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Orchard insect pests: biology, points of vulnerability, trap thresholds, spray specifics, natural predators, ecosystem balance.
Re: curculio progress - 22 days ago
Has anyone found any issues mixing Grandevo into the core holistic recipe? (i.e., neem and/or karanja, soap, EM, molasses, fish, etc.) I'm assuming not, but thought it'd be good to ask twice and spray once.by Josh Willis - Bug by Bug
Re: Orchard ladders - 24 days ago
Claude - ha, yes indeed. We have been happy practitioners of the 'natural' / lazy approach to orcharding for several decades! That said, I'm guessing it works best for your seedlings than than our grafted "semi-dwarf" giants. However, our volunteer cherries have much the same benefit you describe. We would be happy to have such a stand of volunteer apples as well. Buby Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Re: Reference book on Grape growing? - 24 days ago
Thanks, Claude and Mike, for the quick response. Looking fwd to checking those out! And here I was wondering how many people would respond to perhaps the least frequented forum in here, i.e., "Grape Varieties" on an Apple growing website! ; )by Josh Willis - Grapes
Re: First Year Nutrition - 24 days ago
Just a quick note on borers: I, too, once hoped that usual sprays would keep them away. However, the greater and lesser peach borers don't really seem to care about that. So I've taken to Michael's suggestion to literally coat the trunk with raw neem (Michael mentioned using a butter knife, but I found a paint brush to be work). Well worth the time and expense, IMO.by Josh Willis - Starting an Orchard
Re: Fatty Acid Knockdown - 25 days ago
Isa, I assume that with greater green showing, there is greater risk for phytotoxicity. Similar to you here in MD, I skipped a double rate for our first spray for that very reason, since we were also running behind. But of course, you know what they say about when you assume things. So I'm curious to hear others. Craig and Brittany, to back track a bit to your earlier comments -- it woby Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Re: ground applications of fertilizers? - 25 days ago
My understanding is that most orchards need additional N each year, even with chopped understory helping out. We only did the latter for many years (decades?), and got decent growth...but I think this may have also been the vigor of the "semi-dwarfing" root stocks (M106) -- I use quotes as they are about 40' high at this point. Anyways, we've started adding some N fertilizerby Josh Willis - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: soil vs leaf tests - 25 days ago
I was curious to look again at our tests from last year. And indeed, we showed: -low P in soil, but ok in leaves. (similar to Molly's) -very low Mn in soil, but ok in leaves. This I'm really curious about, given Mn's relationship to Ca, which we have as low across the board. -low Mg in soil, but ok in leaves. -and interestingly, OK Boron in soil, but low in leaves. So theby Josh Willis - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: soil vs leaf tests - 25 days ago
Molly, thank you for posting this Q., as I've had the same thought looking at our leaf and soil tests. I wish there was a central reference table of sorts with all the ins and outs of what each nutritional value may or may not mean. Your extension agent's comment on the low Boron makes sense given that old agricultural 'law of least', which I had to look up the actual nameby Josh Willis - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Reference book on Grape growing? - 25 days ago
Does anyone have recommendations on a reference book for growing grapes, along the lines of Michael's books? Most of what I find online are conventional sources, of course, and stress the need for big sprays -- which I'll believe, but it'd be nice to have a more organic alternative. I can of course apply the same principles I use in the main orchard, but it would be nice to readby Josh Willis - Grapes
Re: Orchard ladders - 26 days ago
Claude, do you have any other techniques you use for spraying, harvesting, or generally taking care of your 40' seedlings? We have some old M106's that are about that height (!), which can be a bit challenging (ha!).by Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Re: Wood Chippers? - 26 days ago
We just got a Woodland Mills WC68, which might be a bit more power than your tractor has (I can't recall the details), but they make a lower spec version, as well. Their chippers are very highly reviewed online (in tractor forums, at least!). We are still assembling it, hopefully we can start chipping before the season gets too hot. This is a 6", self-propelled model, with a safetyby Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Re: A tree dies in the forest... - 27 days ago
Ok, now we have to know: is this for your philosophy course, or is it a real example in your orchard? And if it's the latter, more details please!by Josh Willis - Just Talk
Silver Leaf - 27 days ago
Hi all- We may or may not have a bunch of silver leaf in our small orchard -- still trying to correctly ID. Does anyone have experience with silver leaf? Any recommendations? Everything I find online says there is no fungicide to treat it. So I'm assuming just the usual holistic health, good hygiene, etc. But curious if people know of any other ideas. Thanks. -Joshby Josh Willis - Fungal Pathogens
Re: The Future of HON and the Forum - 8 weeks ago
If I may contribute my 2 cents from the cheap seats (i.e., a non-commercial / backyard orchardist): I really hope HON continues in some form or another. It is a totally unique resource. Maybe that evolves now, maybe not. But, though I never met Michael, it seems like continuing HON, in one way or another, would also be a an important way to honor him and his work. FWIW, I hope those of yby Josh Willis - Just Talk
Re: Sanitizing methods for pruners / saws? - 3 months ago
Thanks, all! Charlie, you read my mind -- I was wondering what agricultural journals I hadn't read that talked about 'Metho'...good to know it's a continental difference, not something I missed! Claude, glad to hear it's not just he noob. Alcohol makes the most sense to me, esp. given that it's more likely to evaporate before any rust issues. I'd diluteby Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Sanitizing methods for pruners / saws? - 3 months ago
Ok, I'm here to put in my yearly noob question. ; ) How do y'all sanitize your pruning equipment (pruners, loppers, saws, etc.), without rust? I've usually walked around with a bottle of bleach solution or alcohol solution, and try to dry with a rag. But the rag always gets stuck in the saw teeth and makes a mess, and even with pruners, it's hard to dry them completelby Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Cover crops for...established orchards - 8 months ago
When I read about cover crops in orchards, it is often in the context of establishing and orchard, i.e., prior to fruit tree planting. What are your best on-going practices for orchards with already established trees -- do you cover crop in the fall (or whenever your zone's late season)? My underlying question: Is cover crop competition for nutrients/water an issue with established treesby Josh Willis - Understory Management
Re: Mask for spraying? - 8 months ago
Thanks, all -- that's good to hear your approaches as a basis for comparison. I'd searched before for dispoable P95's and never found them...but just tried again and sure enough they are there after all. I think for the home grower / small orchardist, these disposable P95s are a good solution. Michael, the envirosafetyproducts.com website is a great resource to have - thankby Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Re: Wood ashes - 8 months ago
Eek! And here I came to this post with this question: We recently cleaned out our ash pit, not done since Biblical times, it seems, and came up with about ~260 lbs. of hard wood ash. I looked outside, and thought "Well the orchard is pretty big (for us - 3/4 acre) -- maybe that is a good place to spread it?" Fortunately, it seems, I more a ruminator than a doer, b/c I'd only thby Josh Willis - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: Restoring fruiting in blueberries - 8 months ago
Paul, do you know of any recommendations for cottonseed meal as an amendment for pH? I see Michael's rec's for the amount per fall as maintenance, but no specific table for "I have X pH and need to get it to Y pH, so the rate should be such and such." I think the MSU publication you mentioned has such a table for Sulfur, but not cottonseed meal. I am attracted to the latterby Josh Willis - Blueberries
Low N leaves, High Nitrate Soil - what to do? - 8 months ago
Our small blueberry plot (~400 SF) has ~40 y/o bushes. If there are any knowledgable blueberry people out there, we could use your help, please! This year's soil report came back with high Nitrates (~200%) and low Ammonia. However, the leaf analysis we submitted came back with low Nitrogen. This is no surprise -- shoot growth has been <8-10" the last few years. But I'm nby Josh Willis - Blueberries
Mask for spraying? - 8 months ago
Here's one I've been meaning to ask for a while. Does anyone wear PPE / respirators while doing a holistic spray? The ingredients are obviously less noxious than conventional sprays. Yet it's not the sort of thing you exactly want to take a mist shower in...generally not what your lungs are meant to be breathing. Adding some Bt or Spinosad to the mix is something else I'by Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Powder amendment broadcast tools? - 8 months ago
Total newbie question here, apologies in advance! I just can't seem to find an answer online. What do y'all use to spread powder amendments (such as rock phosphate, etc.)? We've got a tow-behind spreader that is designed for granular amendments or seeds. And I've used it for a little bit of powder before...but we're getting ready to spread 1500 lbs. of rock phosphatby Josh Willis - Sensible Equipment
Re: Pear sensitivity to neem oil? - 11 months ago
We were set to spray today, when my father remembered something about pears...oops, that’s right! In another other post (“How much rain does a rain event make?”), I’d mentioned asking the Ahimsa folks about ideal spray conditions when it is hot. They seemed to imply UV (high/direct sun) was much more important re: leaf burn than temps. But obviously the community experience here is different fby Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Re: Peach tree borers - 11 months ago
I wanted to revive this posting with a question about wood ash. Michael mentions that old timers used to pile wood ash around the base of the trees to deter peaches. Does anybody have direct experience with this? or any ideas of how much? (I say as I sit with about 250# of wood ash after finally cleaning the fireplace ash pit out last fall).by Josh Willis - Bug by Bug
Re: How much rain does a "rain event" make? - 11 months ago
Thank you, Brittany, for the detailed answer! (And thanks to Michael for his response to you). That all makes sense to me. If you don't mind, your answers made me think of 2 further questions (in the name of truly nuanced sprays!). You mention waiting for <80ºF, which I've often had in the back of my head, also. However, last year when I queried the folks at Neem Resource, thby Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
How much rain does a "rain event" make? - 1 year ago
So as we all keep an eye on the weather forecast this spring and get our sprays in when we can, even the best planning means a spray sometimes is followed by rain. So when, specifically, do folks respray (or not respray) after a rain? I imagine a few variables in play: -What's being sprayed? For simplicity's sake, let's focus on Michael's standard holistic spray.by Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Re: Neem Pure - Definitive Guide to Mixing - 1 year ago
Colin and Ian - my father was born not far from you. His aunt grew glads and corn up there until recently (she passed away at about 100 y/o). Small world! now that this thread is completely off track - haby Josh Willis - Spray Nuance
Re: Cherries with special flavors - 1 year ago
Good questions. I may not have been clear -- we have 2 distinct though related varieties. We have our original planting of Schmidt's Bigarreau from 1976 or so. It's one of 4 cherries left. They get brown rot so bad each spring that we haven't got a crop in 10+ years, at least. Partly due to years of not spraying + our very wet springs in many recent years (here in MD). So I canby Josh Willis - Sweet Cherries
Re: Bacterial Canker in Prunus Species - 1 year ago
Hi Dan, I'm just reading this forum and saw your post, years after the fact. I'm intrigued by your tidbit about spraying liquid seaweed (Maxicrop) on blossoms before a freeze. Do you recall the application rate you use? Looking at Maxicrop's website, their application rates seem to assume direct watering instead of spraying. (I'd also be curious about any other info you feeby Josh Willis - Bacterial Opportunists