What did you do in your orchard today?

[CrealCritter]

Couple red delicious apples hanging from a pruned branch.

Few more

Some is better than none

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

I've been studying up on apples for cider. I'm planning a long row. If anyone has ever researched apples, then you know there are so many different varieties. Deciding on apples for cider mix is a daunting task. Not to mention cider apples mixes are closely guarded secrets.

Through my studies of all the books I can get my hands on and a select few on-line sites, I've seemed to have come upon a good starting point for cider mix.

Blend for unfermented cider

Sweet/Base apple(s) (30 ~ 60%)​

Tart apple(s) (10 ~ 20%)​

Aromatic apple(s) (10 ~ 20%)​

Astringentic apple(s) (5 ~ 10%)​

Although it's true a select few apples will make a fairly decent one apple cider. I want to leave myself open to tweaking a mix. It's not like you can just throw in a apple tree. They take years to start producing.

I'll edit this post as I zero in on the cider apples I want to try and graft and grow.
it's quite fun researching apples, I find it really interesting. I'll probably try and put them on M111 semi dwarf rootstock for easy of picking.

Sweet/Base Apple
Esopus Spitzenburg (annual large)
Scionwood

Duchess of Oldenburg Apple Scionwood - Fedco Trees

Late Summer. Russia, well before 1800. Also called Duchess or simply Dutch. Imported in 1835 and named to honor Catherine Pavlovna, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, sister of Czar Alexander.Extremely hardy. Medium-sized round red-striped fruit is crisp, tender, juicy, subacid and aromatic. Highly...

www.fedcoseeds.com

History

Esopus Spitzenburg - New England Apples

newenglandapples.org

Golden Delicious (annual medium large)
scionwood already have

History

Golden Delicious - New England Apples

newenglandapples.org

Tart
Granny Smith (annual - medium large)
Scionwood already have

History

Granny Smith - New England Apples

newenglandapples.org

Aromatic
Snow or Fameuse (annual small medium)

Scionwood

Empire Apple Scionwood - Fedco Trees

Fall-Winter. (McIntosh x Red Delicious) New York, 1966.Medium-sized round-to-conic dark red fruit with cream-colored flesh. Firm, aromatic, excellent fresh eating. Very popular in Maine and throughout New England. Stores up to 5 months. Vigorous tree, bears young and annually thereafter...

www.fedcoseeds.com

History characteristics

Snow (Fameuse) - New England Apples

newenglandapples.org

Astringentic
Bitter Pew (annual medium)

Scionwood

Blue Pearmain Apple Scionwood - Fedco Trees

Fall-Winter. Thought to be from Middlesex County, Mass., 1700s.Our favorite for baked applesit was made to be stuffed. Moderately juicy flesh, firm, dense and slightly crisp, sweet with a bit of a tart background flavor. Incredibly beautiful medium to very large fruit is streaked and splashed...

www.fedcoseeds.com

------------------------------------------------------------

Other Apples of Interest

Single Apple Vintage Cider
Kingston Black (Annual medium)

Scionwood

Keepsake Apple Scionwood - Fedco Trees

Winter. MN 1593. (MN 447 [Frostbite] x Northern Spy). U Minn, 1979.One of the best of all winter storage varieties. Fine-textured flesh is hard, crisp, juicy and sweet. Excellent aromatic flavor, but wait about a month after picking before eating. Well namedkeeps until July in the root...

www.fedcoseeds.com

Standard all-purpose home and commercial variety of mid 1800's
Baldwin bi-annual medium large)
Scionwood

Black Twig Apple Scionwood - Fedco Trees

Fall. Seedling of Winesap, Fayetteville, TN, c. 1830. Also known as Paragon.This apple has a muddled history with much debate over whether it is distinct from Mammoth Black Twig, aka Arkansas. Also commonly mixed up with another famous southern apple, Arkansas Black. Confusing origins and...

www.fedcoseeds.com

History & characteristics

Baldwin - New England Apples

newenglandapples.org

Order info
Blended apple cider row order
M111 rootstock in bundles of 10 (space 15 to 20 foot apart)

Scionwood 8" stick will graft 3 to 4 rootstocks
Sweet
Esopus Spitzenburg
Golden Delicious - already have scionwood
Tart
Granny Smith - already have scionwood
Aromatic
 Fameuse
Astringentic
Bitter Pew

Others
Kingston Black (vintage single apple cider)
Baldwin (standard all purpose apple of mid 1800's)

Long term, 3 to 5 years before apple production. But I believe I've done my homework and left myself plenty of wiggle room for recipe tweeking. The apples won't grow if I don't graft them. So I'll order the rootstock and scionwood in November for mid March delivery and get grafting. Should be interesting and fun to try.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

A primer on common rootstocks for USA

Deeper dive on all available rootstocks and other good information (bookmark worthy)

Fruit tree advice

Rootstocks, climate, planting times, training, triploid apple varieties - and more.

www.orangepippintrees.com

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Picked up good Bartlett pears that got blown off the tree by thunderstorms last night. I left the not good so good ones for bees and wildlife. Pears are nice you can pick them a little early to ripen off the tree. I'll probably pick the rest of them off the tree in a week or so.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

since all my M111 air layers survived transplanting into 3 gallon nursery pots. I went ahead and pruned off lower leaves and branches, in anticipation of grafting mid August. I may graft a little earlier since it's been a week of on and off again thunderstorms and rain. Everything is well hydrated currently and I think it would be a good time to do some chip grafting.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[R2elk]

Picked cherries today.

 

[CrealCritter]

Picked cherries today.
View attachment 19732View attachment 19733View attachment 19734View attachment 19735

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

After Wednesday they say it's supposed to rain most every day, who knows about forecasts though... It rained last night and is raining now. I may just wait until Saturday or Sunday to try my first ever attempts at chip grafting. I really want to wait until everything is well hydrated.

I'll be using this video a my guide. I think it's a good one. There is one thing I've yet to see or read about that's crossing my mind. It would stand to reason that you want to place the chip so it's oriented in the same position as it is on the bud stick. I guess it's common sense that you don't want to place it upside down. I suspect sap will only flow in one direction. So my suspicion if the chip were placed upside down it wouldn't take.

I'll share my experience with my first ever grafting attempts.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Just sharing what I believe to be some very good info

Original Inquiry: Hello Starkbro, I hope you are having a blessed day.

Could you please advise what has overcome my redhaven peach tree. And recommend treatment. Please see attached photo.

Please see the solution below:
Solution:

2022-08-04 07:20:42 Dear Valued Customer, We appreciate you reaching out to us. Red spots on a peach tree are caused by overwatering combined with poor drainage. But red spots can also be caused by chemical toxicity or lack of nitrogen. peach trees are also vulnerable to rust and leaf curl that can cause red spots on the leaves before they start falling from the tree. Overwatering is the leading cause behind red spots on peach tree leaves. Overwatering can also kill the root system of the peach tree and reduce the lifespan of this fruit tree. Overwatering can be easily be avoided by regulating the irrigation system according to the water requirements of the peach tree. But, don’t forget to monitor the amount of water distributed by the irrigation system as this is important as well. A mature peach tree requires several gallons of water every day in the growing months of July and August. I would highly recommend adjusting the irrigation system to maintain a steady supply of moisture for a healthy peach tree. Proper watering will not only maintain the leaf color but also plays an important role in fruit production because Peach fruit contains 87% water. Potted peach trees need more water than those growing in garden soil, and this means they have high chances of overwatering. Make sure you water the potting soil only when the soil dries. Generally, in summer, a potted peach tree needs to be watered every day. But in winter, this frequency reduces to every five days. The frequency can vary depending on the temperature in your region, rainfall, crop size, and the age of your peach tree. Improper drainage can also lead to overwatering. It could also be due to poorly draining soil or container. Always use well-draining soil to avoid trapping unnecessary water in the soil. Bacterial Spot- Xanthomonas campestris pv.Pruni is a bacteria that causes red spots on peach tree leaves and even infects the fruit. This disease is also known as the bacterial shot hole, and it’s a common issue for old peach trees. The reddish-purple leaf spots caused by this bacteria have a white center. This bacteria can overwinter, and once the temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), it starts multiplying. As the infection spreads, the red spots on the leaves will turn into holes which further destroy the appearance of the leaves. The infected leaves can also turn yellow before falling. If left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the tree and cause early defoliation, which impacts the fruit size and leads to winter damage. This bacteria spreads via rain splashing and pests. High humidity and wet conditions also contribute to the rapid multiplication of this bacteria. It’s difficult to treat bacterial leaf spots, but you can use bactericides to suppress the infection on the leaves. Peach Leaf Curl- This leaf curl can infect everything you see on a peach tree; the leaves, fruit, and flowers. Caused by the Taphrina deformans fungus, the initial stage of infection starts with the leaves thickening before curling. The leaves will also change color — red then yellow. Infected leaves will finally start shedding if the fungus is not treated timely. This leaf curling and spotting can weaken the whole fruit tree and even affect the quality of the fruit. Just like bacterial leaf spots, Peach leaf curl is also difficult to treat. But, you can save your peach tree if you apply fungicides before the buds break. You should also spray the tree with horticulture oil to kill the fungus or any pests hiding. Peach Rust- This is caused by Tranzschelia discolor, a fungus that spread through air pores. Peach trees growing in wet, warm regions are more vulnerable to rust because the fungus grows in warm conditions. The water sitting on the leaves after rainfall or watering can also contribute to the growth of rust. Leaves of an infected peach tree will develop lesions that are yellow on the upper portion of the leaves and red or brown near the tip of the leaves. Avoid leaving water on the foliage for too long. Improve the airflow around the tree by spacing the trees properly and pruning them regularly. You can also take the help of fungicides to destroy the fungus and infected spores. Make sure you use a sulfur-based fungicide. Nitrogen deficiency is always associated with pale green leaves, but it can vary from one plant to another. If your peach tree leaves have red spots and the tree starts shedding the leaves, it’s suffering from a lack of nitrogen. Nitrogen deficiency can also be caused by root rot because infected roots cannot absorb the nutrients from the soil even if they are available. But, before you decide to add nutrients to the soil, I highly suggest checking the plant for root rot first. Once you are sure that your peach tree is not suffering from root rot, fertilize your peach tree with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Test the soil regularly to make sure your fruit trees are not suffering from any nutrient deficiency, especially in the growing months. Chemical toxicity caused by copper can also lead to necrotic or red spots on a peach tree. The foliage can also develop holes. Avoid using harmful chemicals for fruit trees. If necessary, apply the chemicals only at the beginning of the season to prevent toxicity. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us, remember that we're here for you. Have a great day!

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Welp, cattle love pears and they don't even care if there's a bad spot on them.

Jesus is Lord and Christ