North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Dennis Norton" <dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Doreen,

Without getting too sophistocated, we determine our fertilizer needs through 
our soil and leaf samples taken each year to dtermine the proper mix we 
need.  You will probably be safe with a 13-13-13 fertilizer which we have 
used for the past 3 years.  We then supplement based on our soil tests.  Our 
apple trees on Bud9 are in third leaf and have all been fed with the 
13-13-13.  We have not had to add any supplements to them since our soil is 
a bit nitrogen heavy to begin with.  They have been doing great.  We have 
about 2,000 trees on Bud9 that we fertilize in mid-May.  Hope this helps.

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>
To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 7:49 PM
Subject: [NAFEX] Speaking of Feeding Fruit Trees


> What is the best fertilizer for apples, pears, peaches and apricots, in 
> your opinion and/or experience.  Organic fertilizer options are great, 
> too.
> And, when do you fertilize your trees?  I'm new to orchard tending, but my 
> 13 various trees are approaching their bearing years in their third year 
> in the ground.  Half of the trees are apples on Bud 9 dwarfing stock.  The 
> cherry is on Colt.
> Doreen Howard