Apple-Crop: Subtropical apples.

[Dr. Chiranjit Parmar]

Dear members,

I want some information on growing apples under mild winter conditions or 
subtropical conditions.

I had once worked on a project like this here in India 40 years back.  At that 
time alongwith US varieties like Tropical Beauty , we had also tried varieties 
from Israel like Vered, Naomi, Tamar etc.  The trial did not give good results 
and most trees were severely affected by various diseases.  The fruits were 
small and not at marketable in competition to regular apples.

What is the present situation.  Have any new varieties been developed?

Dr. Chiranjit Parmar
www.fruitipedia.com

Re: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

[JSCRUM1]

Jackie, 
I have sence retired, but we used wire spreaders of all sizes at a company  
called Bowman Fruit Sales.  I don't think they use them now and maybe they  
could be bought.  
Call 540 896 3079 and ask for Paul Gabb or Bill Sharp.  Tell them that  the 
spreaders may be in a shed at the Hill Top orchard.  
Good luck, 
John Crumpacker



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RE: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

[Jodi Lew-Smith]

Yes, string works just the same way but doesn't need to be removed and is
much cheaper and faster. Plain old garden twine works as well as pea twine.
You first tie a simple loop onto the branch to be trained, and then tie a
tautline hitch (basically a slip knot) around either the base of the tree or
a lower branch, and then adjust the slip knot to pull the flexible branch
down as low as you want it to go. It works really slick and is incredibly
fast and easy.  

Also, if you get over-zealous and break a young branch, try wrapping it with
plain old masking tape instead of grafting parafilm - the tape is not only
cheaper but sticks better, is stronger in terms of holding the branch in
place to heal, and lasts a bit longer - but breaks down in the end just as
well. I get full healing of about 60-70% of branches. 


Jodi Lew-Smith
Sweetgrass Farm and Orchard
Hardwick, Vermont



-Original Message-
From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Behalf Of Black Diamond Farm
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:14 AM
To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
Subject: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

> About 10 years ago we bought a bunch of wire limb spreaders in 2
> sizes.  For a certain stage of growth (between clothespins and
> notched angle spreaders) they are the only type of spreader that  
> I've found that
> works for  limbs that are still flexible.
>
> Since we can't post photos to the list-serve, let me attempt to  
> describe them:
Each spreader consists of a firm wire that you hook around the main  
trunk of the tree.
The other part of the wire extends out (they come in a couple of  
lengths) a ways along the limb.
There's a gentle hook that you place on the limb to hold it down,  
maybe 12 or 15 inches out.

> We recently put in a new block of trees and next spring will need
> more of these spreaders.
> Does anyone know of a supplier who still sells these?
>
> Thanks,
> Jackie Merwin
> Black Diamond Farm
> Trumansburg, NY
> www.incredapple.com
>


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Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent 
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Re: Apple-Crop: ladders in pick your own

[Matt McCallum]

Tommy,
We had a U-pick orchard in my family for about 75 years in Southeast,  
Michigan and we put out ladders for our customers.


One thing to remember when you go into U-pick and have customers come  
to you - it is no longer YOUR farm. They will basically do what they  
want.


They will climb the trees and break limbs whether you want them to or  
not. (Even when you post signs) They will bend your limbs down to  
pick apples. They will stand on top of their cars and pick apples.  
They will put their children on their shoulders to pick apples. They  
will throw dirty diapers on the ground and even have sex in your  
orchard. (True story!!) We figured it was better to provide ladders,  
then to have them hurt the trees trying to reach them.


Don't get mad about it, it is just a part of this type of business.  
But when we were collecting $25-$40 a bushel for U-pick and I could  
only get $10 a bushel from the packing house (before all the packing  
charges were taken off) I figured I was way ahead. For some growers,  
they may see this an an invasion, however I loved having the people  
in the orchard and talking to them about growing fruit and how much  
work goes into it. The positive feedback was incredible and made all  
the effort worthwhile. Oh - and they pay CASH


We had a few lawsuits against us over the years. One lady stepped in  
a hole and broke her ankle. Another lady fell off of a ladder and  
broke her arm. One day two lawyers came to our orchard (sounds like a  
good joke) - one representing our insurance agency and the lady's  
attorney - and they wanted to see the ladder she fell off of. Well,  
we had about 100 ladders and could not identify the exact ladder.  
Then they brought the lady out to try and identify the ladder. Of  
course she could not identify it either.


The biggest thing that perplexed these attorneys was the design of  
the orchard ladder.  They could not believe that we only had three  
legs on the ladder. We explained that these were apple picking  
ladders - which they had never seen before. I took them in the  
orchard and showed our pickers using them. (Funny we never had a  
picker fall off a ladder...) Then we had to prove that these types of  
ladders were actually the norm for apple orchard and had to get a  
letter from an Extension agent and some ads from trade magazines to  
prove it.


I am not sure what happened to the lawsuit - as our insurance people  
handled it and it must have been settled.


The bottom line - have enough insurance because something is sure to  
happen.


Good luck!

Matt McCallum
---
Matt McCallum
Publisher/CEO

Great American Publishing
75 Applewood Drive Suite A
Sparta MI 49345

P - 616-887-9008 ext 101
F - 616-887-2666

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On Jul 6, 2008, at 1:59 AM, Tommy and Sandy wrote:
We are allowing people to pick their own apples for the last couple  
of years.  We didn't start out as a pick your own orchard and we  
have larger trees, 111, 7, and some larger 26's.
In the past we have not allowed ladders or climbing trees.  I was  
wondering if any other pick your own orchards allowed ladders  
either supplying them to people or allowing them to bring their  
own.  Also if ladders are allowed how much more insurance do you  
have to carry.  Has anyone had any bad claims because of ladders.

Thanks for responding.

Tommy Bruguiere
Dickie Bros. Orchard
Roseland, Va

RE: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

[John L. Belisle]

Try pea string.  Cheaper including labor.  Allows beter limb training.   And
does not need to be removed

John
Bellewoodaples.com
 

-Original Message-
From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Behalf Of Black Diamond Farm
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:14 AM
To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
Subject: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

> About 10 years ago we bought a bunch of wire limb spreaders in 2 
> sizes.  For a certain stage of growth (between clothespins and notched 
> angle spreaders) they are the only type of spreader that I've found 
> that works for  limbs that are still flexible.
>
> Since we can't post photos to the list-serve, let me attempt to 
> describe them:
Each spreader consists of a firm wire that you hook around the main trunk of
the tree.
The other part of the wire extends out (they come in a couple of
lengths) a ways along the limb.
There's a gentle hook that you place on the limb to hold it down, maybe 12
or 15 inches out.

> We recently put in a new block of trees and next spring will need more 
> of these spreaders.
> Does anyone know of a supplier who still sells these?
>
> Thanks,
> Jackie Merwin
> Black Diamond Farm
> Trumansburg, NY
> www.incredapple.com
>


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content.








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Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.

Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent 
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the content.

RE: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

[Fleming, William]

 I used the wire spreaders you describe many years ago purchased from
Northwest Wholesale in Wenatchee, Washington. 
The spreaders were made and patented by a man in Wenatchee. They worked
great but the biggest complaint was occasionally they would get "lost"
in a tree only to be found by a pair of unsuspecting loppers years
later. This usually resulted in damage to the lopper.


Bill Fleming
Montana State University
Western Ag Research Center
Corvallis, Montana

 

-Original Message-
From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Black Diamond Farm
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:14 AM
To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
Subject: Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

> About 10 years ago we bought a bunch of wire limb spreaders in 2 
> sizes.  For a certain stage of growth (between clothespins and notched

> angle spreaders) they are the only type of spreader that I've found 
> that works for  limbs that are still flexible.
>
> Since we can't post photos to the list-serve, let me attempt to 
> describe them:
Each spreader consists of a firm wire that you hook around the main
trunk of the tree.
The other part of the wire extends out (they come in a couple of
lengths) a ways along the limb.
There's a gentle hook that you place on the limb to hold it down, maybe
12 or 15 inches out.

> We recently put in a new block of trees and next spring will need more

> of these spreaders.
> Does anyone know of a supplier who still sells these?
>
> Thanks,
> Jackie Merwin
> Black Diamond Farm
> Trumansburg, NY
> www.incredapple.com
>



--

The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard
 and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon
Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.

Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent
"official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for
the content.







--

The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard
 and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon
Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.

Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent
"official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for
the content.

Apple-Crop: Wire limb spreaders

[Black Diamond Farm]

About 10 years ago we bought a bunch of wire limb spreaders in 2
sizes.  For a certain stage of growth (between clothespins and
notched angle spreaders) they are the only type of spreader that  
I've found that

works for  limbs that are still flexible.

Since we can't post photos to the list-serve, let me attempt to  
describe them:
Each spreader consists of a firm wire that you hook around the main  
trunk of the tree.
The other part of the wire extends out (they come in a couple of  
lengths) a ways along the limb.
There's a gentle hook that you place on the limb to hold it down,  
maybe 12 or 15 inches out.



We recently put in a new block of trees and next spring will need
more of these spreaders.
Does anyone know of a supplier who still sells these?

Thanks,
Jackie Merwin
Black Diamond Farm
Trumansburg, NY
www.incredapple.com




--

The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard 
 and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon 
Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.


Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent 
"official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for 
the content.