Richard, I haven't tried it before, as this is my first year of good fruit production. I think it'll take at least 2 days, and up to a week depending on the temps to fully dry. Our Delta Breezes (nature's airconditioner) would slow the drying down at night, but I would keep them under my patiocover to keep any dew off them. I don't think this idea will work for my apples and pears, as they ripen during much cooler temperatures. I am going to be prepared for next year's 'Fruitopia'. I'll set the screens and racks up this winter. Maybe a fan for circulation...hmmm...
In past years, I have had my Liquidambers in the front yard sprayed with Florel to abort the stickerballs, and I think I've been getting some drift into my backyard, even though I covered some trees, and told the company not to spray toward the backyard (they are lazy though and just spray from the street unless you watch them...which is difficult). This year we are a little less than financially set, so we decided not to spray. Wow! what a difference! I've had to cull fruits like crazy!
The non-sprayed trees are now dropping large broken branches chock full of stickerballs all over the yard and street. Now the DW says I can
FINALLY cut them down (she's afraid someone will get hurt or it'll damage their car). I've wanted to do that since we moved in 9 years ago. We've paid about $1200 to spray 2 trees for 8 years.
The liquidamber is the #2 pollen producer in this area (fruitless Mulberry is #1 which I cut 1 down this spring). It drops something all year long! It drops amber sap all year, stickerballs in winter, all the leaves in fall,
TONS of pollen in spring, and now big, heavy branches in the summer.
I'm trying to come up with something that fruits to replace them with after I cut them down. I wanted Macadamia, but I don't think they'll last thru my winters. I have a full assortment of stone, pome, and citrus fruits, and the DW hates Figs and Persimmons. I
would like some Persimmons though. I've tried to choose varieties that'll flower and ripen in succession thru the season...
I think I've reached 'babbling' Must be the heat.
Microfarmer out...