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Post by Alan on Aug 23, 2007 23:19:27 GMT -5
Theres a lot of info in these Luther Burbank books i've been reading regarding the selective breeding and introduction of orchard plants, particularly cheries, plums, and pears, it is to me very inspiring and I want to mess with an orchard so bad that I think I might just finally break down and buy some dwarf trees next year the only problem I have is one of space so I may end up planting a small grove on the land at Kims parents house, anyone have any suggestions as far as must haves regarding apples, pears, cheries, or otherwise...?
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Post by plantsnobin on Aug 24, 2007 11:10:57 GMT -5
Hi Alan. Glad you are getting good use of the books. I have been a bit under the weather the last couple of days, I still need to get down to the greenhouse and find some more books for you. I haven't even felt like watering for the last 3 days-I hate to even go in there, because I am sure much is dead. But, I do have an almost complete set of OLD Mother Earth New that you could have. I stress Old because the new mag is crap. If you do decide to order some fruit trees, let me know. My brother is law wants a few trees, and I am going to be ordering some kiwi and figs from Burnt Ridge. Maybe we could combine an order for a better price. I have always been happy with the plants I have rec'd from them. Karen
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Post by Alan on Aug 24, 2007 12:56:59 GMT -5
Karen, hey I love those books and as a matter of fact I am goin to buy the other volumes of the luther burbank books and I would love to have the old Mother Earth News Magazines. Sorry to hear that you are feeling under the weather friend, I hope you get feeling better soon. If I decide what I want to grow this year I'll let you know on the trees and we can order together  -Alan |
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Post by canadamike on Jan 21, 2008 23:15:58 GMT -5
Alan, I will resume growing fruit trees this spring, I onced had a 100 fruit trees orchard.
Mind you, out of that, 60 were nankin cherries, from China, that I used in the place of a cedar hedge to mark my property. It is a bit hard to recommend varities, as I am far north from you and there is a lot of difference in earliness of flowering, cold days needed and stuff like that. But if space is of importance, I would go semi-dwarf, they are more resistant, and start to learn grafting. It is fun, and you can end up with one tree containig as much varities as you want. Getting scionwood is cheap, often free for the asking when you encounter a tree you like.
I would not even bother buying rootstock, I'd go to a good nursery, get a couple of good semi-dwarves and start grafting next season on the new, expanded one year wood.
Apples and pears are easily grafted, cherries need more experience, the cambium is very thin, that is why they are often bud grafted. Knowing you, you will have a ball...
A multi-variety tree is the hell of a kik...and is a pollenisation recipe for success. With pears, if you are short on space, it might be the only solution since they need 2 trees PLANTED CLOSE.
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