Maximum yield isn't necessarily the same thing as maximum sales. In my opinion, the selling is more important than anything else. Yes, good yields of good quality fruit is important, but being good at selling and how much you are able to get for what you have to sell trumps everything else. If you are able to sell for $40.00/bu what needs to happen to get that price in terms of customer experience is the priority.
p.s. No, we are not able to get that much but there are farms in the area that do. We still wholesale a large percentage of the crop. Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, Maine On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 2:13 PM, David Doud <[email protected]> wrote: > not an expert here, but it's my understanding in a spindle system the > space between trees in the row is determined by what renewal pruning will > fill and that much over 3' between trees in most situations would require > permanent woody architecture to keep the space filled, which brings about > several horticultural challenges - > > then the space between rows versus the height of the trees becomes a > calculation to maximize yield - > > in a you-pick situation I'd suggest that maximum yield would be a > secondary consideration to logistics - that wider rows and shorter trees > for convenience and safety would override a certain percentage of maximum > theoretical yield - > > I shudder to consider what strategies the public might employ to harvest > that beautiful apple just out of their reach... > > if my understanding is incorrect, feel free to challenge - > > David > > > > > > On Jul 3, 2014, at 11:21 AM, Matt Pellerin wrote: > > Thanks for the responses. I was thinking of going to a 10 x 3 orchard > growing Honeycrisp on M26 and Macoun on Bud 9. I think the 10 x 3 spacing > puts the tree height at 8.5' which will work pretty well for pick-your-own. > On this kind of spacing, will I still be within the Tall Spindle category? > Will I have to make adjustments in my pruning methodology or will the > typical tall spindle pruning and training recommendations work? > > Thanks, > Matt > > > On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 8:26 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I concur with Dennis' evaluation of Dr. Robinson's videos; this system has >> forced even stubborn high-chill varieties to transition from vegetative >> mode to fruiting mode in hot climates and the tropics. >> >> I wanted to address Matthew's desire to keep the trees around 6' tall. >> This sounds like it would take a very dwarfing rootstock like M27; do any >> of our growers have experience training these as tall spindle? >> >> Kevin Hauser >> Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery >> Riverside, California >> Nakifuma, Uganda >> >> On Thu, 3 Jul 2014 00:23:19 -0500, <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > matthew, >> > >> > We have been growing tall spindle in northern Illinois in a >> pick-your-own >> > orchard for around 5 or 6 years now. The system has been improving over >> > the years and currently the newer spacing being recommended by Dr. >> Terence >> > Robinson >> > from Cornell is around 12' x 3'. I highly recommend watching the videos >> > at YouTube he did at the Winter Apple School in Henderson County, NC >> found >> > at http://youtu.be/gJF4wLgXnK8 >> > >> > After viewing this video and others on the BRCC TV - The Educational >> > Channel on YouTube covering the Tall Spindle System, we will be making >> the >> > recommended changes to our current system of 14' x 4'. >> > >> > Hope this helps. >> > >> > Dennis Norton >> > IPM Specialist/Certified Nurseryman >> > Royal Oak Farm Orchard >> > 15908 Hebron Rd. >> > Harvard, IL 60033-9357 >> > Office (815) 648-4467 >> > Mobile (815) 228-2174 >> > Fax (609) 228-2174 >> > http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com >> > http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.blogspot.com >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: Matt Pellerin >> > To: [email protected] >> > Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 2:55 PM >> > Subject: [apple-crop] Narrow Tall Spindle Layout >> > >> > >> > I am a grower in central Maine that operates a pick-your-own orchard. >> I >> > will be planting a tall spindle orchard next year. I would like to >> plant >> > the rows as narrow as possible in combination with shorter trees so >> the >> > customers can reach more of the fruit. My orchard tractor is 54" >> wide. >> > How narrow can I plant my tall spindle orchard with this equipment? >> > Also, what would be the appropriate tree height at the narrow row >> > spacing? >> > >> > >> > Thanks, >> > -- >> > >> > Matthew Pellerin >> > Agricultural Manager >> > Treworgy Family Orchards >> > 3876 Union St >> > Levant, ME 04456 >> > >> > www.treworgyorchards.com >> > >> > 207-884-8354 >> > >> > >> > >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > apple-crop mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> _______________________________________________ >> apple-crop mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > > > > -- > Matthew Pellerin > Agricultural Manager > Treworgy Family Orchards > 3876 Union St > Levant, ME 04456 > www.treworgyorchards.com > 207-884-8354 > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > [email protected] > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > [email protected] > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > -- Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, ME
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