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Garden Gate:  My apple trees  |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 03:58:57 AM
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I'm starting to worry.  Last year (I think it was last year) We got a cold snap right after my buds formed - just before flowers - and I had a terrible apple harvest.
This year.... you guessed it. We had 2 nights so far of cold weather. Low 20's. I'm fearful of what it could do to this years apple harvest. I only have 2 tree's but it still provides me with enough to can a sizeable amount of apple butter.
My trees are too big to cover. They are getting old. Do they have a "lifetime"? My neighbor told me they must be almost 50 years old. Someone once told me that their lifespan is not like other tree's.
Oh, I will be so, so sad if my tree's are dying.  |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 04:19:40 AM
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Everything living has a lifespan. I'm sadly watching as my ancient crab apple dies. This is probably the last year we'll have it. It dropped several branches over the winter.
When/if you replace the trees, consider semi-dwarf. Dwarf trees aren't as well rooted as semi and full sized trees. They don't support themselves well. We'll go with semi since full sized apple and cherry trees have been a pain to harvest. I'm going to wound my old crab to make it send up shoots. I'll root those and replace the tree with it's own coppice regeneration. Even then, I hate to lose my tree, and it will be years before the replacement provides.
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 9:05:56 PM
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Hope, hope...I have hope! Okay, can you graft a slip from your tree onto new rootstock? That way, though your trees may be aging, you won't loose them completely. There are lots of places on line and in your library, or even a local nursery (where you'll need to get your "donor" rootstock) that should be able to guide you through the grafting process. Since (I'm guessing) this will be your first grafting attempt, you may want to try a few to make sure one takes. Your local nursery/college/extension office may even have grafting classes?
How do you prune your apple trees? If they are overgrown or crowded, this may contribute to poor tree health.
I do love old apple trees. I hope yours will be fine, or that you can produce replacement trees.
We make a difference. |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 10:06:27 PM
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I would love to learn how to graft - we have an old, old orchard and our trees are dying, some being pulled down by vines, others just rotting from inside out. I plan to retire in about 10 years and if I start grafting now maybe I can re-populate the orchard?
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 10:44:07 AM
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Oh, Robin, it's beautiful! I love the serpentine form and the drama...it looks black and white.
A good book I always look to for answers is Back to Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills. My copy is from 1981. I'm looking now at a page that illustrates 3 different ways to graft. It says, "simple enough for amateurs to master", so that's encouraging. It's a great book, worth requesting at your library or finding at a 2nd hand bookstore.
We make a difference. |
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Garden Gate: My apple trees |
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My apple trees
