North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Richard Moyer" <ramoyer@gmail.com>]

Melissa,

If someone already commented on these, sorry for the duplication.

 

'Crandall' currant is self-fertile, at least the one's I've grown from both the NCGR in Corvallis, and from Burnt Ridge nursery.  At each site, these were the only currants planted at the time, and they bore well.

 

As for 'no spray' apples at your site, don't give up too easily.

Be observant as you drive/bike/walk/etc for good looking apples in your area, especially isolated trees with attractive fruit.  Notice the part of the tree with perfect fruit vs. limbs/areas with damaged fruit.  Manage your trees to favor perfect fruit.

 

We just picked two bushels of gorgeous apples today, from an isolated tree that has never been sprayed.  The owners can't use all the fruit, and asked up to pick and take them to avoid waste.

 

The apple diseases and insects in your area have specific life cycles.  Find out from your ag extension agent the worst ones for your area.  Many of these can be overcome in a home orchard with planting resistant varieties, proper spacing, pruning and soil care.  Manage the trees to minimize the problems.  Such as daily removal of every apple that hits the ground and/or all leaves in the fall (orchard sanitation).

 

Richard Moyer

Banner year for fruit in East TN, SW VA, after the '07 Great Easter Freeze