Doll's Orchards, LLC

The apple trees were in full bloom about a week early this year. We feel better about making it through the freezing Spring temperatures without cold damage to the crop when bloom is later in the month of April. Our ideal is full bloom about the 25th of April. This year we experienced full bloom on the 18th of April.

While the orchard was truly beautiful with the intense vibrancy of the blossoms, in the back of our minds we had unvoiced concerns about the pending cold temperatures that were predicted for our area. Freeze warnings were issued for the entire central part of our state for two days, the 21st and 22nd of April. After last year’s devastating season this certainly was not welcome news for us.

Wednesday, April 21st, we awoke to three inches of snow and temperatures of 28 degrees. No one could remember when this area had this much accumulation of snow so late in the Spring. The apple blossoms were completely covered and the weight of the snow made the trees bend from the extra weight. The snow didn’t last long, however, as the day warmed and it melted. Depending on the bud development of the trees, the snow did somewhat act as an insulator protecting the trees from the extreme cold. Depending on the stage of the bud development is the defining statement here as the snow actually did cold damage to the buds of some of the apple varieties. As the snow melted, it actually drew heat away from the developing bud and froze it. Whether the results of this cold damage is just cosmetic or if the cold actually killed the fruit is a matter that is yet to be determined. The king blooms are the most likely damaged or destroyed. The king blossoms are the biggest and first to appear. Trees have secondary blooms and these probably are the survivors at this point.

So after we made the best of the snow and the cold on the 21st, there was still a freeze warning for Thursday, April 22nd. Luckily this front moved more eastward and temperatures actually warmed. Predictions were for a drop to 28 degrees but we actually recorded 30 to 31 degrees overnight. It was a welcome reprieve.

So where do we stand in damage? We’ve been conducting daily walks through the orchard and find that certain blocks suffered major damage and other blocks appear to be more favorable. It’s a tough job to make an assessment, but it is safe to say that there is damage and we’ll just have to sit tight and wait to see what happens . One thing for certain is that being an orchardist in the Midwest is not for individuals who are weak of heart.

Due to a few technical difficulties our website was not “up and running” for quite some time. An update has been long overdue. Since that last post the orchard has progressed from dormancy to bloom.

We have moved through pruning clean-up, the growth stages of the trees which were silver tip, green tip, tight cluster, pink and now we are in bloom. The bees were brought into the orchard about a week ago. Not having enough hives ourselves, we borrow hives from a local beekeeper. It’s a win-win situation as the bees pollinate the blossoms for us and the beekeeper gets the honey. Full bloom is expected for the majority of the apple trees by this Friday. Our peaches were in full bloom on the 6th of April. Things are moving forward.

So far so good with the weather conditions. We did experience a very cold front about two weeks ago with morning temperatures dropping to 18 degrees. However, we haven’t been able to determine how much or if any damage was done to the buds at that time. We’ve been checking but a more accurate assessment can be made after petal fall. Any temperature dips below freezing at this point would not be welcome. Judging from the extended forecasts for our area, we are expecting a long bloom period with favorable daytime temperatures in the 70 degree range. This is excellent pollinating weather. At this point we continue to just keep our fingers crossed.

Good news! Pruning in the older apple orchard and the peach orchard is now completed. We’ve moved along quite well this year. In fact after checking long term weather forecasts for the week, we proceeded out in rather cold temperatures on the 8th of February to finish pruning the peaches. It was a challenge as quite a bit was left to do, but we were determined. Even though the winds picked up and the skies darkened, we stuck with it and reached our goal. We pulled the equipment in at 3:30 p.m. and by 5:30 p.m. that evening the ground was covered with snow and it has snowed just about every day since. A great feeling knowing that pruning is finished in those orchards. It’s rather difficult to hand prune in 10 to 12 inches of snow on the ground.

There’s a real advantage of having this amount of snow cover, though. Usually as the temperatures warm, so does the ground temperature but with this blanket of snow covering, the ground will stay colder somewhat longer. Colder ground temperatures keep the trees in dormancy. The longer the trees stay dormant the better is the prospect of having fruit this year. Early bloom is not so good as in the Midwest we can have freezes well into May. This is exactly what occurred last year, a killing freeze on May 8th.

Our lowest temperature to date has been a minus 1 degree. Peach trees are not as hardy as apple trees and so extremely cold temperatures damage the fruit bud on peach trees. Our friend who worked as a professor in the Horticultural Department at Purdue University always made this comparison when discussing cold temperature damage to peaches; zero degrees is the breaking point, for every degree below zero, count on loosing 10 percent of the peaches. So, for instance, if we experience 7 degrees below zero, about 70 percent of the peaches are killed. This is not always the case as tree placement and wind factors can somewhat change the outcome. Usually, however, in our experience growing peaches we found his statement to be quite on target. Thus, maybe about 10 percent of peaches will be lost this year as we experienced a minus one degree. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that no more major cold fronts will approach our region this winter.

When the present snow cover melts and we’re able to return to the orchards, we will address clean-up and mulching of the prunings from the aisle ways and from under the trees. A tedious job at best but something that has to be done. We will be moving to the Pick-Your-own orchard soon and it will be getting its “haircut” as soon as temperatures warm up. Before we prune those younger trees, we prefer temperatures to be more stable and not predicted to dip to the subzero range. More daylight hours certainly will help to accomplish both of these tasks.

We’ve been busy with other “to-dos” on our list as well; inventory control, equipment repairs, cleaning and organizing and whatever else was put on the “we’ll do it later” list. Around here there is always another chore to do or another issue to be addressed.

Safe to say not too many people were saddened as they said goodbye to 2020 and welcomed 2021. Still facing challenges from the pandemic but all of us are hopeful for a more “normal” 2021.

At the orchard we are proceeding with the “normal” pruning or trimming of the apple trees. A non-producing season last year created tremendous limb growth and sprouts. It’s been more of a chore than usual. We’re anticipating about 20 percent increase in labor hours this pruning season. While the negative aspect is more time spent pruning, the positive is the extra growth proves the trees are healthy. The tree fruit bud for this year looks good, healthy and strong. Fruit bud for this season was developed during the summer months of last year.

An interesting comment I read recently about pruning is that just as everyone cooks a steak to his/her own liking, such is the same with pruning. Orchardists have their own techniques. Some hand prune as we do while others prune mechanically. Pruning is labor intensive. With limited labor supply orchardists have to determine what is most cost effective. Large orchards tend to prune mechanically because of the labor shortage, costs and the overall magnitude of the task. The overall objective, however, is the same, open up the trees to allow sunlight and chemical applications to get into the inner parts of the tree’s canopy.

We have certainly missed attending the trade shows and presentations that are sponsored annually by the Horticultural Departments of the state sponsored universities such as Purdue, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Several of the universities sponsored virtual presentations of classes for vegetable and fruit growers. Certainly this was a good alternative to get the information to the growers but we did miss the actual interaction of going to the the trade shows and exchanging thoughts and ideas with the vendors. This exchange of ideas is how new processes for production and management develop and move a small business forward.

We’re certainly trying to make 2021 a better year for our customers. With a little luck and lots of help from Mother Nature, we hope to be able to have something to offer our customers this year. Take good care.

Thanksgiving Day was celebrated somewhat differently for all of us this year due to the challenges of the Covid-19 virus.  Onward we go, however, as we move forward into the winter months and the trees enter their dormancy.  Expected snow this week will lower the ground temperatures and thus encourage the trees to become dormant. With dormancy, comes the task of pruning.  We expect pruning to be a somewhat lengthier process this year because with no measurable fruit the trees’ production was in the formation of branches and sprouts.  Quite a bit of unneeded and unwanted branches and sprouts create more time consuming pruning measures.  Trees need to be  “opened up” so air, sunlight and chemical applications can benefit the fruit on the interior branches.  Bacteria and insects are constant predators to tree fruits and both will take advantage of any opportunity to “attack” anything that is not protected.  Overgrowth in the trees keeps fruit protection at a minimal level.

So soon, the pruning equipment will be taken out to the older parts of the orchard and work will begin.  Right now, maintenance of the equipment is underway and the compressors and pruners are getting a thorough check.  Hydraulic hoses are being replaced and engine tuneups are being conducted.  Nothing is more aggravating than a breakdown once pruning is underway.

Not only actual cutting of unwanted growth will be conducted this year  but there will be removal of trees as well.  Over the past several weeks there have been heavy and damaging winds in this area.  Heavy winds and rain wreck havoc in an orchard.  Trees can be uprooted if the soil becomes too wet and caught in cross winds.  At times, we can salvage the tree by pulling it back in place and  staking it with metal posts.  With a little bit of luck the roots reestablish themselves and the tree continues to grow.  There are other times though, that a complete uprooting occurs and then nothing can be done to salvage the tree.  Heavy cross winds will also twist and snap the trees at the point of the graft and there is no other option than to haul it away and pull out the stump.  A tree broken off at the graft will not regrow.

According to the calendar, this year is winding down but we consider pruning as the actual beginning of another season.  So, onward we go!

We are expecting the first killing freeze of the season this week.  Not really looking forward to it but it’s that time of the year in southeastern Indiana.  We just need to get used to the idea of colder temperatures.  With a very lean harvest this season, there is not as much anxiety or stress about these freezing temperatures as in past years when we had apples on the trees that still needed to be picked.   The fruit itself doesn’t freeze with a dip in temperatures but the stems freeze.  The weight of the apple then causes the stem to let loose and the apple drops to the ground.  Usually after a hard freeze (25 degrees to 28 degrees) we have about three days to pick fruit before it drops.

Overnight freezing temperatures for several successive nights puts the trees into a dormant state.  Fruit trees need to be dormant before annual pruning can begin.  So next up on the orchard “to-do” list will be waiting for dormancy and then pulling the pruning equipment into the orchard and getting started.  Most years we are not really anxious to get started.  This year, however, it will be a bigger challenge and we will need to go after it as soon as it’s feasible.  With no fruit production this season, many of the trees added too much new foliar growth and that will need to be removed by pruning.

The area Farmers’ Markets have closed for the season and buying fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers will be put on hold until next Spring.  All the vendors who set up at the markets certainly appreciate the support of the local consumers.  It’s a “win-win” for both.  Remember, “we are all in this together.”

Due to limited produce and great sales, we are now closed for this season.  Looking forward to a more normal harvest and sales season in 2021.  Put us on your “must stop and shop” list next year.  Thanks to all!

This is the final week of apple picking.  What a bummer!  Not much to harvest this week, Suncrisp, Myra Fuji, Chesapeake and Snow apple.  These varieties will be offered for sale on this Friday, October 2nd.  We will again open at the u-pik location at 10:00 a.m. How long we remain open for sales depends upon when/if we sell out.

Quite an unusual season for orchardists in this area but doing the best we can.  No one can change or control Mother Nature.  This season was a defining example of just that.  We have fingers crossed that next year will treat us a little more favorably.

Thanks to all of you for supporting us this season.  We truly appreciate seeing all of you.

Please be advised that our hours have been changed.  Since we only sell what we grow and our crop was almost entirely wiped out by the Mothers’ Day weekend freeze, we have had to reduce our hours.  We had planned to have produce available on the weekends.  However, these planned hours of business were dependent on product availability and subsequent sales.  Due to an overwhelming response from our customers we have sold out each of the past Fridays and have been unable to open on Saturdays and Sundays.

With over forty varieties of apples in the orchard, possibly the fruit of fifteen varieties survived the freezing temperatures.  There is very minimal fruit on these “survivors.” We pick what fruit is ready on these “survivors” and offer it on Fridays.   We are dealing with circumstances beyond our control.  We genuinely wish things could be different as we miss going to our markets and offering more convenient hours to our customers.  We truly love to sell apples but wow, we just can’t change what Mother Nature has dealt us this year.  Thanks for your support and understanding.  Guess all of this is not too surprising as this is 2020!

It’s Labor Day weekend and we’re spending it a little differently around the orchard this year.  What is usually a very busy opening of the apple season was somewhat more quiet than in past years.  There was no hustle and bustle of customers sampling apples and enjoying the “fruits of our labors.”  We were able to open this past Friday (September 4th), but with limited amounts of apples we sold out rather quickly and were not able to open our sales doors on Saturday and Sunday which was our initial plan.  Our hours are dependent on how much product we can make available each week and how much is sold each day.  We will open each Friday in September and whether we open on each Saturday and Sunday of that weekend is dependent on Friday sales.  We only sell what we grow and when our limited supplies are gone we can’t replenish until the next weekend when the next varieties ripen.  We will make every effort to keep the information on social media and of course, use our phone contact if there are questions.

We have over 50 varieties of apples in the orchard but with the damage from the late Spring freeze, many varieties were completely wiped out for this season.  Since we have limited varieties and thus limited amounts of fruit to pick, our harvest and subsequent sales have been altered drastically.  This week the plan is to pick Crimson Crisp and Pixie Crunch.  We never know exactly what will be coming into the sorting room until we finish picking.  Besides a loss of fruit, the fruit that we do pick is sometimes damaged with frost rings and not in a condition to offer for sale.  We do plan to reopen again on the 11th of September and offer these varieties to our customers.

The following week, the 18th, our plan is to have Yellow/Golden Delicious available.  This is the apple variety that was a mainstay in most orchards for many years.  It is referred to as “Mullins” Golden Delicious by many in the nursery business.  We are fortunate to still have this variety as it is getting more scarce every year as newer versions are being developed and planted.  Not considered an heirloom variety, but it’s probably close to the top of the list to do so.

“We’re in this together.”  Let’s keep this in mind as we work through this harvest season.  We will do the best we can and thanks for supporting us in our efforts.  We always appreciate the patronage of our customers.