads, or no pics until the big reveal?
Yeah, I think I'm ready to challenge myself.
Faisal Ahmad
Mame
only for seed yah?, air layer dont count?
Desert O'Piñon
Chumono
From seed, everyone starts at the same point.
Question: are we talking about edible fruit, nuts, cone fruits, berries?
Also, are there qualifications for participants, such as no more than 5 years (for example) experience in the art?
Question: are we talking about edible fruit, nuts, cone fruits, berries?
Also, are there qualifications for participants, such as no more than 5 years (for example) experience in the art?
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Gabler
Masterpiece
Five years from seed is a bit short. It'll be a bunch of sticks in pots.
Desert O'Piñon
Chumono
Right. And I imagine many people who enter a 10 year project won't still be active in bonsai/bonsainut.
So...
...nursery stock? Cuttings? Layers?
I'd like to participate.
The Barber
Chumono
I kinda like the idea of an air layer contest, perhaps with native wild trees?
Desert O'Piñon
Chumono
That's not a bad idea...
...for most of us. Does piñon count as a fruit tree? I don't know of any other native fruit trees in my state. Unless you count pine nuts and/or juniper berries. But then I'd have to ask for advice for air layering conifers...
I'm sure there's plenty of information here on the subject. Regardless, I'm going to have to get permission from someone to air layer their tree. I'm up for the challenge.
...for most of us. Does piñon count as a fruit tree? I don't know of any other native fruit trees in my state. Unless you count pine nuts and/or juniper berries. But then I'd have to ask for advice for air layering conifers...
I'm sure there's plenty of information here on the subject. Regardless, I'm going to have to get permission from someone to air layer their tree. I'm up for the challenge.
Gabler
Masterpiece
I'm a big proponent of native trees, but there's already a native tree contest going on. Other contests include the discount rack contest and the oak tree contest.
I suggested a fruit tree contest specifically because fruit is more of a culinary term than a botanical term, so there's room for flexibility. Yew and juniper both have "berries," for example.
Aaron S.
Mame
Sounds like we have some interest and some details to work out. Personally I'm not so sure on air layering, I've never tried it.
Where is a good place to order some apple seeds?
According to Mr. Wikipedia there is a lot of leeway on what is a fruit tree Fruit Tree Link Goes Here I never thought about it but it is saying pecan trees are considered to be fruit. I have a healthy hatred for pecan trees. Well not pecan trees in general, just the ones in my yard that try to kill me and prevent me from installing a radio tower.
Yeah I think that it should be what is classified botanically rather than culinary.
Where is a good place to order some apple seeds?
According to Mr. Wikipedia there is a lot of leeway on what is a fruit tree Fruit Tree Link Goes Here I never thought about it but it is saying pecan trees are considered to be fruit. I have a healthy hatred for pecan trees. Well not pecan trees in general, just the ones in my yard that try to kill me and prevent me from installing a radio tower.
Yeah I think that it should be what is classified botanically rather than culinary.
JoeR
Masterpiece
For what it's worth, in my opinion 'fruit tree' and 'from seed' don't really go together well. Crabapple and apple for example may take exceedingly long to flower from seed, some sources say 20+ years and that's in the ground. Longer when constrained to bonsai culture. Ume in 5-7 I've read, and of course the flower color is yet unknown. To some, the variability in flower color and fruit quality is a good thing, to others not so much. There are exceptions but 3-7 years is usually absolute minimum from seed.
If you want to stick to the theme of fruiting bonsai, which I think is cool, I would suggest from layer or cuttings.
For layers these are really convenient, from a US based company, and would allow a consistent first start while supporting a good product.
You might also consider benchmarks instead of an "end". 5, 7, & 10 year marks for those still participating. Many of the other contest threads are updated well past the "end".
In the end, all trees bare some sort of "fruit" nut or cone, so to define rules, perhaps you would say that it must meet criteria like:
Fruit must be a focal point to displaying the tree
Directly edible for humans
Etc
Pines for example, many have seeds that are edible. But by no means are pine cone seeds a feature of displaying pine bonsai, so they would be disqualified. Juniper are edible, arguably the fruit are not really a feature, but the berries have to be processed to become Jin or tea, so that would disqualify it.
If you want to stick to the theme of fruiting bonsai, which I think is cool, I would suggest from layer or cuttings.
For layers these are really convenient, from a US based company, and would allow a consistent first start while supporting a good product.
You might also consider benchmarks instead of an "end". 5, 7, & 10 year marks for those still participating. Many of the other contest threads are updated well past the "end".
In the end, all trees bare some sort of "fruit" nut or cone, so to define rules, perhaps you would say that it must meet criteria like:
Fruit must be a focal point to displaying the tree
Directly edible for humans
Etc
Pines for example, many have seeds that are edible. But by no means are pine cone seeds a feature of displaying pine bonsai, so they would be disqualified. Juniper are edible, arguably the fruit are not really a feature, but the berries have to be processed to become Jin or tea, so that would disqualify it.
JoeR
Masterpiece
One more thing about fruit trees from seed. For certain species, like persimmon, you have a high chance of ending up with a male plant that will produce pollen structures but no fruit.
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