|
Post by smsmith on Jan 1, 2020 17:18:03 GMT -6
How many of the 50 trees are duplicates? What’s your suggestion/suggestions for the most you should have of one variety?? I'd have to do some cipherin' and I'm not in the mood right now. I'd guess less than 5% are duplicates. I don't really have a suggestion for the most of a single variety. That would depend on your goal. As an "apple geek" my goal is to have as many varieties as I can that will survive here.
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Jan 1, 2020 17:54:55 GMT -6
I have planted many different varieties but if I could start over the list would be under 5 named apples. The rest would be rootstocks or cloned native trees. I am planning for another orchard this winter and everything will be November or later droppers. Kerr, Franklin, and the rest will be grafted native crabs.
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 1, 2020 18:44:09 GMT -6
I think I ordered a Kerr, I’d have to check my list.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jan 1, 2020 19:27:42 GMT -6
I think I ordered a Kerr, I’d have to check my list. I might have asked you this earlier, but what are your goals for this acre? Apples to sell, apples just for wildlife, apples for family, apples for cider? Like Stu, I want to plant and grow a variety of apples. I suggest starting slow and you soon will need more acres. I tend towards crabs, but need a few more bigger apples to blend in cider.
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 1, 2020 20:00:41 GMT -6
Combo of apples for wildlife and we’d like to have some to eat as well.
Deer attraction for the most part.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jan 1, 2020 23:22:50 GMT -6
I would start with one of each variety(except for two chestnut crabs!)
You will keep finding new varieties to try beyond what is commonly offered at Mn nurseries.
We need to get you started grafting.
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 2, 2020 8:16:21 GMT -6
Grafting ... maybe my son could do that. He’s interested. I’m more of the just buy the tree type of guy.
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Jan 2, 2020 8:26:53 GMT -6
If you have any plans to spray the trees, planting them in blocks of the same variety(ies) will make timing those sprays easier. Block plantings also make harvesting the fruit easier/quicker.
If the goal is to have fruit on the ground for wildlife from late summer well into winter with human consumption being very much a secondary goal...I'd plant a block of Chestnut crab, a block of Liberty, a block of Kerr, a block of Franklin, and a block of Prairie Spy.
If you're just going to buy the trees locally, you almost certainly won't find Liberty or Kerr, and you definitely won't find Franklin. Prairie Spy would be possible, but probably not likely.
edit...it's been years since I ordered from them, but Adams County Nursery used to offer quantity discounts. All the trees I got from them were top notch, really nice caliper. If you're going to buy a bunch of trees at the same time, it would be worth checking them out.
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 2, 2020 8:46:00 GMT -6
If you have any plans to spray the trees, planting them in blocks of the same variety(ies) will make timing those sprays easier. Block plantings also make harvesting the fruit easier/quicker. If the goal is to have fruit on the ground for wildlife from late summer well into winter with human consumption being very much a secondary goal...I'd plant a block of Chestnut crab, a block of Liberty, a block of Kerr, a block of Franklin, and a block of Prairie Spy. If you're just going to buy the trees locally, you almost certainly won't find Liberty or Kerr, and you definitely won't find Franklin. Prairie Spy would be possible, but probably not likely. Good points...my order from Turkey Creek Trees this year is...
Chestnut Crab Dolgo Crab Kerr Prairie Spy State Fair
Looking to add another Fireside and Kindercrisp from somewhere. Maybe take a road trip to Gilby's-Aitkin with my buddy, he is looking for some trees as well.
|
|
|
Post by chummer16 on Jan 3, 2020 6:59:42 GMT -6
Grafting ... maybe my son could do that. He’s interested. I’m more of the just buy the tree type of guy. I was the buy the tree guy too. After my Kerr order got cancelled two years in a row and I realized native trees offered more of what I wanted then what was available I started grafting. If your son wants to do it that would be a great project for him. I would plant a bunch of rootstock now because the road of apples for deer will lead you into grafting. You will try to resist, you will order more trees but eventually you will want to graft. I wish I started 5 years earlier.
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 3, 2020 11:42:48 GMT -6
My son has expressed interest and would be willing to do some grafting.
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Jan 4, 2020 10:14:12 GMT -6
My son has expressed interest and would be willing to do some grafting. Plant a bunch of cheap crabs this spring. He'll have a bunch of rootstocks to work on in the future.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jan 4, 2020 10:21:29 GMT -6
My son has expressed interest and would be willing to do some grafting. Plant a bunch of cheap crabs this spring. He'll have a bunch of rootstocks to work on in the future. I would see if your local SWCD can get you 25 dolgo seedlings. One year they special ordered for me. Red splendor from SWCD also works. Jerry has some deer sized crabs in his Red Splendor seedlings.
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Jan 4, 2020 11:33:38 GMT -6
Plant a bunch of cheap crabs this spring. He'll have a bunch of rootstocks to work on in the future. I would see if your local SWCD can get you 25 dolgo seedlings. One year they special ordered for me. Red splendor from SWCD also works. Jerry has some deer sized crabs in his Red Splendor seedlings. While driving around I see lots of what I assume were SWCD Red Splendor crabs. There will be a number of them in a planting. Most will have bird sized fruit, but every now and then there'll be one with quarter/ping pong ball sized fruit.
|
|
|
Post by benmnwi on Jan 4, 2020 12:20:49 GMT -6
I would see if your local SWCD can get you 25 dolgo seedlings. One year they special ordered for me. Red splendor from SWCD also works. Jerry has some deer sized crabs in his Red Splendor seedlings. While driving around I see lots of what I assume were SWCD Red Splendor crabs. There will be a number of them in a planting. Most will have bird sized fruit, but every now and then there'll be one with quarter/ping pong ball sized fruit. I planted a couple dozen red splendor seedlings at my cabin for the grouse. Most are the tiny red fruit that are perfect for birds, but a few are slightly larger. One from the same batch of trees has 1" diameter yellow fruit. those seedling trees are all great growers though and Seem to be more hardy than any of the grafted trees.
|
|