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We understand that allopathic spray medicines of whatever persuasion make up for specific biological and nutritional deficiencies in the orchard. Ergo, investing in soil health, foliar health, diverse biology, and plant allies makes all the sense in the world for growing healthy fruit. Here's where we prove it.
Re: curculio progress - 6 weeks ago
Who knows? I think we are just beginning to really grasp the "New Worlds" out there--like we are on those three tiny ships departing Spain half a millenia ago, totally unaware of what is over the horizon. Take a look at where the active ingredient in Grandevo came from: Under some hemlock trees in MD. Is it endemic, or could (or should) it be made to be endemic? That's someby Don Kretschmann - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 7 weeks ago
Not sure if I was the one who nudged many into trying Grandevo for PC, but I think so. As I said in my original post, we've always had quite a few PC, tried Surround with minimal success, and just lived with using PC as our natural thinnners. Scarred, but unaffected fruit, could always be used for cider anyway. But the "final straw" was several years seeing damage to the emergiby Don Kretschmann - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 3 months ago
No problem mixing. I'd just make sure it goes through a good screen because it appears it could clump--but not severely. Brittany brings up a good point with competing organisms. A major driver of EM application is to provide such severe competition for the baddies that they can't thrive. That can equally apply to the good guys, or benign. Brittany, I'd be curious to know whichby Don Kretschmann - Bug by Bug
Re: plant sap analysis - 4 months ago
P.S. Just spoke with Dane Terrill from Crop Services International. He's willing to do a "module" with visuals and all, on sap analysis via zoom for 30-90 min to bring everyone up to speed. We'd all share cost, thus $40-120/??. Might be the way to see if you want to start into psa. Anyone interested? don@kretschm&#by Don Kretschmann - Grower Research
Re: plant sap analysis - 4 months ago
Thanks, Brittany for summary. For any HON following this discussion, if you are interested in wading into sap analysis there's an opportunity here as a group. New Age analysis costs go down to $70/analysis if you buy a package of 10 tests. And Dane is willing to conduct zoom consultations. Thus we'd all save $ on learning the basics of how to interpret these. I'm willing to fby Don Kretschmann - Grower Research
Re: Top working established rootstock - 6 months ago
To Michael's point, I'm not quite sure about the interstem scenario. Seems if that first grafted variety doesn't do well, that which is grafted to it also wouldn't. Better scenario would be a vigorous interstem which has other problems. We've topworked a number of Williams Pride, which have never seemed to do all that well--as an apple. Quite vigorous as a tree.by Don Kretschmann - Grafting
Re: Top working apple trees - 6 months ago
Hopefully all can see these pics I took last spring in Washington State. Growers there seem to not hesitate to replace whole blocks of the less successful varieties. You can somewhat see from observing that in most cases they leave all the grafts in place, twisting or weaving them. It makes for a somewhat messy look to the tree structure.by Don Kretschmann - Grafting
Re: curculio progress - 6 months ago
Well as far as I'm concerned, the result is in: Grandevo works for curculio! I've ignored this ugly looking critter for decades, having observed that it never seems to eliminate the crop. Actually, since I have never done anything except hand thinning (and little of that!), I consider the curcs are my thinners. But a few years ago I was alarmed to see the buggers chewing up emergingby Don Kretschmann - Bug by Bug
Re: Power pruner options - 6 months ago
Thanks, Karen for your trialing and endorsement of the zenport. Researched them all, and there are several more out there now, but went with zenport for positive review and being around for a while. Pruner warehouse in Napa, CA is about the cheapest--$950+- Would have gone with a Felco because I've always been impressed by their quality, but it's twice the price. Originally got theby Don Kretschmann - Sensible Equipment
Re: Marssonina 2021 - 6 months ago
Just for reference if needed, we have all scab resistant/immune varieties. 3 A total. Two blocks largely on M7--1985 and 1996, somewhat crowded as they're 15-20' tall, on 15'x15' row spacing. 2007 and 2016 block are trelised on G11, G16, G-41 and a few M26 4'x15' spacing. All have been grown with organic protocol since planting. We don't thin to any degree,by Don Kretschmann - Fungal Pathogens