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Orchard insect pests: biology, points of vulnerability, trap thresholds, spray specifics, natural predators, ecosystem balance.
Re: do you care? - 6 months ago
To be honest, I have become very discouraged by this forum over the years. I have about 40 fruit trees now and a large garden, all managed under “deep organic” principals. You Michael, through your books, have been my orchard guru. But the activity level on this site is so low, and responses to comments so sparse, that I have largely turned my attention elsewhere. I now check this forum every fewby Jon O'Donnell - Just Talk
Re: Virgina Hewe's crabapple - 9 months ago
Hudson River valley zone 5B. I love my Hewes trees. I have three of them that just finished their fifth season. The trees are among the most vigorous in the orchard. Naturally form very wide crotch angles and a spreading vs tall tree. First trees to bear fruit (3 yrs on mm111). Lots of golf ball sized fruit. Sweet, slightly tart, mildly bitter. Seems like a perfectly balanced apple. Some watby Jon O'Donnell - Cider Apples
Re: leaves on new growth curling under, turning brown - 5 years ago
I'm seeing quite a bit of damage to foliage over the last several weeks that I had independently suspected was PLH, probably in combination with aphid damage. What is the prognosis for a young orchard being swarmed by these critters and what can / should be done about it? My default response since I planted last year has been "strategic patience" - try not to panic, just obserby Jon O'Donnell - Bug by Bug
SWD implications for new berry patch - 5 years ago
Starting to plan / prep for the next phase of my orchard / garden which will be going in spring 2018. Major portion of the planting will be berries - raspberries, blueberries, currant, etc. Given the introduction and spread of SWD, and the problems even conventional growers seem to be having with it, (i) is it even worth at this point trying to grow soft berries? (ii) are there cultural pracby Jon O'Donnell - Brambles
Re: Tree Settling - 5 years ago
This is really great feedback. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I'm going to measure each graft and use a combination of methods above this spring depending upon the severity if the problem.by Jon O'Donnell - Starting an Orchard
Re: Tree Settling - 5 years ago
Hello - given this didn't garner any replies, I figured either (I) it was a bad question; or (ii) everyone was busy with the harvest. So I figured I'd give it another shot now that we're in the dead of winter. If it was the former, apologies in advance for cluttering the site.by Jon O'Donnell - Starting an Orchard
Re: Tree Settling - 5 years ago
Hello everyone - first post here although I've been reading and re-reading this and other similar forums as well as michael's two very helpful books for several years. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience. I have the inverse problem. I planted a small orchard of ~30 heirloom desert and cider apples this past spring (April 2016). Hudson River valley zone 5b. Very well draiby Jon O'Donnell - Starting an Orchard