Author Archives: Patty Doll

About Patty Doll

Owner, operator, picker, seller, customer service, and grass mower for Doll's Orchard, LLC.

An Early Spring???

The brief glimmer of sunshine on February 2nd, Ground Hog’s Day, wasn’t quite enough for Punxsutawney Phil to see his shadow. So, according to folk lore, we’re supposed to have an early Spring. No one living in Indiana would have … Continue reading

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Back to Work…

It’s been a good break in routine but the holidays are now over and it’s that time of year to get back into the orchard and start the annual pruning. If there is one particular question that we are often … Continue reading

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“All Good Things Come To An End!”

Well, another harvest season has come and gone. The twelve and fifteen hour days of picking, washing and sorting fruit, selling product, loading trucks for markets have now ended. We now will enjoy a little respite before the pruning season … Continue reading

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Harvest Begins

We’ve made it through a late freeze in April (23rd and 24th), straight line winds of 80 mph in July which took out over 70 trees, two weeks later a hail storm and then 5 inches of rain last week. … Continue reading

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Getting Closer

Apple harvest is not too far away. Ripening seems to be about seven to ten days later than in past years but we’re progressing towards harvest. The freeze we experienced in late April damaged the first blooms and so we … Continue reading

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“It’s the Business”

Our area was predicted to experience a summer of below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. When fruits and vegetables are needing favorable growing conditions, these predicted weather outlooks are not so good to receive. It’s been a very dry … Continue reading

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Another Whammie!

Bloom was about seven days earlier than usual for our orchard. It was beautiful against the backdrop of the blue skies of Spring and gentle warm breezes. Being earlier than most years we were cautiously optimistic that we’d be able … Continue reading

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Follow the Directions

Safety issues in handling and application of pesticides is often left out of gardening books. Common sense is the rule when using chemicals, whether it is a man made chemical or organic material. A poison by any other name is … Continue reading

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“Ready, Set, Grow!”

It was a great feeling when the last tree was pruned and the equipment was cleaned and stored in the maintenance building. A long haul this pruning season, not only with trimming the trees but also the challenge of orchard … Continue reading

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Still Pruning but “Getting There”

Good progress was made these past weeks pruning the apple trees. We endured the chilling temperatures of January and early February and moved through the trees one by one, trimming, cleaning out excessive growth and removing broken limbs. Pruning in … Continue reading

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