Mid – March Update: Almost Finished with pruning!

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Patty Doll

So, what have we been up to these last few weeks?  Seasonal pruning has been quite a challenge.  Cold temperatures, snow and ice accumulations have brought pruning to a standstill at times.  These last few warmer days of March, however,  has allowed us to once again get the equipment back in the orchard. We are trying to meet our goals and finish by the end of this month. Continue reading →

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Mid February Orchard Update

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Patty Doll

I’ve been somewhat lax in getting this site updated again since the end of harvest but just wanted to let everyone know that although harvest is over, plans are developing for the orchard in the coming year.  Our fruit season closed the middle of November with the pickup of the last orders of Black Twig Winesap.  It was a good harvest and with the help of our customers at market we were able to have a good opportunity to provide a wholesome product to many consumers.

Although we are presently in the throes of winter, we are not without things to do. Pruning is the task at hand.  Weather permitting we take the equipment to the orchard and give each tree a good “cut.” When we prune trees we use air powered tools and cut out dead, diseased branches and past growth that is not necessary for the trees’ development.  Pruning fruit trees is necessary for several reasons.  Pruning opens the trees to better receive sunlight and air flow.  Seasonal applications of pesticides and fungicides are more able to penetrate the limbs and reach the developing fruit if trees are properly pruned.  There is also better fruit development and a more even fruit distribution on the tree with proper pruning.  The limbs removed or “prunings”  are left on the ground and usually chopped with a flail mower as Spring approaches.  This incorporates the organic matter back into the orchard’s soil. It has been a challenge to get moving down the rows this year.  Mother Nature has been putting a “nix” on most of our attempts this winter.  However, with longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures in the future forecast we will be able to get busy again real soon.

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Late August 2013 Update

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Patty Doll

August has come and gone with the peaches ripening, harvested and marketed.  As September unfolds apple harvest is in full swing.  Gingergold, Gala and Honeycrisp are picked and are being offered at local markets.  McIntosh apples are being picked this week as well as Ruby Jon and Cortland.  September Wonder, which is an early Fugi, is close to being fully flavored and their harvest is near.  Soon to follow are the Empire, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious and Jonathon.  Harvest this year is challenging as Mother Nature has blessed us abundantly with fruit.  Come see us at market for an opportunity to select your favorite variety or maybe to try a new one.  Nothing like an orchard fresh apple!

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Early July Update

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Patty Doll

What a difference a year makes!  Last summer we were experiencing temperatures in the 100’s and arid conditions but this season things are very different.  Cooler temperatures and more rainfall has created some summer disease issues on the fruit.  Over all however, these diseases have been controlled.  The fruit is past cell division and experiencing tremendous cell growth.  Barring any unfavorable weather such as hail and wind, the fruit crop looks promising for us.

The Gingergold apple is the first variety that we will make available to the markets.  It is slightly tart, rather juicy and a great apple to eat out of hand or use in sauce, pies and crisps. It is unique in its characteristics. Gingergold was developed in the late 1970’s and has become a popular addition to the varieties that our orchard has to offer to our customers.  It is green with a hint of yellow when first picked but changes to a golden yellow as it ripens.  We expect  to have the Gingergold apple available to our customers no later than the first week of August.  Following the Gingergold, the Gala will be ripening and available.  No need to expound on the Gala.  It is very popular and very versatile.  This apple sells itself and if you had no other varieties to offer, the Gala would be great on its own.

We will be opening our season with visits to the following Farmers’ Markets in Indiana, Greensburg on Friday afternoon, North Vernon and Batesville on Saturday mornings and Brookville on Wednesday.  Other market sites, such as Columbus, are at this time being considered.  As always, product can also be purchased at the home market.

The peaches are LOOKING GOOD!  Market availability will coincide with the Gingergold apples.  We have the Sunshine peach ripening first with the Hale Haven to follow.

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June Orchard Update

Posted on June 16, 2013 by david

June has brought forth beautiful fruit development.  Sufficient rains and warm temperatures have contributed to the growth of the apples and peaches.  The fruit is quite visible now as one walks through the orchards.  The growth of the vegetation in the orchards can also be attributed to the rains and warm temperatures.  Although we practice conventional growing methods we try to minimize herbicide usage.  Many hours are spent mowing the aisles of the orchards and using the weed eater.  There is a need to apply herbicides under the trees, however, as the mowing equipment does not have adequate maneuverability under the low hanging branches.  As fruit develops, its weight makes the branches bend lower to the ground creating a canopy effect.

The first variety of apple to be harvested in our orchard is the Early Harvest or Transparent.  This variety of apple is difficult to find as it is an older one and is used mainly for applesauce.  It is a green apple when picked but “yellows” within days of harvest.  Tart with a fine texture it makes a smooth and very white sauce.  Early Harvest apples usually ripen by the first week of July.  We have planted several new trees but production isn’t such that we can make it available to the public yet.  This is the variety that I like to use in my “Grandma Patty’s Sauce.”  The apple is the main ingredient but the sugar I add wins the hearts and appetites of my grandchildren.

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Thinning of developing apple fruit

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Patty Doll

 

Developing cluster of 'Yellow Delicious' apples.

Developing cluster of ‘Yellow Delicious’ apples.

Recent warm temperatures have provided excellent pollination for the apple trees.  Although temperatures did dip to freezing and below two consecutive nights last week, we feel the damage is minimal.  Any damage that did occur just caused a little thinning.  When the petals drop from the trees (petal fall), apple growers need to make a perplexing and often risky decision regarding chemical thinning of the apple fruitlets.

From the time of bloom and for the next month or so, there are thousands of flowers developing fruitlets on the trees.  All of these fruitlets are struggling to grow and make tremendous demands on the tree.  Thinning of these abundant fruitlets is necessary to prevent a heavy crop of small apples.  Thinning is a tricky call to make.  A certain amount of fruitlets will drop naturally from the tree while others will have to be removed  chemically.  The effectiveness of a chemical thinner application depends on many factors and to hit it just right takes as much art as science.  Different orchards respond differently to a given thinner application.   There is much published research on thinning practices but generally speaking there is no “one size fits all” when developing a thinning strategy.   Different strategies work differently in different orchards and it is impossible to develop a recipe approach.  Experience  is the basis for a good thinning plan.

Our first thinning applications were made last week with follow-up this week.  We’re not pros at the whole process by no means, but each year we are learning a little more and experiencing more success.  Each season seems to bring new challenges with some varieties thinning better than others while others don’t seem to respond to the thinning applications at all.  Techniques sound good on paper but we find thinning to be a somewhat head-scratching but necessary process.

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Apples Nearing Bloom

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Patty Doll
full bloom anoka

An ‘Anoka’ apple tree in full bloom.

Up to last week the Spring weather has been almost perfect for the bloom and pollination of the peaches.  The orchard was BEAUTIFUL with the full bloom of the different varieties of peaches and the buzzing of the bees as they went from blossom to blossom unknowingly doing a good job of pollinating for us.  However, as Mother Nature sometimes does in April, a cold front moved in bringing rain and falling night time temperatures.  Two consecutive nights last week  in the low lying parts of the orchard the temperature dropped to 27 degrees which is cold for the tender fruit formation on the peach trees.  As of yet a total damage assessment has not been determined but undoubtedly there will be some losses.  We do not think a total loss like last year but we think our thinning efforts will be on hold for awhile.

The apple trees are array with their creamy-white blossoms and hopefully the cold temperatures did not do too much damage.  We did not have full bloom throughout the entire orchard so we are somewhat confident our losses will be minimal in the majority of the apple vareities.  Last year we were past full bloom and had fruit set when the thermometer dipped to night time temperatures of 26 degrees.  A later Spring this year has helped us greatly.  We are as anxious as anyone to have warm temperatures after the dreary days of winter but TOO WARM, TOO EARLY is really bad news for an orchardist.  We are not out of the woods yet but things are looking a little better as we progress into the month of May.

Full bloom of an 'Anoka' apple blossom.

Full bloom of an ‘Anoka’ apple blossom.

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the orchard becomes as the trees enter bloom period.  All the work we put into pruning, cleanup and mowing all becomes so worthwhile when you enter bloom.  One day I look out and the trees are “pink” and as the day progresses if factors are favorable, the “pink” becomes tinged with white, then creamy-pink blossoms appear and before long the entire tree is a vibrant burst of blooms.   Orchard bees start to work and actually flit from blossom to blossom as they go about their business.  “Busy” is a good analogy,  as no human could keep up with their burst of activity.  I am always fascinated by Nature.  These are the days when I spend hours just taking it all in.  Nothing makes me more aware of my place in the scheme of things than trying to produce fruit.  The “growing” business is not always the most profitable, but it definitely is one of the most challenging and rewarding.

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Peaches are Blooming!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Patty Doll

The orchards are pruned and all spruced up, ready for the arrival of the warmer temperatures that announce the arrival of Spring.  There is nothing more beautiful than  azure blue skies, warm southwestern breezes and a sun-filled day highlighting  the first blooms of the fruit trees.  Yes, Spring has finally arrived at the orchards and endowed us with breathtaking beauty.  We have bud cluster in the apple trees while most of the peach trees are displaying their full bloom.  2013 Peach Bloom

Peaches are usually the first trees that we have to bloom and it is always a magnificent sight to behold their various shades of pink.  We have different varieties of peaches in the orchard. Each variety displays a slightly different hue when it blooms. Our orchard is planted so these varieties ripen at different times making an extended harvest season.  Depending on the bloom period, our harvest begins the middle of July and will extend to the last week of August.  We have  well known varieties such as Red Haven, Madison, Contender and Reliance but have also experimented with other less known varieties that have proven to be very well liked by our customers, such as Canadian Harmony, Harcrest, Harold’s Beauty and Flaming Fury.  Each variety has its own characteristic.  Red Haven and Madison  have better canning and freezing capabilities and give better results in pies and pastries. Harold’s Beauty makes a beautiful peach preserves while Canadian Harmony is great to eat right out of hand, no sugar needed.  Harcrest and Flaming Fury do seem to have a longer shelf life in storage.  Besides these yellow peach varieties we also have white peaches.  White peaches are tastier to eat fresh but do not have the storage life that a yellow peach does.  However, after some customers have tasted a white peach, there is no going back to any other variety.  Again, all a matter of personal preference.  peach blossom

Customers will ask what is my personal preference.  Well, it seems I like them all.  Each variety has its own unique flavor and when I am picking peaches I really can’t say I find a “bad” peach.  I have been known to sample quite a few during harvest making the other pickers wonder if I put anything in the hampers.  The picker is also the taster so how could you ask for a better job than that?

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Its a Busy Time of Year!

Posted on March 20, 2013 by david

No leaves on the trees, no snow on the ground. It is that time of year where we are hustling to finish the orchard preparation for the coming season. Many tasks have to be completed before we enter bloom – which is just around the corner (Mid-April)!

George and Eric are finishing up  pruning the apple and peach trees. A job in which every tree is given a personalized “hair-cut” in order to maximize fruit quality and size. Not an easy under-taking, by any means. Some of our trees require 20-25 minutes to complete the pruning process. Yes, we are always glad when this three month process of working through the orchard is completed.

I am busy working on developing this website. I have enlisted my son, David, to help with its creation and maintenance. I am grateful as I struggle in completing beyond the basic processes of computer use. We are so fortunate to have a family that wants to be/stay involved with the operation, even though they aren’t close in proximity.

I hope the first day of spring has treated you all well. We look forward to seeing you all at the local markets this summer and fall  and to this new venture of launching this website.

~Patty

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