North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Ken Harnad" <harnad@ntelos.net>]

Hello Dale,
I live here also in the Valley and have planted or am in the midst of
planting an orchard.  Why don't you write me at harnad@ntelos.net to
discuss.  My phone number is 540.649.1891.  regards, ken harnad
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dale Burkholder" <dburk@planetcomm.net>
To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 11:41 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Opinions on tree size and spacing


> I recently bought a 9 acre farmette and want to plant about 1 acre in
apple
> orchard. I would like some opinions on tree size and spacing. I had
planted
> about 40 trees with 70 varieties grafted, on all kinds of rootstock where
I
> lived before, but the trees haven't grown to full size yet so I didn't
have
> a chance to learn from all my mistakes. Here's what I'm thinking now.
Plant
> part of the orchard on approximately M26 size rootstock for the dozens of
> more "commercial" varieties, and smaller, M9 size trees for the 100 or so
> wierd, experimental, unusual, overlooked, and test cultivars. Maybe I'm
> crazy, but I'd like to try them all right here. Probably mostly roadside
sales.
> A local commercial orchard has M26 trees spaced about 9x18 and they look
> too crowded - not enough space to drive through, although that's only 270
> trees per acre.
> My questions -
> 1. What tree size would you recommend? (Yeah, I know some cultivars are
> more vigourous than others).
> 2. Spacing. With room for tractor.
> 3. What about Cummins' Geneva rootstocks? I kinda like not having to worry
> so much about fireblight. And where in the world do you get Vineland 1?
> 4. And, finally, while I'm collecting opinions, any wisdom on growing the
> more northern varieties in the "South".
>
> Dale Burkholder
> apple testing addict
> Shenandoah Valley, VA
> reluctantly admitting I'm in Zone 7 now
>
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