|
Post by smsmith on Oct 6, 2017 20:51:07 GMT -6
I thought I had a thread on this subject already, but couldn't find it....
As we were heading east today we came upon a pear tree just east of Hayward, WI (Treeland Resort area). It was loaded with large pears, I'd guess the size and shape of Bosc.
At any rate, that area is colder (currently USDA 3b I believe) than my place...so, it's clear that pears can be grown in cold areas. If I were local to that area, I'd be grafting that tree like crazy.
|
|
|
Post by mnfish on Oct 6, 2017 21:21:54 GMT -6
Its nothing special but I got my first pear this year (8-10yr old tree). Two different kinds. Don't know the strains of either of them (not great at documenting!) We had two pear trees growing up in Bloomington MN and they were always loaded and delicious. Hope I can give that experience to my kids
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 7, 2017 5:22:08 GMT -6
Out of the handful of pears Cummins recomended one is thriving and one is doing okay. I will grab the names and pics next time I am up.
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Oct 7, 2017 5:54:51 GMT -6
Out of the handful of pears Cummins recomended one is thriving and one is doing okay. I will grab the names and pics next time I am up. How's that new property working out? The new trees growing well in the cuts?
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 7, 2017 8:30:04 GMT -6
Out of the handful of pears Cummins recomended one is thriving and one is doing okay. I will grab the names and pics next time I am up. How's that new property working out? The new trees growing well in the cuts? Life got busy this year with the kids so I have done very little habitat work. The property is exploding in new growth, mostly maple and briars. The plots are a fail and most of the grafted apples I planted are dead or almost dead. I need to do a soil test. My guess is the ph is <5. I have struggled to get buckwheat and WR to grow. It will be quite a chore to get any amount of lime in there. Despite that the tubed B.118 rootstocks are 6-8' tall planted spring 2016. I can't figure that one out. I have been letting it sit, I am bring a coworker and his 16yo son there next weekend for muzzleloader. We will be the first ones on the property in two months so I am hoping to get his kid some action.
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Oct 7, 2017 17:46:43 GMT -6
Chummer,
I put off getting soil tests until this year. I'd highly recommend it. I used MidWestlabs.com. I had my results back via email within 5 days. $25 a test. I did tests on 4 plots/orchards. They all varied greatly so it's best to do them for each plot. Winter rye and clover should be able to grow there though even with low ph. I'd spray those maple sprouts or they'll get away from you quickly.
I've been saying guys should plant rootstock if they aren't sure or ready to plant an orchard. I can't figure out why your Cummins trees keep dying. I'd plant more B118 and graft them later. They'll produce deer apples if you end up not doing anything.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Oct 8, 2017 1:25:39 GMT -6
Chummer, I put off getting soil tests until this year. I'd highly recommend it. I used MidWestlabs.com. I had my results back via email within 5 days. $25 a test. I did tests on 4 plots/orchards. They all varied greatly so it's best to do them for each plot. Winter rye and clover should be able to grow there though even with low ph. I'd spray those maple sprouts or they'll get away from you quickly. I've been saying guys should plant rootstock if they aren't sure or ready to plant an orchard. I can't figure out why your Cummins trees keep dying. I'd plant more B118 and graft them later. They'll produce deer apples if you end up not doing anything. I would add some dolgo seedling rootstock to that planting.
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 8, 2017 15:27:46 GMT -6
Chummer, I put off getting soil tests until this year. I'd highly recommend it. I used MidWestlabs.com. I had my results back via email within 5 days. $25 a test. I did tests on 4 plots/orchards. They all varied greatly so it's best to do them for each plot. Winter rye and clover should be able to grow there though even with low ph. I'd spray those maple sprouts or they'll get away from you quickly. I've been saying guys should plant rootstock if they aren't sure or ready to plant an orchard. I can't figure out why your Cummins trees keep dying. I'd plant more B118 and graft them later. They'll produce deer apples if you end up not doing anything. On that property I went heavy on chestnut crabs and for what ever reason at both location chestnut crabs do not live. I did plant 50 Dolgo seedlings this year, to early to tell on those. They are still alive. I have 50 rootstocks growing good in their final location.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Oct 9, 2017 3:23:07 GMT -6
Chummer, I put off getting soil tests until this year. I'd highly recommend it. I used MidWestlabs.com. I had my results back via email within 5 days. $25 a test. I did tests on 4 plots/orchards. They all varied greatly so it's best to do them for each plot. Winter rye and clover should be able to grow there though even with low ph. I'd spray those maple sprouts or they'll get away from you quickly. I've been saying guys should plant rootstock if they aren't sure or ready to plant an orchard. I can't figure out why your Cummins trees keep dying. I'd plant more B118 and graft them later. They'll produce deer apples if you end up not doing anything. On that property I went heavy on chestnut crabs and for what ever reason at both location chestnut crabs do not live. I did plant 50 Dolgo seedlings this year, to early to tell on those. They are still alive. I have 50 rootstocks growing good in their final location. Can you identify any specific disease as to why the chestnut crabs did not live?
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 9, 2017 16:51:42 GMT -6
On that property I went heavy on chestnut crabs and for what ever reason at both location chestnut crabs do not live. I did plant 50 Dolgo seedlings this year, to early to tell on those. They are still alive. I have 50 rootstocks growing good in their final location. Can you identify any specific disease as to why the chestnut crabs did not live? It appear to be winter die off. The trunks turn grey, they try to leaf out then they just shrivel up. They look great going into winter then death the next spring.
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Oct 9, 2017 17:16:13 GMT -6
Chummer,
What are putting down around the trees? Anything? Cloth, stones, mulch? You use window screen? Just cages. No tubes?
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 10, 2017 15:27:10 GMT -6
Chummer, What are putting down around the trees? Anything? Cloth, stones, mulch? You use window screen? Just cages. No tubes? Cloth, sometimes stone sometimes nothing. No screens on these but they were all caged. No tubes. I only tubed the rootstock and Dolgo seedlings which seems to be working good. There was 5' of a rock solid snow pack on this property last year, but I get that every year. The only trees I have died are chestnut, Liberty, enterprise, and one goldrush. Two gold rush were planted right next to each other one died one is doing great. I have one chestnut, Liberty, and enterprise doing great. It makes no sense to me why some die and some don't. They all look the same going into winter.
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Oct 10, 2017 15:49:48 GMT -6
Can you identify any specific disease as to why the chestnut crabs did not live? It appear to be winter die off. The trunks turn grey, they try to leaf out then they just shrivel up. They look great going into winter then death the next spring. When the trees are dead the next spring, can you tug on them and wiggle them around easily?
|
|
|
Post by nhmountains on Oct 10, 2017 15:54:24 GMT -6
Chummer,
Have you checked the roots of your dead trees? Maybe voles ate the roots or trunk. I'd recommend buried tubes or 36"+ aluminum window screen for coverage.
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Oct 10, 2017 17:22:36 GMT -6
There is no vole damage, trees are still attached. Actually all the varieties beside the chestnuts grow back from below the graft so I figured they just werent hardy enough. The chestnuts are dead dead. No shoots, they try leafing out then they are toast. I use window screen on most, last year was my first vole damage, they got one tree above the screen and one tree that didn't have a screen because it had three trunks.
|
|