Walking the Orchard

Well it's been two weeks now since I did a thorough walk in the upper and lower orchards. The weather is still not quite summer yet. Temperatures are hanging in the mid-sixties, definitely a good 20 degrees cooler than June last year. We had our bumper apricot and fig year with that heat. Even got the fuzzy kiwi to ripen!! Hopefully the temperatures will pick up. This partly cloudy wet cool spring could set us back.

Had a bit of a scare. The lower orchard was hit really hard with peach leaf curl AGAIN (damn weather is perfect for it)!! But we've layered some fresh chicken and llama/alpaca manure on the the infected trees to help stimulate some new leaf shoots and keep the nutrient levels up while the tree is stressing. It did reduce the fruit setting on those trees. Hopefully the peach and nectarines in the upper orchard will make up for it. They look healthier than the Green Giant himself.

The thinning is done and done. Took two days or so, but it really gave me a chance to examine each tree. Found some powdery mildew on most of the apples (even though I sprayed lime sulfur... bad timing again???) I still would like to number each tree to track its production and health over the years. I do have an orchard map, but that only shows me what variety each tree is.

We're keeping the tent caterpillars under control. A walk every evening to snip out any little buggers trying to weave a nest.

Oh by the way.....the cherries are blushing!!!! I tried one the other day just for kicks; trying to beat the birds. Not there yet. Not even close enough. Give it another week or two and the race against the ravens and robins will be on!!! Summer fruit is ready to break down the door!!! Bring on the heat!!

It's just almost July, but its time for us to pick out our fruit trees for next year and make the order. We'll let you know what's in store. You can never have too many trees. Those trees will be setting fruit for the next 80 years or so for generations to enjoy. I guess my grandkids will be way too spoiled!!