A new forum, or expand an existing one?

I was moving a thread today for one of our members, and their post was about growing grapes. As I was trying to figure out where it would get the most attention and response, I got to thinking....

I know the Fruit Tree forum has a lot of great stuff in there, but we don't have anything for other fruits, berries or nuts (unless I'm totally blind, which is quite possible.)

Assuming there isnt' any other forum, could we/should we do one of the following?

1) Make the Fruit Tree forum more general, calling it Growing Fruits & Nuts (and other suggestions for a name are MOST welcome)

or

2) Create a separate forum for Fruits & Berries (and possibly expand the Fruit Trees name to "Fruit & Nut Trees")

Before Dave makes any changes, I'd love to hear thoughts and ideas from those of you who regularly use the Fruit Tree forum, and those who are looking for a place to discuss strawberries, brambles, grapes, and nut trees...

Terry, I have started 2 threads earlier on this topic because I agree that we should either have a forum for Fruits and Berries, or change the name of the Fruit Trees forum.

I don't have fruit trees, but DO grow berries, and the Fruit Tree forum just doesn't seem to fit.

http://davesgarden.com/t/407640/
http://davesgarden.com/t/408322/

I could go with either choice but tend to lean towards No 1.

Have there been many other requests over time asking about berries/grapes, etc? If not then a separate forum may not be needed and all topics could easily fit in just one.

Edited cus I was writing while darius was posting...

Lots of response at those links, darius. Looks to me like there is good interest in all kinds of fruit/nuts, etc.


This message was edited Apr 9, 2004 11:07 AM

I have raspberries, currants and an apple tree. In the Master Gardener course they just called it 'Fruits' but maybe 'Fruits and Nuts' would be better because some might not think of the nut being a fruit tree. so....a vote for #1. (or 'Fruits, Nuts and Berries') :)

'Shoe... there have been quite a few posts over the 3 years I've been a memmber in some of the general forums, on various strawberries (and recommednations), raspberries (growing tips and suggestions) to currants and grapes. Perhaps with a fruit and berry forum we might encourage more exchange of information.

Somehow, Trees and Berrys do not seem to fit together. Berries fruit in a year or two and it takes years for trees to fruit.

JMHO

Good! Two separate forums would certainly keep 'like topics' grouped together. (Would be helpful in narrowing down info according to a persons interest also.)

Thanks for the fast and thoughtful input - I *thought* I recalled some other discussion on the subject (thanks for the threads, Darius!)

My initial thought was to have Dave just modify the name of the existing forum. If the more general forum draws enough activity to warrant a separate forum for small fruit and berries versus fruit (and/or nut) trees, then we could branch it off (pardon the pun.) Kinda like how we started out with a vegetables forum, then got one for tomatoes, one for heirlooms, and one for legumes...

yes i like to have less forums to go through! :)

Why not make it just; Berry, Fruit & nut forum

We have fruit trees, shrubs and plants in the garden but I didn't even know there was a forum for fruit trees. I'm at the point where I only read a few fora a day and have stuck to those because I simply don't have the time for all these new topics.

Why not just rename the forum "Fruits from Trees, Shrubs and Vines" or "Edible Fruits from Trees, Shrubs and Vines"? I know it would cover a large area, but it would be easier to identify where to post if someone had a question.

How about "Edible Fruits & Nuts"?

(If we limit it to trees, shrubs and vines, we're still leaving out strawberries and brambles, which are none of the above ;o)

"Edible Fruits & Nuts" sounds good to me.

Terry, when I listed shrubs I had thought a bramble would have been included in that category. I consider a bramble by general definition as a thorny shrub which includes varieties of blackberries and raspberries. Whenever you get a chance would you please explain why I was mistaken? As for the name of the new forum, I know you will all do what you feel is best for everyone here. Just my thoughts, Carol

I have always wondered the same thing - why we didn't have a forum for fruit, that aren't trees - as there are many many varieties. This will be nice!

Carol, I'll concede that brambles are technically a thorny shrub or vine (botanically speaking, a bramble is any member of the Rubus genus. As such, I tend to classify them separately from fruiting shrubs such as Vaccinum, Sambucus or Viburnum.)

Brambles notwithstanding, if we dubbed the forum as fruiting trees, shrubs and vines, we'd still be excluding one of the most popularly grown fruits in the home garden, strawberries. (And then there's the perennial fruit everybody loves to hate: rhubarb ;o)

I love rhubarb, and I'm pretty sure Shoe does too!

vic, I'm a rhubarb/pie plant lover myself. Didn't care for it much as a kid (when it appeared regularly in cobblers, pies and such), but now that I don't have access to it, I get a hankerin' for it....need to grow some, I guess!

How about "Grow Your Own" or "Homegrown Produce" or "Organic Gardening" or "Food For Free" or "My Crops" or . . .

Vic..hehehe....dare I send Terry a "Rhubarb"? Mercy me, decisions, decisions.

Back to the topic at hand...I like "Growing Fruit and Nuts", or maybe just "Fruit and Nuts" (you can pluralize fruit if you choose). As for "Edible" being in the title, since the majority of folks in the world are growing fruit to eat the "edible" part seems redundant. (What few posts may appear concerning inedible fruit will obviously be noted.)

Perhaps if you go with Fruits and Nuts as the forum topic, then add under it like the other forums have - Discussion of fruits including tree bearing, bush types etc..... you get the idea. Include what should be covered in this forum.

Ohhh, I've been eyeballin' the rhubarb plantlets and bareroots at the local nurseryr. I really need to decide if I'm gonna get 'em planted this year... one day it's winter, and it seems like the next day it's summer already. Sigh.)

I agree that edible is a bit redundant. Repetive, even (*grin*) And I pondered whether or not to pluralize fruit.

Sooooo please vote for your favorite forum title:

1) Fruit & Nuts
2) Fruits & Nuts
3) Fruit & Nut Gardening (or Fruit & Nut Cultivation)
4) Growing Fruit & Nuts
5) Other????

(Kooger, yes that's a good point - we do need to explain what topics are covered, so those who are looking for the right place to ask their question can know right away if it's where they need to be ;o)

2) Fruits & Nuts
I think that covers it! It can mean,growing picking or some of us! lol
Terry,
I have 3 patches of rhubarb i want to get rid of!!!

green or red?

red i guess! lol
100yrs old came with the centennial farm here
The stalks are red!
My mil makes the pies-rhubarb custard-yummy!

Hmmmm....maybe I need to email ya and help you get rid of your extras?!?!?! ;o)

"Fruits & Nuts" sounds like a great name. hee hee - and it could offer a great range. :)

terry,
If you want some they are yours!
going to bed now!
niteynoodles

Ummm rhubarb is a veg *G* Everyone needs a rhubarb plant, can't stand the stuff myself but it makes a good ornamental.

I know - and technically tomatoes and peppers are fruit. But let's face it - most folks would associate questions about rhubarb with a fruit forum and tomatoes & peppers with veggies.

If you can't stand it, you just haven't tasted it properly prepared ;o) (A rhubarb custard pie is absolutely delicious!)

I vote "Fruits and Nuts"

I vote for Fruits and Nuts also. I also have extra rhubarb and lots of rhubarb recipes. ....love rhubarb custard pie, rhubarb crisp, rhubarb juice......

LMK if anyone would like some rhubarb roots. I have red ones and red/green ones.

LOL Terry, if you get a cuff round the ear late tonight by some mysterious, invisible force, my Nan has seen what you said *G*

It's the acids in them, tomatoes, strawberries and rhubarb all taste like bleached water to me, it's my scent and taste genes that are allegedly faulty not big Nans cooking! (did you read that Nan?;) Perhaps it all goes with the Freesia thing?

Perhaps the blurb underneath the title should include something like 'to include all plants treated as fruit/nuts' or you might find the pedants out in force over cobs and filberts too.


(Running and hiding in the pantry hehehe)

giggling nervously here...

Send my best regards to your nan, will you please?

Wasn't meaning to knock anyone's cooking, just trying to say that the recipe used might make a difference in your perception of this much-maligned fruit. I mean vegetable. (What's the rule about holes? Oh yeah, when you find yourself in one, QUIT DIGGING!)

At any rate, yes I'll work on the intro for the forum to explain what we mean by fruits and nuts (this does open quite a can of worms, eh? Peanuts: nut? or legume?)

probably gotta go with the nutritionists on that one - legume :)

You're safe enough ;) she only used to read Peoples Friend.

I don't know anything about peanut classification but wouldn't it be botanically classed as a seed?

Oh let's not forget that cucumbers are a fruit as well! :)

Baa, you obviously have never had strawberries from the Walla Walla Blue Mountains, aka Klicker Berries. Not tasting like water there!

We bought some strawberries at the store here the other day, from California. Needless to say, they were so bland, they sat on the kitchen counter overnight and I had to chuck them the next morning.

Fruits and Nuts or could translate to "(Insert name here) and his friends."

Regardless, I still like the Plural of both the best.

I'm wondering if someone will post in 'Fruits and Nuts' thinking it's just a chat forum! lol