What did you do in your orchard today?

[CrealCritter]

For those of us who have or would like an orchard, big or small doesn't matter.

Today I planted Starkbros Standard Supreme XL bare root Sunrise and Moonglow pear trees. They were on sale and couldn't pass them up. They should go nice with our mature Bartlet and Asian Pear trees.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[R2elk]

Picked cherries today.

 

[CrealCritter]

Only fair to post pictures of the Sunrise and Moonglow bareroots planted yesterday. They are not whips, more like sticks with 5/8 diameter plus trunks.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[R2elk]

I cheated and bought a Contender peach tree. Planted it, it bloomed.

It probably won't survive the coming winter but at least I got peaches this year.

 

[Mini Horses]

Guys -- @-40° even I wouldn't survive!!! BUY peaches shipped in stop killing trees.

 

[CrealCritter]

Well it's looking like we'll be having a grafting party in March. My favorite daughter in law is wanting to start a small orchard like the one I'm working on starting.

Wednesday evening I showed her how to air layer MM111 rootstocks. I did one as a demonstration, then kicked back sitting on a bucket and answered questions, while she did the remaining 9. When she was done she asked if I had more root balls . I said I'll show her how to harvest scionwood in February. I sent her home with a Fedco catalog so she can pick out some scionwood for varieties she wants to grow. Here's her handy work.
View attachment 23390

I also ordered year end overstock rootstocks from Fedco. 10 OHxF97 semi standard pear and 15 Lovell Peach rootstocks. They arrived last week bareroot, buds breaking and some leafed out. I potted them and am slowly hardening them off. I couldn't resist the hugely discounted prices. Lovell peach rootstock can also be used to graft, appricots, plums and almonds. Lovell is also interesting as it used to be the industry canning peach up until recently. I'll most likely plant 3 to 4 Lovell ungrafted rootstocks for canning peaches and for growing more rootstocks from the peach pits. View attachment 23391

I also want to graft cherries this March, so I'll be ordering Mazzard rootstock also.

Yep it'll be a bench grafting party come March alright

Jesus is Lord and Christ

quoting myself...

so one of those air-layer attempts my daughter in law did the middle of May got broken off during the wind over summer (I don't recall the month). I cut it loose and opened the air-layer ball it had one root about 3 inches long. I decided to pot it anyways.

I trimmed all its side branches and said a prayer for it. It lost all its main stem leaves but one on the very top, which you can see in the photo. I set the pot in kiddie pool with the other apple grafts and cared for it the same as the others.

Well what month is it? who ever heard of an apple blossoming the end of September? first for me. It didn't even see winter and it blooms and growing some nice new spur leaves also .

It looks like this will be one root stock that we will be grafting late winter/early spring.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Recieved some utah giant sweet cherry scions today from a friend. I asked for 2 but she sent more than that. Suitable utah giant pollinators are bing, van, and stella, which I have all three. It's known for it's high yield potential and disease resistance. I know my friend really enjoys cherries from her utah giant. I tired to find a link with more infomation but it seems there is a lot of conflicting information so I didn't bother.

She doesn't graft or have a desire to learn. Or else I would send her some scions.

More than two. Looks like I'll be bringing I some potted root stocks to break their dormancy.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[murphysranch]

I finally sprayed all my trees. Sorta.

I found two bottles with spray handles in my stash. They all had estate sale prices on them. So I squirted away. Not thorough, but I did empty two larger bottles of stuff, so that I have more room to see and know what I already have.

It'll do.

 

[CrealCritter]

No idea what they are but they make a prune type plum that looks line the Stanley and Italian plums. They make an awesome peach plum jelly if picked not fully ripe. They are excellent eating when fully ripe.

They bloom later than the American plums and ripen around the end of August. They are really not hardy enough for here and are highly susceptible to late frosts.

I already have a methley and stanley. But I would be interested in a couple scions of the Italian next season. Sounds like I may be good for prunes which is what I'm after.

I think I may make room for a garfield plantation, it's just too nostalgic for me to pass up. I need to clear a old fence row first though.

Garfield Plantation Pie Cherry - Fedco Seeds

Summer. Garfield Plantation, Maine. Heirloom pie cherry grown for generations on an Aroostook County farm. One of our most promising finds in our search for varieties that really produce well in the Northeast. In the spring of 09, Garfield trees in northern Maine flowered and fruited after 44...

fedcoseeds.com

I was planning on giving away scions this year, but my trees suffered severe cicada damage. So next year I'll be giving away new wood scions, that could either be grafted or rooted. You are more than welcome to any i have.

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