[apple-crop] research on suckering?
Is there any information on the long term value of pre-planting sucker reduction? On some apple (and peach) rootstocks that arrive from the nursery, I have seen what appear to be cream-colored, corm-like 'nodes' at various locations on the roots themselves as well as the lower portions of the central portion; these all pop off relatively freely when wiggled. I have also seen suckers up to a few inches long as well. Are these nodes the origination points of future sucker growth, or just suckers that are already on their way? Do suckering rootstocks simply sucker from almost anywhere along their buried material, from dormant sucker buds scattered all over? For sucker control over the life of the planting, is there any benefit to manually removing these nodes and growing suckers? Or would that only reduce the suckering for the spring of the planting year? I am planning to plant a lot of heavily-suckering Bud 9 and B.9/MM.111, and if long term benefits of removing these nodes are worth the one-time effort before planting, then I will do the work. The hardest suckers to control are the ones right up next to the trunk, and any permanent sucker reduction would be nice on these heavily suckering rootstocks. I hope someone has done the research and is willing to educate ignorant folk such as I. Grateful in advance, Steven Bibula ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
[apple-crop] theft deterrence
A few U-Pick customers are so brazen about their theft that they eat berries and apples freely in front of me while coming out of the field toward the register. I also see them positively gorging in the field, as if this were an AUCE establishment (we charge by the picked pound). I am also troubled that the most visible offenders are adults with children, teaching those children that theft is okay. What do you do to deter theft and improve moral conduct? As a part of our effort to awaken the conscience of our customers without offending or implicating those who are already self controlled, we are considering posting the following text on a tasteful sign at appropriate an location or two. Feedback from you is welcome. Other ideas are welcome too. TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS: Please feel free to taste the fruit so you can pick with confidence. Because our fruit is also our livelihood, we ask that you please limit yourselves and members of your party to a small sample, and enjoy the rest after payment. Thank you for your understanding and business! With your help, we can continue to provide enjoyable U-Pick experiences for years to come. Gratefully, The farmers- Steven Bibula Plowshares Gorham Maine ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Apples From China?
Well said Peter. Yet enforcement of practices requires transparency, regulatory monitoring and political will that are all lacking with respect to the US' premier competitor for prominence on the world stage as well as our second largest creditor (second only to the Federal Reserve Bank I think?). A plus: Chinese apples in the US market will result in a net increased demand for my U-Pick apples. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm Gorham ME From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Peter J. Jentsch Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 12:53 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Apples From China? China is the world's largest consumer of fruits and vegetables, with a growing appetite for high-quality produce. China is also an expanding import market (mostly fresh fruits and, to a lesser extent, processed products). The value of China's produce imports increased sevenfold between 1992 and 2001, making it one of the world's fastest growing import markets. (Global Trade Patterns in Fruits and Vegetables Economic Research Service/USDA). Yet China is producing almost half of world total apple production, increasing from 33,263,000; 35,985,000 and 37,000,000 metric tonnes from 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively while increasing world exports by 10% between 2000 to 2006. (Source: World Markets and Trade, US Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, May 2007). However, 10%; volume in terms of of world export is only 3% of their China's total production!!! The US has been increasing their shipments of high volume fresh apple to China. We will likely continue increase of apple exports until China has ramped up their volume and quality of production. Its been my understanding that even the Chinese people prefer US apple due to food safety concerns. Western US apple trade to China and world markets may be well for Eastern growers as it will likely reduce the shipments of Washington State apples to eastern markets and increase supply for locally grown fruit? I would favor increased tree fruit trade with China under competitive trade conditions based on standardized production practices. As it now stands, the regulations do not require the use of production practice guidelines to the standards which U.S growers need to abide, creating a competitive disadvantage for the US tree fruit producer. Pest management practices, worker protection standards and child labor laws shouldnbsp; be instituted within the guidelines of production practices, certified by US inspection of farms and facilities, just as we have here in the US. Its likely that MRL standards will need to be assessed and met, yet there's no mention of MRL's in the regulation. The emphasis in the bill on phytosanitation for oriental fruit moth is outdated and concerns for newer invasive species should receive a hard review (too late for BMSB and SWD invasion over the pst 15 years, having caused millions of $$ in production and research loss). That said, China has not been known for their recent history of protecting human rights, product quality or safety standards and should be pressured into compliance by world markets to 'come clean'. Peter The best way out is always through - Robert Frost Peter J. Jentsch Hudson Valley Laboratory Superintendent Senior Extension Associate - Entomology Department of Entomology, Cornell University Hudson Valley Research Lab P.O. Box 727, 3357 Rt. 9W Highland, NY 12528 Office: 845-691-7151 Cell: 845-417-7465 FAX: 845-691-2719 E-mail: p...@cornell.edu http://blogs.cornell.edu/jentsch/ _ From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Ginda Fisher l...@ginda.us Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 10:58 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list; Mike Arvay Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Apples From China? Speaking as an apple consumer, I have concerns about China driving down price, and therefore quality, of U.S. grown fruit. But I tend to avoid food and children's toys that come out of China. (Like everyone else, most of my clothes and electronics have Chinese components. And I've had no problems with that.) -- Typed with Swype. Who knows what I meant to say? On August 15, 2014 10:26:03 AM EDT, Mike Arvay greenap...@deercreekorchard.com wrote: I'm curious on what the group thinks about this proposed amendment to the U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Regulation which will allow the import of apples into the U.S. from China. I don't want this to become a All things from China are bad. thread. But I can see both negative and positive possibilities on allowing this. They do recommend additional measures and actions other than the standard Port of Entry Inspection. http://www.regulations.gov/?utm_source=hs_email http://www.regulations.gov/?utm_source=hs_emailutm_medium=emailutm_conten t=13804591_hsenc=p2ANqtz--B9po2Wh9EOEarH4oSyBng8hr9QeyW3LJQbTqn5DyDzYxmuMr2
Re: [apple-crop] apple as art
The fruit if the tree of the knowledge of good and evil could not have been an apple, because there was only one such tree, and it was in the garden of Eden (the site of which, along with its contents, having been destroyed by the flood of Noah's day). The association between 'Malus' and 'evil' seems to derive from a misunderstanding of the Latin translation of Genesis; apart from that error, there is no connection between apples and that Tree. The idea of inserting Wikipedia info into apples additionally reveals how misguided this project really is, as well as the deep misunderstanding of the Bible exhibited by the scientist and the writer. The Tree was associated with the prospect of the acquisition of personal moral depravity as well as an irresistible inclination toward evil; it had nothing to do with quantitative accumulation of values-neutral facts. The Bible teaches that you shall know the tree by its fruit. The tree in question was the 'Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil': to eat of it would bring certain Spiritual death to the eater and to all his offspring, and those offspring would evidence their Spiritually dead condition by their evil thoughts, words and deeds. Adam ate, and now all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Every natural-born human is hence already encoded with the entire moral code of the Tree. This explains the evil that we in fact see all around us: all Adam's offspring (unregenerate mankind) have become the figurative 'trees' bearing the fruit of evil. So the men involved in this project are too late. The project has been underway for ~6,000 years, led by natural man's representative Head- the project's chief researcher and pilot subject, Adam. And now, back to the field. I have Malus Domestica to plant. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 10:49 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] apple as art I don't know quite what to make of this 'New Yorker' article - http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/05/object-of-interest-th e-twice-forbidden-fruit.html - I think some things were lost/confused in the relating and retelling of the story. He (Joe Davis) plans to use synthetic biology to insert a DNA-encoded version of Wikipedia into the apple and create a living, literal tree of knowledge... Anybody know what the four thousand year old strain of apple might be? Nice picture of Cox Orange Pippin at the top... David Doud grower, IN - petal fall - ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
[apple-crop] honeycrisp prices
In Hannaford (a major regional supermarket) today, all apples were 99 cents per pound, except some smallish, mediocre-looking honeycrisp at $2.49 per pound. How long can an apple coast in the premium price range on little more than the name? Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] honeycrisp management
I am sorry for not being clearer in my initial post. My main question is about Honeycrisp on various interstems managed with renewal pruning. That is, does anyone have experience with this. Steven Bibula From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Hugh Thomas Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 12:52 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] honeycrisp management Rich, I'm curious about your location and elevation. On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Rich Everett reofar...@gmail.com wrote: I have a couple acres of honey crisp on different root stock and I'd tell anyone that the tree is difficult to grow, susceptible to many diseases from powdery mildew to pith and much more. The apple taste great fresh, we've juiced with the taste not very desirable for juice. Again, the toughest apple tree for us to grow and we have 15 varieties. Good luck On Nov 21, 2013, at 12:09 PM, Jill Kelly kelly...@metrocast.net wrote: I've got Honeycrisp on M26 at 5X15 Steve. The 5 looks pretty good but the 15 probably could had been 13. Your welcome to come down to have a look sometime. Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, Maine On Nov 21, 2013, at 9:31 AM, Steven Bibula wrote: I plan to trial Honeycrisp on B.9/B.118, B.9/MM.111 and G.11/MM.111. I also plan to use renewal pruning, with no permanent limbs. Considering Jon Clements' recommendation for Honeycrisp on B.9 at 2 feet apart in the row, any thoughts about spacing for these other combinations, or cautions? My thinking: If Honeycrisp on B.9 means waiting to crop until the third leaf, maybe it is better to not rely heavily on Tall Spindle, but instead also go with fewer trees on interstems (cheaper per acre) that will presumably last longer, need less expensive support and still be trained to a compact, U-Pick friendly fruiting wall. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com http://www.plowsharesmaine.com/ ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop Rich Everett Everett Family Farm Fine Organics From Seed to Core reofar...@gmail.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] honeycrisp management
Hugh, What Art said, plus the idea that interstems should to provide a ultimately similar orchard result as with Tall Spindle or other high density plantings, with somewhat less cost per acre due to less support needed and fewer trees per acre; also, the hope is to achieve longer tree life than with straight dwarf rootstocks. I have a few sloped and curving fields that don't lend themselves to post-and-wire, so I am looking for early bearing, high density alternatives. Steven Bibula From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Hugh Thomas Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 1:24 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] honeycrisp management Steven, Sorry for my ignorance, but why use interstems? On Fri, Nov 22, 2013 at 5:55 AM, Steven Bibula sbib...@maine.rr.com wrote: I am sorry for not being clearer in my initial post. My main question is about Honeycrisp on various interstems managed with renewal pruning. That is, does anyone have experience with this. Steven Bibula From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Hugh Thomas Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 12:52 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] honeycrisp management Rich, I'm curious about your location and elevation. On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Rich Everett reofar...@gmail.com wrote: I have a couple acres of honey crisp on different root stock and I'd tell anyone that the tree is difficult to grow, susceptible to many diseases from powdery mildew to pith and much more. The apple taste great fresh, we've juiced with the taste not very desirable for juice. Again, the toughest apple tree for us to grow and we have 15 varieties. Good luck On Nov 21, 2013, at 12:09 PM, Jill Kelly kelly...@metrocast.net wrote: I've got Honeycrisp on M26 at 5X15 Steve. The 5 looks pretty good but the 15 probably could had been 13. Your welcome to come down to have a look sometime. Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, Maine On Nov 21, 2013, at 9:31 AM, Steven Bibula wrote: I plan to trial Honeycrisp on B.9/B.118, B.9/MM.111 and G.11/MM.111. I also plan to use renewal pruning, with no permanent limbs. Considering Jon Clements' recommendation for Honeycrisp on B.9 at 2 feet apart in the row, any thoughts about spacing for these other combinations, or cautions? My thinking: If Honeycrisp on B.9 means waiting to crop until the third leaf, maybe it is better to not rely heavily on Tall Spindle, but instead also go with fewer trees on interstems (cheaper per acre) that will presumably last longer, need less expensive support and still be trained to a compact, U-Pick friendly fruiting wall. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com http://www.plowsharesmaine.com/ ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop Rich Everett Everett Family Farm Fine Organics From Seed to Core reofar...@gmail.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
[apple-crop] honeycrisp management
I plan to trial Honeycrisp on B.9/B.118, B.9/MM.111 and G.11/MM.111. I also plan to use renewal pruning, with no permanent limbs. Considering Jon Clements' recommendation for Honeycrisp on B.9 at 2 feet apart in the row, any thoughts about spacing for these other combinations, or cautions? My thinking: If Honeycrisp on B.9 means waiting to crop until the third leaf, maybe it is better to not rely heavily on Tall Spindle, but instead also go with fewer trees on interstems (cheaper per acre) that will presumably last longer, need less expensive support and still be trained to a compact, U-Pick friendly fruiting wall. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] M9-Nic29 winter hardiness
Especially for Jon Clements, but others as well: Are your initial Honeycrisp/Bud 9 Tall Spindle trials, where you cropped starting in 2nd leaf, agreeing with Mike's experience? Looking at these trials subsequently, what happened to production? I have a 1,000 tree Honeycrisp/Bud 9 Tall Spindle planting planned for 2015 and this discussion has taken a very interesting turn. I noticed this year that with my 2nd leaf Snowsweet Tall Spindle on Bud 9, the trees that were fully cropped hardly grew (but produced huge fruit); however, the trees that had no fruit (spotty pollination in southern Maine with nearly continuous rain during bloom) also grew very little. Not one Snowsweet is even close to the top wire, located ~8.5'. We did have four periods of drought-induced stress this year, and the Bud 9 varieties were clearly the most checked. I will have Uniram drip with fertigation for all trees starting in 2014, and I anticipate that this will help ameliorate. Steven Bibula Plowshares Community Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road Gorham ME 04038 207.239.0442 www.plowsharesmaine.com From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Mike Fargione Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:42 AM To: jon.cleme...@umass.edu; Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] M9-Nic29 winter hardiness Some growers in NY's Hudson Valley prefer to plant Honeycrisp on B9 because they feel these trees are less prone to biennial bearing and can be cropped more heavily each year compared with Honeycrisp on M9. Our experience is that planting Honeycrisp/B9 at higher density and not cropping in years 1 2 can produce a very productive orchard. Mike From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Jon Clements Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 6:26 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] M9-Nic29 winter hardiness Simple solution -- pre-order and plant them 2 ft. X 10 ft. Will make you, and the nursery, happy...:-) Jon ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
