Re: [apple-crop-2] what happens to apple trees near equator

[kuffelcreek]

No, they never go dormant and if left alone will have spindly, 12 foot
tall branches.  They develop an extremely vertical habit that is
unproductive.

We counter this by aggressively bending branches horizontal and pinching
back vertical suckers in order to form fruiting buds.  At the start of the
dry season we strip all the leaves manually, which causes the tree to think
that it has gone through a winter.  Since it is 80 degrees and 12 hours of
daylight length, it then thinks that it is spring and time to blossom and
bear fruit; this usually occurs 6-8 weeks after leaf stripping.  

We call this Tropic Apple Culture, and various varieties respond
differently to it, not always depending on their chilling hour rating.  I
surmise that by manually leaf stripping, the tree believes that the
chilling hour requirement, whatever it may be, has been satisfied; it then
goes on to blossom and fruit.  Mollie's Delicious was one of the first to
fruit for us, even before Anna.  Anna and Dorsett Golden fruit heavily the
third year, following in ensuing years by other varieties since we plant on
either seedling or M111 rootstock.

Many institutions still consider growing apples in the tropics
"experimental"; our farmers are way past that and sinking big money into
expanding their current apple orchards, usually with the crop completely
sold while it is still on the trees.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery Uganda Ltd.
Riverside, California
Nakifuma, Uganda



On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 22:19:42 -0500, Doug Nelson
 wrote:
> I believe there are some on this list very near the equator. What
happens
> with apple trees near the equator? Do they go dormat even though you do
not
> have a fall season?
> 
> Doug Nelson
> Woodys Apple Farm
> Plano illnois
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Re: [Apple-Crop] To head, or not to head: that is the tall spindle question.

[kuffelcreek]

In our apple orchards in the tropics the endless season would result in
whips 12'+ tall if we didn't intervene.  

I'd cut them back to 5' tall and notch above every bud to encourage
lateral branching; this should have been done in April when they just
started to push. I'd probably still do this now, though I'm open to hearing
from others why you shouldn't.

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery
Riverside, California 
Nakifuma, Uganda


 On Mon, 3 Jul 2017 16:25:04 -0500, Doug Nelson
 wrote:
> Forgot to mention the picture I have attached is an example of one of
these
> poorly feather trees. My wires are two feet apart so you can see that
this
> tree is almost seven foot tall.
> 
> On Jul 3, 2017 4:22 PM, Doug Nelson 
> wrote:
> 
> I'm in my second year of growing apples. This year we planted 5000 apple
> trees tall spindle style. These will be used for upick.
> 
> The nursery I bought from gave me about a thousand terrible trees with
> almost no feathers.
> 
> I have sprayed heavily with Maxell to encourage lateral bud growth. Has
not
> work that well.
> 
> My Orchard is located right next to one of the Chicagolands largest
> commercial tree nurseries. The field manager of the nursery recently
> stopped by and told me he would encourage lateral growth by heading all
of
> these poorly feathered trees.
> 
> I know the rule with tall spindle is generally you never had the tree,
but
> I think the assumption  is that you have a lot of feathers.
> 
> Has anyone ever headed poorly feather trees to encourage lateral growth?
> What were your results?
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Re: [Apple-Crop] Future of Extension Assistance to Apple Crop

[kuffelcreek]

Pi r squared.  Ha! You can't fool me; cornbread's square, pies are round!

(In memory of Andy Griffith)

Kevin Hauser
Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery

On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:05:13 +, "Con.Traas"  wrote:
> Hi Art (and everyone),
> Yes, I was a much more regular contributor in the past. But then, in
> general, there was a lot more discussion going on the forum, which
> stimulated more responses.
> I am happy to confirm I am alive and well, and that the apple industry
in
> Ireland (small though it is) is doing reasonably well.
> In 2016 there was an outstanding crop, despite the weather being only
> slightly warmer than usual. But there was moisture whenever it was
needed,
> and everything just seemed to go right, with an exceptional autumn for
> harvest, with mostly dry and mild weather.
> The big crop has led to its own problems with culinary apples, which are
> oversupplied, and the processors also took less than usual.
> In a few weeks the growers will be giving away free "apples for tarts"
> apples prior to World Pi day (as in the number 3.14 - ratio of diameter
to
> circumference of a circle), with the catch that whoever gets the free
> apples and makes the pie, must in turn give that away free. A sort of
> pay-it-forward idea that we hope gets a bit of traction.
> Con
> 
> PS Thanks to Dave for the rather comforting and (as usual) comprehensive
> response.
> 
> 
> 
> From: kellyorchards [kellyorcha...@gmail.com]
> Sent: 24 January 2017 13:40
> To: Con.Traas; apple-crop@virtualorchard.com
> Subject: RE: [Apple-Crop] Future of Extension Assistance to Apple Crop
> 
> I hadn't heard from you in a while and was worried.  You used to be a
> regular contributor.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Art Kelly
> Kelly Orchards
> Acton, Maine
> 
> 
> 
>  Original message 
> From: "Con.Traas" 
> Date: 01/24/2017 8:16 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.com
> Subject: [Apple-Crop] Future of Extension Assistance to Apple Crop
> 
> 
> Hello to all from Ireland.
> We're having a very mild winter but trees still dormant at the moment,
and
> at least pruning is progressing well.
> I note from the article below that the ability of public sector staff to
> contribute via a group such as this may become limited.
> However I would be very hopeful that all growers make good on any
deficit
> that might arise. I look forward to many years of happy discussion of
all
> things apple.
> Con Traas
> The Apple Farm
> Ireland
> 
> 
>
https://www.buzzfeed.com/dinograndoni/trump-usda?utm_term=.swOPx7BX7#.dsPjm5B85
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