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Post by octave on Apr 2, 2015 19:35:37 GMT -5
What a wonderful orchard Thomis! So nice and well tended... I suppose you prune your trees every year, I wish I knew how to do that. I too planted some fruit trees in my backyard (4 apple and 3 pear trees), and luckily they are growing. But: I know their branches need thinning, yet I don't have a clue on how to proceed. I got books on pruning but it is not as easy as it looks. I wonder what happens to fruit trees if they don't get pruned. I suppose they may eventually produce a lot less because they have way too many blossoms and the plant cannot sustain all of the fruits. And BTW, the kids are fantastic.
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 2, 2015 19:49:43 GMT -5
Hubby showed me how to prune our fruit trees 2 years ago because he had a shoulder problem. He showed me how to prune the branches that are growing towards the center of the tree and also how to tell the flower buds from the leaf buds. I think that I had to prune off branches but leave a flower bud a the end. Of course I pruned off a lots of branches that were just going straight up and would just make the tree taller.
You're right Octave, it's more complicated than it looks and I had to do LOT of pruning because so many branches grow back each year.You want to keep the shape of the tree but also not let it get too tall which is what happens if you don't prune. We have about a dozen pear and Asian pear trees.
Hopefully he will do the pruning this year because I really don't remember all of the "rules" he taught me. Besides that, it is not easy. My arms were killing me for days.
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Post by thomis on Apr 3, 2015 12:03:07 GMT -5
Thank you all very much! I will mulch the potatoes very heavily. No shortage of all kinds of good mulch around here.
Lisa, my onions were a bust. I direct seeded in fall. The chickens scratched in there pretty hard over the winter so maybe they got to them.
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Post by lisaann on Apr 3, 2015 12:08:13 GMT -5
Well,
Can you get some sets? Or transplants? No seed of course.
You need some onions!
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Post by ncgarden on Apr 3, 2015 15:27:36 GMT -5
octave, I feel better. I prune my fruit trees but honestly, I am not sure I am doing it right. I watch the videos and read the books - but my trees NEVER look like their trees!
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 3, 2015 18:47:04 GMT -5
Well we had a small commercial orchard ?165 or so trees and I don't think we ever truly "mastered" pruning. We just couldn't keep up. But you can do some minimal pruning and it will help tremendously. Cut out any diseased or broken branches, branches that cross each other or grow inward towards the center, cut out "suckers" and most of the branches growing straight up, as well as branches bending down. Cut out competing branches (i.e cut 1 of 2 branches growing out of one crotch, or if 2 branches are running parallel but are from different spots. Create a bowl shape and imagine that a bird can fly through (before it leafs out). Imagine sunlight being able to get in to the inner branches.
The last thing you can do is "head-back" which means cut off about 20-25% of last years growth from the ends of branches. This will make for sturdier branches (short and thick) and will give them the strength to carry the weight of the fruit.
It also depends on how old the tree is and how you prune. With young trees you can be training and shaping them. But the above is good basic pruning.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Apr 3, 2015 19:16:06 GMT -5
I just purchased an Elberta peach tree today. My neighbor has a peach tree so I didn't need to get a second. I am not sure if my ground is thawed enough but the person at the nursery said it doesn't have to go in right away. It is only going to be in the 40's next few days.
Love the apple trees you have going, Thomis, and the crop of 2 admiring them also. We love to see your pictures, anytime. What variety of apples do you have going there?
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Post by thomis on Apr 7, 2015 12:45:13 GMT -5
Pruning is one of my favorite times of the year in the orchard. It is honestly therapeutic for me. It shouldn't be as intimidating as it seems to be to a lot of folks. The trees grow so fast that any mistakes made while pruning often quickly correct themselves. I dormant prune right before the trees wake up and its like the only time of the year I have complete control over them. They can't talk back, while I cut here and graft there. They respond so vigorously to dormant pruning. But you may have heard the wise old saying that the best time to prune is whenever you have the pruners in your hand. Desertwoman has it right, my Dad told me he was always asked to prune the old orchard we had on the farm in Pa, they always told him to prune it so a crow could fly through the tree. Peapicker, I have both heirloom and new varieties. A couple of my favorites: Aunt Rachel Grime's Golden Carolina Red June Goldrush Dixie Red Delight
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Apr 7, 2015 18:12:27 GMT -5
How do you all treat your fruit trees to avoid diseases? When I moved in here in 1979, there were existing cherry, plum and another fruit tree which I've long since forgotten about. The cherry tree in a few years became diseased - if I remember correctly there were borers digging just underneath the bark. The cherries themselves seemed blighted. (Again, it's been over 30 years and I don't remember all the details of the diseases). The plum tree developed some kind of fungal infection - quite ugly in fact.
Eventually I cut them all down as I didn't know how to save them and they were pretty far gone. But I'd like to try over again, especially to espalier them and provide more space inbetween the branches as well as create a decorative fencing arrangement.
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Post by Mumsey on Apr 7, 2015 18:19:19 GMT -5
Yes, pruning an orchard is very time intensive. Dad does his best to keep up with his 60 or so trees and does very well for 84 yrs old! They should look like you have given them a "flat top" haircut. His friend from Italy a few miles away also has a huge orchard. Much of what Dad does was learned from his friend.
He only sprays once a year, don't know with what. He is very frugal about spraying--it costs money ya know! His crop is generally very good. I expect in the years to come it will be up to me and my brother to keep the orchard going.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Apr 8, 2015 8:19:38 GMT -5
Nice that your dad still works at it, I admire those who don't let their age stop them from doing what they love. Does he have one kind of fruit? I just got some composted manure to put in the ground when I plant the peach tree. Looks like it will be Friday or Sat when I will put the tree in the ground.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Apr 8, 2015 8:32:40 GMT -5
I got off the subject following the thread. I bought seed potatoes from agway the other day. I am trying this year German Butter Ball and Purple Majesty. Never tried these before. They have begun the sprout already.
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Post by Mumsey on Apr 8, 2015 8:39:08 GMT -5
Pea, he has mostly apple trees. A few pear and peaches as well. I can't begin to tell you the varieties of all the apples, but my favorites that come to mind are Sweet 16 and Northern Spy. (Spys are for pies).
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Post by ecsoehng on Apr 8, 2015 10:36:03 GMT -5
That's a good peach Pea, you will like it. There is a reason why it is so popular. SR growing fruit in the East is a pain but I don't know about where you live. Always diseased and bugs here. You just press on if you garden organically. Dormant oil, Surround and copper/sulfur type sprays. Sometimes lures and glue traps. What ever works. Very hard organically. Last year there was not a worm in any of my oh maybe 8 peaches. I figure the bugs will find me this year. Probably couldn't be bothered last year with so few fruits. This will be the fourth year so it should be a good one, I hope. That is the one bad thing about moving. You have to wait so long for your fruit trees.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Apr 8, 2015 16:22:36 GMT -5
I know I won't have fruit for a couple years...but then I may be too old to pick them! But I have to make sure to trim it 1/3 each season from what the nursery person told me.
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