Re: [apple-crop] weather

[kuffelcreek]

Mid-80s here in Southern California, high-chill apples still do fine in
the spring.  

Enjoy it while you can.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery

On Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:17:31 -0500, Arthur Kelly 
wrote:
> Should I be worried about this weather?  Not that there's anything I can
do
> about it.  Mid-December and in the 50's in Maine!
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Re: [apple-crop] Grading table lighting

[kuffelcreek]

Warmer light enhances reds, yellows, and oranges, so the cool white
fluorescents can make it tough.  

The easiest way may be to install a solatube skylight
http://www.solatube.com or for the budget-minded, a liter of light
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Fpsw_yYPg

But with shortening day length you may also need an additional fixture. 
Warm white LED (2000K-4000K) would enhance the red colors and make them
easier to pick out.  These come in regular screw-in bulbs or complete
fixtures.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery


   On Wed, 23 Sep 2015 02:33:08 -0500, Charles Davis

wrote:
> We currently use a couple of 4ft fluorescents above the sorting table
> before bagging. Seems more difficult, as we are getting a little older
each
> year, to distinguish between dark red and brown or black. I was
wondering
> what others were using in their operations? Thank you kind hearted
souls.
> Charles and Patricia
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Re: [apple-crop] The joys of thinning

[kuffelcreek]

Low-chill climate didn't help us with the thinning any this year; despite
an almost tropical winter, I still ended up with snowball blooms and
annoying grape cluster-like applets that take forever to hand-thin before
they snap the branches off.

Kevin Hauser


On Sun, 31 May 2015 15:30:08 -0400, Arthur Kelly kellyorcha...@gmail.com
wrote:
 Nothing like 3 days of wet cool weather just when you ought to be
thinning
 your apple crop.  Such is apple growing.
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Re: [apple-crop] arctic apples

[kuffelcreek]

As a nurseryman with a stake in East Africa, I find the discussion
fascinating.  Here GMO is being used to slightly modify a cosmetic flaw in
an apple for marketing purposes; where I work with in Uganda, it is being
used to give resistance to plantain bananas to a devistating disease that
is wiping out their food supply, with people starving as a result. The
Arctic Apple folks claim that their product is the most tested apple in
history, and this is why APHIS had to approve it; their conclusion cannot
be affected by public opinion or demand, but on science.  What if it indeed
proves in the long run to be safe? (I've seen zero research stating
otherwise).  I wish with you guys that the first GMO apple released would
have been something that's actually useful to us, such as reducing the
12-20 sprays necessary to bring an apple to market, but as far as GMO
actions go, this one is pretty benign; switching off a gene already in the
apple and not imported from a moth or potato, for a minor alteraion.  But
maybe this was the place they had to start to address a very important
question; is this indeed safe, and should it be used to protect the world's
food supply?

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California
Nakifuma, Uganda



On Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:09:33 +, Shoemaker, William H
wshoe...@illinois.edu wrote:
 I like your comment David, and I agree. I don't want to carry water
for
 them anyway. All of these companies pay big money for the best lawyers
and
 lobbyists. They need to help defending their actions. I take the
position
 when pressed by folks who are not familiar with genetic engineering that
 I'm comfortable with the technique, but that I'm not sure I'm
comfortable
 with how its being employed. I'd like to see more caution and more
effort
 to give the public real answers to their questions about these products
and
 about the way these techniques are used. I think they companies which
 employ GMOs don't feel they need to be accountable for the products they
 are putting into the marketplace. Every direct-market growers knows that
 they face accountability, like it or not, and must reconcile with it in
 some way. And while these companies do to, like it or not, I don't think
 they are being fair to the consumer in the marketplace by failing to
make
 more effort to address their questi
  ons about their products. So I tell those folks who ask that I can't
  defend the products, not because I think they are unsafe, but because I
  don't agree with the way they are being introduced into the market.
 
 Bill
 William H. Shoemaker
 Retired fruit and vegetable horticulturist
 University of Illinois
 wshoe...@illinois.edu
 
 
 From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net
 [apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] on behalf of David Doud
 [david_d...@me.com]
 Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 8:53 AM
 To: Apple-Crop
 Subject: [apple-crop] arctic apples
 
 Well, I have been to two social events since the GMO 'Arctic apples'
have
 been in the news - and that is what people want to talk to me about -
and
 pretty much only that...
 
 How are you all handling this? My personal opinions aside, I don't want
to
 'carry water' for these guys - they aren't going to let me grow them
even
 if I wanted to and I don't feel inclined to spend my time and
credibility
 providing them cover and fighting their marketing struggle for them -
 
 This is going to be a frequently reoccurring issue this season - I've
got
 an event to go to this afternoon and I am dreading this aspect of it -
 
 David Doud
 grower, IN
 below 0*F, way behind on pruning
 
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Re: [apple-crop] Narrow Tall Spindle Layout

[kuffelcreek]

I concur with Dennis' evaluation of Dr. Robinson's videos; this system has
forced even stubborn high-chill varieties to transition from vegetative
mode to fruiting mode in hot climates and the tropics.

I wanted to address Matthew's desire to keep the trees around 6' tall. 
This sounds like it would take a very dwarfing rootstock like M27; do any
of our growers have experience training these as tall spindle?  

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California
Nakifuma, Uganda

On Thu, 3 Jul 2014 00:23:19 -0500, dmnor...@royaloakfarmorchard.com
wrote:
 matthew,
 
 We have been growing tall spindle in northern Illinois in a
pick-your-own
 orchard for around 5 or 6 years now.  The system has been improving over
 the years and currently the newer spacing being recommended by Dr.
Terence
 Robinson
 from Cornell is around 12' x 3'.  I highly recommend watching the videos
 at YouTube he did at the Winter Apple School in Henderson County, NC
found
 at http://youtu.be/gJF4wLgXnK8
 
 After viewing this video and others on the BRCC TV - The Educational
 Channel on YouTube covering the Tall Spindle System, we will be making
the
 recommended changes to our current system of 14' x 4'.   
 
 Hope this helps.
 
 Dennis Norton
 IPM Specialist/Certified Nurseryman
 Royal Oak Farm Orchard
 15908 Hebron Rd.
 Harvard, IL 60033-9357
 Office (815) 648-4467
 Mobile (815) 228-2174
 Fax (609) 228-2174
 http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
 http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.blogspot.com
   - Original Message - 
   From: Matt Pellerin 
   To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net 
   Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 2:55 PM
   Subject: [apple-crop] Narrow Tall Spindle Layout
 
 
   I am a grower in central Maine that operates a pick-your-own orchard. 
I
   will be planting a tall spindle orchard next year.  I would like to
plant
   the rows as narrow as possible in combination with shorter trees so
the
   customers can reach more of the fruit.  My orchard tractor is 54
wide. 
   How narrow can I plant my tall spindle orchard with this equipment? 
   Also, what would be the appropriate tree height at the narrow row
   spacing?
 
 
   Thanks,
   -- 
 
   Matthew Pellerin
   Agricultural Manager
   Treworgy Family Orchards
   3876 Union St
   Levant, ME 04456
 
   www.treworgyorchards.com
 
   207-884-8354
 
 

--
 
 
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Re: [apple-crop] apple as art

[kuffelcreek]

I actually think he'll have better results putting the clock parts in an
incubator.  4,000-year-old strain?  

I know a much, much easier way to get access to the Tree of Life.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery


On Tue, 13 May 2014 22:48:53 -0400, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote:
 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-the-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 -
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Re: [apple-crop] Southwest Injury

[kuffelcreek]

Greg;

We get the same damage here in Southern California, but from sunburn, not
Southwest Injury.  But the damage is the same, dead cambium layer and
sunken bark.  Besides robbing vigor from the tree, here it also attracts
borers who take advantage of the tree's inability to sap out the maggot,
and exploit the edges of the injury.  The wounds will not heal; they may
eventually be covered by cambium growing from either side, like a pruning
stump is covered over.

Bridge grafting is easier on shorter injuries like vole and rabbit damage;
the problem with SWI is that the wounds are long and narrow. Cutting the
tree off and letting a latent bud sprout may be a viable option depending
on the damage, but you will have to weigh the loss of productivity against
how long it would take if you just pruned the tree hard and let it try to
heal the SWI.  

Painting trunks white, especially with an airless sprayer, seems way less
trouble than any of this.  

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California
Nakifuma, Uganda, East Africa

 On Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:42:00 -0400, Peck, Greg greg.p...@vt.edu
wrote:
 Apple-Crop participants,
 
 Like everyone else in the Eastern half of the US, we've had a
particularly
 cold and snowy winter in Virginia. Not surprisingly, I am starting to
hear
 reports about Southwest injury to young trees. While there is a lot of
 information available on how to prevent southwest injury, I have not
been
 able to find much information on how to deal with the trunks after the
 damage has been done. Typically, growers in Virginia have do not paint
 trunks with latex paint, but many will probably reconsider that decision
in
 future years.
 
 Many trees are probably not going to make it, but I'm wondering if
anyone
 has experience trying to save some of the less severely injured trees
with
 bridge-grafts. How about wrapping the bark with grafting tape to try to
get
 the wounds to heal? (I'm guessing that this will have a low success rate
 because the tissue has already dried out.) Depending upon how far into
the
 rootstock the split extends and the age of the tree, we might also try
 cutting off the scion and hoping an advantageous bud breaks dormancy.
 
 Any other suggestions from those who have to deal with Southwest Injury
on
 a more annual basis?
 
 Thanks,
 Greg
 
 Gregory Michael Peck, Ph.D.
 Assistant Professor of Horticulture
 Virginia Tech
 Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center
 595 Laurel Grove Road
 Winchester, VA 22602 USA
 540/869-2560 ext 19
 greg.p...@vt.edumailto:greg.p...@vt.edu
 arec.vaes.vt.edu/alson-h-smith
 www.anr.ext.vt.edu/tree-fruit/http://www.anr.ext.vt.edu/tree-fruit/

blogs.ext.vt.edu/tree-fruit-horticulturehttp://blogs.ext.vt.edu/tree-fruit-horticulture
 www.facebook.com/VtechPomologyhttp://www.facebook.com/VtechPomology
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Re: [apple-crop] Tall spindle trellis

[kuffelcreek]

Hi Art;

Are you talking about total length of a row, or length between support
posts?

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, CA

On Thu, 20 Feb 2014 08:23:45 -0500, Arthur Kelly kellyorcha...@gmail.com
wrote:
 What is the longest length of trellis for tall spindle apple planting
that
 growers have experience with?
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Re: [apple-crop] Red apples

[kuffelcreek]

The good news is that yes, there is a whole line of red-fleshed apples
with a range of tastes and growth habits that are also scab-resistant. 
They are bred by Marcus Kobelt at Lubera in Switzerland
http://www.lubera.co.uk/luberacouk/redlove.html

The bad news is that they are not available in the USA presently.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California
Uganda, East Africa

On Sun, 2 Feb 2014 09:54:23 -0800, John Belisle jdbeli...@hotmail.com
wrote:
 I just reread my not to you all and to clarify I am referring to a red
 fleshed apple. 
 
 -Original Message-
 From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net
 [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of John Belisle
 Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 9:48 AM
 To: 'Apple-crop discussion list'
 Subject: [apple-crop] Red apples
 
 I have grown Mountain Rose Pink Pearl (same variety) and they do sell
and
 create interest.  However they are very mealy, tart, and have a short
life.
 In other words compared to a modern apple they suck!!!
 
 The question of the day is is there a better red apple  And if so
how
 does a smaller guy with great niche markets obtain it???
 
 Thanks 
 
 John Belisle
 BelleWood Acres
 4160 Guide Merdian 
 Lynden Wa. 98264
 Off:   360-318-7720
 Cell:  360-739-4060
 
  
 
 
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Re: [apple-crop] Rotten to the Core: What pick-your-own apple orchards tell us about the American economy.

[kuffelcreek]

Fruit cruelty!  How can you purpously stunt your tree's growth like that? 
And making the fruit so easy to reach only encourages excess consumption. 
If you had any goodness in you at all you would plant the trees on seedling
rootstock so that the big trees would keep the fruit out of reach of the
greedy kid's hands that only will purchase more than they can eat (and is
eating the fruit exploiting the tree?...)

Kevin Hauser

On Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:46:38 -0400, Rick and Joan Bartlett
rjchapl...@gmail.com wrote:
 Geee I'm so glad he visited us to pick from the veal calves of the 
 fruit world.  Sounds like he has the same mindset as several have said 
 who have visited us, which goes something like You have the gall to 
 charge that for bounty to good lord gives you? Unfortunately it is that

 1% that tend to stick in your mind.
 
 
 On 9/13/2012 8:16 PM, Jon Clements wrote:
 OK, it's been pretty quiet, so I might as well stir the pot. (Or at
 least entertain you.) But don't blame the messenger… :-)


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2007/10/rotten_to_the_core.single.html

 
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Re: [apple-crop] Painting Trees

[kuffelcreek]

I've been using 1/3 paint, 1/3 water, 1/3 all-purpose drywall joint
compound; this is still thin enough to brush on, but makes a pretty good
crust.  I had Gripper white primer left over (Home Depot) and have been
using it, despite dire warnings about not using exterior paint.  If it
works again this year, I'm ready to declare victory as we've gotten
hammered from borers over the last several years.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:08:08 -0600, Randy Steffens Jr
randyjrsteff...@me.com wrote:
 That's interesting - what's his ratio of plaster to paint?
 
 Randy Steffens
 Shepherd's Valley Orchards 
 Tennessee
 On Mar 6, 2012, at 3:54 AM, kuffelcr...@kuffelcreek.com wrote:
 
 Add a slug of drywall mud to the mixture and you'll have borers covered
 too!  This is John Bunker's recipe at Fedco Trees in Maine and was
 effective last year in reducing borer damage here.
 
 Kevn Hauser
 Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
 Riverside, California
 
 On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 03:48:36 -0600, Nick Lucking
 n...@cannonvalleyorchard.com wrote:
 Randy,
 
 I've noticed on mature trees where I had yellow belly sapsucker  
 (woodpecker) damage and I've painted them, the birds do not return to 

 peck.  I had quite a bit of vole damage last year where I had painted 

 trunks but no guards.  I have started to add hot pepper sauce to the  
 latex paint should the critters make it though the guard.
 
 Nick Lucking
 Cannon Valley Orchard
 
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Re: [apple-crop] Painting Trees

[kuffelcreek]

Well the good news is that we're gloriously free from Dogwood borer and
round-headed borer.  But per union contract we have the Pacific Flathead
borer.  The main ingredient for the drywall mud is gypsum, but may act as
you specified.  It's cheap and available everywhere, and much more
effective than any insecticide I've tried.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:31:00 -0500, Dave Schmitt
schm...@aesop.rutgers.edu wrote:
 Cornell entomologists are working with a company that has developed a 
 pheromone for dogwood borer mating disruption.
 

http://fruitgrowersnews.com/index.php/magazine/article/new-sex-pheromone-blend-can-control-dogwood-borer
 
 In some regions other borers such american plum borer can be troublesome

 but by and large dogwood borer is the key borer pest in dwarf plantings.

 Diluted latex paint was was shown to suppress but not completely control

 infestations (see link below). The plaster addition is indeed an 
 interesting idea. Interesting that EVA is one of the components of 
 drywall mud. Perlite is also a component and its possible the tiny 
 shards of glass may physically injure the larvae that must crawl through
 it.
 

http://web.entomology.cornell.edu/agnello/assets/2006_Borer_barrier_rpt.pdf
 
 
 On 3/6/2012 10:42 AM, Maurice Tougas wrote:
 Interesting observation, would be great to see some University trials. 
 Perhaps the silica acts as irritant? Do you still see borers laying
eggs
 and larva not surviving? Also, which borers are targets?
 I understand that there is work with pheromone confusion a la peach tee
 borer research going on.

 Do you need to repaint  every season?

 Thanks

 Mo tougas
 Tougas Farm
 Northborough, ma
 Sent from my iPhone

 On 6 Mar 2012, at 10:09 AM,kuffelcr...@kuffelcreek.com  wrote:

 I've been using 1/3 paint, 1/3 water, 1/3 all-purpose drywall joint
 compound; this is still thin enough to brush on, but makes a pretty
good
 crust.  I had Gripper white primer left over (Home Depot) and have
 been
 using it, despite dire warnings about not using exterior paint.  If it
 works again this year, I'm ready to declare victory as we've gotten
 hammered from borers over the last several years.

 Kevin Hauser
 Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
 Riverside, California

 On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:08:08 -0600, Randy Steffens Jr
 randyjrsteff...@me.com  wrote:
 That's interesting - what's his ratio of plaster to paint?

 Randy Steffens
 Shepherd's Valley Orchards
 Tennessee
 On Mar 6, 2012, at 3:54 AM, kuffelcr...@kuffelcreek.com wrote:

 Add a slug of drywall mud to the mixture and you'll have borers
 covered
 too!  This is John Bunker's recipe at Fedco Trees in Maine and was
 effective last year in reducing borer damage here.

 Kevn Hauser
 Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
 Riverside, California

 On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 03:48:36 -0600, Nick Lucking
 n...@cannonvalleyorchard.com  wrote:
 Randy,

 I've noticed on mature trees where I had yellow belly sapsucker
 (woodpecker) damage and I've painted them, the birds do not return
to
 peck.  I had quite a bit of vole damage last year where I had
painted
 trunks but no guards.  I have started to add hot pepper sauce to
the
 latex paint should the critters make it though the guard.

 Nick Lucking
 Cannon Valley Orchard

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Re: [apple-crop] Painting trees

[kuffelcreek]

It used to be said exterior paint had harmful chemicals that could harm
your tree, but EPA is so strict now that it's no worry: use whatever is in
the garage.

Kevin Hauser

n Tue, 6 Mar 2012 12:01:17 -0800, Tommie van de Kamp pvdkf...@wvi.com
wrote:
 Just to clarify, is it best to use diluted interior or exterior latex
 paint and why?
 Tommie van de Kamp
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