ljgeoff: (Default)
There is damn little to update. We didn't do much at all this year. And all of that has to do with money. We got the backhoe, so there's that. Actually, that was a pre' big deal. And now the road is fixed, so we can get the backhoe out to the property.

With the backhoe, we can dig a significant hole to start the shallow well. And with next year's taxes, we'll be able to put up the pole barn. Then we'll be done, money-wise. I'm saving up to take a two-week period off, to camp in the early autumn. We'll use that time to build the hugelkulture and lasagna beds, if we haven't got to them yet. And start on the Hobbit House.

This spring, I'll be buying our first apple trees, as well as the Italian plums and paw-paws. We'll nursery them at Geriann's place. I'm going to start with eight trees: Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Daybreak Fuji, William's Pride, Calville Blanc d Hiver, Brown Crofton, Liberty, and Stayman winesap. This week I'm ordering the Williams Pride; no real reason, just what picked.

While they're in nursery, I'll chart when they bloom. I really should get two of each, to better hedge against some of them not making it. When I bought the sugar maples, white oaks, and hazelnuts, about 1/4 of them didn't make it. And we'll see how those do after this winter.
ljgeoff: (Default)
putting this here so I don't lose it

Apples: For clay soils, use apple semi-dwarfing rootstock M111. This is a vigorous semi-dwarfing rootstock that produces a tree that grows to about 85% of a standard-sized apple tree. They are considered one of the more adaptable of all rootstocks; they are quite winter hardy, have a fairly shallow-spreading root system, and are relatively drought tolerant. They are also resistant to woolly apple aphid, collar rot, root rot, and fire blight. Trees grown from an M111 rootstock will bear fruit at a relatively young age. The M111 rootstock is also known by the names MM111 and EMLA 111.

Pears: Marianna 2624 rootstock will produce a large semi-dwarf tree, can be easily maintained from 12 to 17 feet tall. Tolerates wet soils and good disease resistance; moderately resistant to phytophthora, crown rot, root rot, and oak root fungus. Root-knot nematode resistant. Can sucker in adverse conditions. It is compatible as an understock for plums, apricots, and some almonds. Incompatible with peaches and nectarines. Hardy to USDA zone 4-10.

Cherries: Gisela 6 will produce a large semi-dwarf tree, can be easily maintained from 12 to 17 feet tall. Tolerates wet soils and good disease resistance; moderately resistant to phytophthora, crown rot, root rot, and oak root fungus. Root-knot nematode resistant. Can sucker in adverse conditions. It is compatible as an understock for plums, apricots, and some almonds. Incompatible with peaches and nectarines. Hardy to USDA zone 4-10.

Plum and Peach: Krymsk 86 Based on experience in Russia, should be hardy in all major growing areas of the US. It has big anchoring roots that are reportedly well adaptable to heavy clayish soils. It should not be used in soils prone to Rootknot Nematode infestation, nor where high Ring Nematode populations have been detected.
ljgeoff: (Default)
Guys, there are a bazillion kinds of apples and they are all amazing. I'm going start with two trees (for cross pollination) (also? apple pollination is kinda tricky) and then two more but I don't know where the heck I'm going to plant them. I'll figure it out, hey?

So, here's a list:

Calville Blanc d Hiver
Origin: France or Germany 1598 Ripens: Oct/Nov Zone: 3 - 6
Uniquely shaped medium to large size fruit, skin yellow with light red flush. Fine textured. Flesh is tender, yellowish-white; flavor sweet, subacid, aromatic. Higher in Vitamin C than an orange. This is the gourmet culinary apple of France, excellent for tarts. Flowering group 4.

Centennial
Origin: Minnesota 1957 Ripens: late August Zone: 3-6
The fruit runs approximately two inches in length and about half as wide, sometimes with tapered ridges at the base. It is fully striped, bright and dark red, ripens late August at Mount Vernon. The flesh is yellow, tender, crisp, and juicy with a most luscious taste. (from Southmeadow Fruit Gardens)

Connell Red
Origin: Dunn County, Wisconsin and introduced in 1957 Ripens: Oct Zone: 3 - 6
It is red sport of Fireside which itself is a cross of McIntosh and Longfield. It is a large round apple with a solid red color and a sweet perfumed fragrance reminiscent of its parent McIntosh. An excellent fresh eating and cooking apple and a superb keeper, holding well into April.

Freyberg or Rubinette
Origin: New Zealand 1934 Ripens: Sept Zone
A small, golden, reinette-type apple, Freyberg is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Golden Delicious. Georges Delbard, of the famous French nursery, has described Freyberg as "a veritable cocktail of flavors with the merest touch of anise and producing a juice that combines the taste of apple, pear and banana." The flesh is creamy white, lightly acidulous and sugary. Ripens shortly after Cox's Orange in September.

Rubinette is without doubt one one of best-flavored apple varieties, with an unsurpassed balance of sweetness and rich sharpness.Although it is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Golden Delicious, Rubinette's flavor comes almost entirely from Cox's Orange Pippin - it has all the same aromatic qualities. Flowering group 3.

Hooples Antique Gold
Origin: Ohio recent (Sport of Golden Delicious) Ripens: Oct Zone: 3 - 6
The antique in this case refers to antique gold coloration with russeting, not the age of the variety. Found on the Hoople Fruit Farm. Some stripes against a yellow background, sometimes russeted, medium to large size. Rich, lightly aromatic flavor, juicy sweet flesh with excellent flavor. Flowering group 3.

Margil
Origin: France 1750 Ripens: Sept Zone: 3 - 6
Medium to small, slightly conical fruit. Orangish red skin with dark red stripes over gold russet patches. Always russeted on one side. Firm, sugary, yellow flesh. Intensely flavored, rich, aromatic, deep cream flesh. One of the best flavored. Low in vitamin C. Moderately vigorous. Flowering group 2.

Quebec Belle
Origin: Ripens: Sept/Oct Zone: 3 - 6
Open-pollinated seedling of Northern Spy. Red fruit. Resembles Delicious in appearance and Northern Spy in quality. Keeps well. Hardy to -50 degrees. Flowering group 5.

Regent
Origin: Minnesota 1963 Ripens: Oct Zone: 3 - 6
Medium size fruit. Bright red over yellow. Very pleasing flavor and texture. Honeyed, plenty of acidity, crisp, crackling, juicy flesh. Cooked keeps shape, light flavour, sweet, fruity. Delicately favored, all purpose apple. High dessert quality does not diminish in storage. Fruits store into the winter. Tree is vigorous, bears young, sets good crops. Resistant to cedar apple rust. Susceptible to fire blight and scab. Fruit hangs well, rarely dropping before harvest.

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