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Apples
Blueberries |
Cali
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Akero |
Hoholik |
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2024 - '22 graft continues vigorous. Pruned some branches and topped at 7'. Cut off most of rootstock (vigorous) growth. 2023 - Did some pruning but am considering just letting this tree be its wild self. 9/20 noticed a lone healthy looking apple on the end of a bottom (reachable) limb. Most of the apples in the tree were poor. I made my way through the raspberry/blackberry tangle to pick this nice specimen. Medium soft texture, very juicy, with a lot of flavor, more tart than sweet but nice, a Duchess type I think. In a better location I think it might be worth continuing to manage. Last year's graft on seedling south of shop doing well, vigorous. 2022 - End April light pruning of many watersprouts and older uprights, a little general clearing. Still wild but sort of manageable. Didn't notice any blossoms or fruit. Late winter cut a scion to graft somewhere there is more sun. Main tree is fully shaded in September when apples are finishing ripening, though rest of season is OK. Be interesting to see how it does elsewhere (given the vagaries of a graft on a different stock). In May I noticed an 8 ft wild seedling by path in front of shop, 18 ft from Lilli, 22" to Bulero. Decided to graft Cali scion to it. Did double bark inlay graft at about 5 ft. Grew well, vigorous, ~20". Cut smaller one back (will remove next year). Healthy. 2021 - Steve cleared under tree in spring so I could get in to prune. Took two top limbs off and many uprights, opening tree up for sun and air. Many flower buds. Light blossoming, no fruit (end of May freezes took out most apples). 2020 - 5/9 moderate pruning, looking pretty good. Lots of brush around and under. Steve cut down fairly large apple so of tree. 2019 - 5/14 Cut out number of uprights, crossed. Wasn’t too bad, nothing major. Picked 9 apples, some had dropped. Similar to Splitter but smoother. 2018 - Lot of growth around tree. Did some pruning; reasonable growth. Dozen or so fruit. Dropped a few early Sept, some eaten by deer. Nice size, decent shape. Picked mid Sept. Similar flavor to Splitter. Smooth, waxy, w/red streaks. 2017 - Light pruning top, watersprouts. Healthy leaves, some holes/blight (but rough year for all). Good shoot growth. One real nice apple at tip of low north branch. Picked 9/29 Put in rootcellar. 10/11 realized it had gone soft, cut out & ate small area still good but it was quite tart. Maybe picked it too early, maybe not long keeper. 2016 - Continue pruning for shape. Moderate blossoms, no fruit. Grew fine, some suckers, leaves healthy with just some spots. One dead branch at top. 2015 - Pruned another major top limb off and did some thinning. Scatter of blossoms, no fruit. 2014 - Cut out largest top limb (~4"), not much else. Cut other top limb out next year. Lots of ants, likely stressed by major pruning? 2013 - Discovered a good wild tree nest to woods west side of front yard drive, good sized apples. Cleared area around tree. Dumped bark to help level ground. Some scab but moderate. 9/27 dropping some apples, so 9/29 picked mounded half bushel basket (more at top of tree), medium-large fruit, tart but decent flavor. Well worth pruning. Looks similar to Splitter apples. At some point (this year?) cut down large WBC right next to tree, plus other large trees in area allowing better sun & air. Copyright © Susan Robishaw |
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