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nafex - [NAFEX] apple tree size and harvest q's

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  • From: sam bucus <samm_bucus@yahoo.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] apple tree size and harvest q's
  • Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 22:56:59 -0800 (PST)

hello,
i have only posted on this list a few times, but have more questions.  i know that it seems like i do not know a lot about farming, especially fruit, and i dont have a lot of experience, so bear with me, but i got such great responses last time.  i appreciate any information.
 
-does anyone know where i can buy a copy of "ecological fruit production in the north" by bart hall?  i cant find it anywhere on teh internet.
 
 
i have land i am planning a small farm for in cold zone four on the south shore of lake superior.  soil pH 4-5.  i plan to alley crop it with annual crops/perennial flower nursery in between rows of fruits.  i also hope to graze sheep under about half the fruit trees (the fruit trees with alley crops between them will not be grazed under, the rest will have pasture between widely planted trees, like a silvopasture).  the whole operation will be maybe 5 acres. 
 
the overall plan is to have an organic five acre more intensively managed area that produces a  variety of fruits (apples, pears and plums) throughout the season as well as perennial flowers/herbs, vegetables and small fruits in the alleys while helping to support a small flock of sheep (3 or 4 for manure and cutting grass) that will have an additional 5 acres to graze on.  all of this geared towards farmer market/roadside stand type of direct marketing.
 
SO:
 
-i was told to get standard size fruit trees bc it is a small venture and cold climate.  with an "Anatanovka" (spelling ?) rootstock.  i dont really want a 20 or 30 foot tall tree.  does anyone know how large an apple will get on that rootstock, i was told 12-15 feet on teh st lawrence nursery site, but a standard gets bigger, correct?  to my understanding though a standard lives 100+ years to a semi-dwards 15-20 years and can withstand cold much more readily bc of deeper roots.   suggestions?
 
-what other rootstocks are suitable to graze animals under? m26?
 
-does anyone graze under semi-dwarfs?
 
-why would i NOT want a standard?  why would i WANT a standard?
           to my understanding they are larger and live longer but harder to manage, pick,    spray, etc. 
 
-how many apples/bushels etc, under average conditions, ball park figure (i know there are countless issues to take into consideration) will a standard apple tree give and a semi-dwarf give?
 
-how about pears?  how big will a pear on a standard get?  is it the same as apples just on a different rootstock?  issues of PRO and CON with pear standards and dwarfs?
 
-how many bushels will a standard pear give? a semi-dwarf?
 
-how many bushels will a plum tree give?
 
Thank you for all your help.  ANY information is much appreciated by my young self as i try to get a solid plan before i go out on the land and mess it up.  thank you for your patience and advice. 

sincerely,
 
andrew


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