Uncle Josh Gardens

Uncle Josh Gardens 🌱 Master Gardener & Fruit Tree Grower 🏡 | Homesteader 🌾 | Tech Enthusiast 💻 | 10 Years of Growing

06/05/2026

What are you using to protect your plants from bugs? 🤔🐛

One of the easiest setups I’ve found uses a few bent rebar hoops and some tulle fabric to create a lightweight bug barrier. 🌱🙌

It keeps pests off your plants without blocking much sunlight, making it perfect for heat-loving crops like sweet potatoes. ☀️🍠

Just make sure the fabric isn’t resting on the leaves. Moisture can get trapped and create more problems than the bugs you’re trying to stop. 👍

What are your favorite pest prevention methods? Let me know below! 👇

06/04/2026

Have you thought about this when orienting your tomatoes? 🤔☀️

Most people focus on watering and fertilizing tomatoes, but where you plant them can make a huge difference! 🍅

Morning sun helps dry off dew and moisture faster, which can reduce disease pressure on the leaves. 🌅 Plus, giving tomatoes a little afternoon shade during extreme heat can help keep them cooler when temperatures climb above 90°F. ☀️➡️🌤️

A simple change in placement could mean healthier plants and a bigger harvest! 🙌🍅

06/04/2026

What’s been your experience with tomato cages? 🍅👇

I wanted to see how many tomatoes different cages could actually hold before tipping over. 😅

The small cage gave up pretty quickly. The medium cage did better, but it was definitely starting to lean. 🤏

Then came the square cage from Park Seed Gardening🌱💪

This thing handled all 17 tomatoes without even flinching! 🍅🍅🍅 Not leaning, not tipping, and built way heavier than any cage I’ve used before.

Have you found a tomato cage that actually holds up all season? Let me know in the comments! 👇😊

06/04/2026

Are you thinning your apple trees yet? 🍎

If your tree set a heavy crop this year, now is the time to remove some of that fruit. Too many apples in a cluster means smaller fruit, more stress on branches, and a greater chance of disease.

I like to thin clusters down to 1-2 apples and reduce the overall fruit load on overloaded branches. The result? Bigger, healthier, better-tasting apples. 🌳🍏

Are you thinning your apples this season? Let me know in the comments! 👇

06/03/2026

What else are you removing from your fruit trees this season? 🤔🌳

A few quick things I’m always watching for on pear trees: water sprouts, diseased fruit, and root suckers. ✂️🍐 Catching them early makes pruning easier, improves airflow, and helps keep the tree focused on healthy growth. 💪🌱

Most water sprouts and suckers can be snapped off by hand before they become a bigger problem. And if you spot diseased fruit, remove it and toss it in the trash to help prevent it from spreading. 👀🗑️

What’s on your fruit tree maintenance checklist? 🍐🌳👇

How many do you think there are? 🍑 These plums are from 3 of my trees, Santa Rosa, Methley and Burgundy. 🌳 Curious what ...
06/03/2026

How many do you think there are? 🍑 These plums are from 3 of my trees, Santa Rosa, Methley and Burgundy. 🌳 Curious what your guess is on a count. ☝️

06/03/2026

Have you tasted one of these? 🤔🍎

This is one of the most underrated fruit trees you can grow! 😍 It has been cultivated for thousands of years and produces incredibly sweet, crunchy fruit that’s surprisingly easy to grow.

One thing I love about it is how tough it is 💪 They’re rarely bothered by pests or diseases and can handle some seriously cold winters. Many varieties can even be grown as far north as Zone 5! 🌳❄️

The fruit starts out sweet and crisp, almost like an apple 🍎, but as it matures and dries, it becomes chewy with a rich, date-like sweetness. 🤤

The trees can reach 15 to 20 feet tall if left unpruned, but they’re easy to keep smaller with regular trimming.

Are you growing jujubes at home? Let me know in the comments! 👇

06/03/2026

Have you harvested your potatoes yet? 🥔

A lot of gardeners wait until the entire plant dies back before digging, but if you’re looking for tender new potatoes, you can actually start harvesting a few weeks after flowering! 🌱

For larger storage potatoes, wait until the foliage turns yellow and dries up. A quick test is to rub the skin with your thumb. If it stays put, they’re ready. If it peels off easily, give them a little more time.

When do you usually harvest your potatoes? 👇

Can you name this plant? 🌿👀This compact evergreen shrub has been a Southern garden favorite for generations, prized for ...
06/03/2026

Can you name this plant? 🌿👀

This compact evergreen shrub has been a Southern garden favorite for generations, prized for its glossy leaves and highly fragrant white flowers that bloom from late spring into summer. The sweet scent can drift across an entire yard. 🤍

Native to East Asia, it was introduced to the United States in the 1800s and inspired countless dwarf and compact varieties that are now common in home landscapes. Its fragrance alone is often enough to identify it before you even see the blooms.

06/02/2026

Are you growing plums? 🍑🤔

Knowing when they’re perfectly ripe can make all the difference! The first thing I look for is color. As plums ripen, they darken from a lighter shade to a rich purple. Then comes the tug test. A ripe plum should come off the tree with a gentle pull. 🍃✨

Size can help too, but it’s not always a reliable indicator, especially if the tree wasn’t thinned enough. And of course, the ultimate test is taking a bite! 😋 A perfectly ripe plum has that amazing balance of sweetness and tartness.

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Tempe, AZ
85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287

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