I am trying get up to speed quickly to care for 30 apple trees that are on the back 2 acres of our new home in new jersey. We arrived well into the season so we fear that we will not have much in the way of a harvest this year but I need to learn and plan for next year.
I have no idea what varieties they are but they appear to be different. They were cared for by the previous owners who hired an arborist to spray and prune. We would like to care for them ourselves and as organically as is possible.
I read about the 'footies' and I have read about removing all but one fruit from a cluster but on 30 trees is this realistic? The trees are tall and I can hardly reach even with a ladder.
I am open to any and all suggestions and have just joined the HOS but books, ideas, internet sources, send them on.
It would be easier if I could see them. You will need to prune them. Do you know how to prune trees? It is useful to prevent disease and to encourage good sized apples.
Mulch is often used to decrease weeds. I would recommend it.
If they have been sprayed with synthetic chemicals, you will need to spray with compost tea to put some life into the plants and the soil. Adding organic material will give the soil food web something to live on as they adjust to their new, healthier lifestyle.
It's kind of exciting to buy an orchard. Most of us started with one fruit tree, then bought another, then a berry bush, etc.
Good Luck,
John S
PDX OR
In this situation I would consider hiring an expert for a few hours, just to walk around your orchard and come up with a basic plan. It may cost you a few dollars, but I think bringing the orchard under control and migrating to an organic regime is a long-term task, and having a clear plan that you can follow from the start will be a good investment.
Incidentally, why not try an "untreated" regime instead of "organic"?
Congratulations on your orchard! I found one web site that might direct you to some good info: [url:13md9tpn]http://www.newfarm.org/features/0504/apples/orchard.shtml[/url:13md9tpn].
There's also an organic and low-spray apple production guide at [url:13md9tpn]http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/apple.html[/url:13md9tpn]. It was written in 1999; I don't know how many advances and changes have been made since then. The parent site [url:13md9tpn]http://attra.ncat.org[/url:13md9tpn] is the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service -- they may have additional useful information for you.
Best of luck -- and let us know how things
Robin S, Reference Librarian.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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