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Post by nhmountains on Feb 26, 2021 14:32:20 GMT -6
I’m getting the itch to start tomorrow. If all goes well I’ll be in the orchards doing something. I had the second covid dose yesterday and have been extremely tired today but, hope to be ready to go tomorrow. I’ll be using isopropyl alcohol to sterilize the pruners and saws this year so I need to pick some up tonight.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 26, 2021 16:20:27 GMT -6
Update, my wife the nurse says I’m not going out until Sunday. It’s supposed to snow 2” tomorrow morning and then rain. I’m still tired so I’m ok with going out Sunday
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 27, 2021 18:07:29 GMT -6
Update, my wife the nurse says I’m not going out until Sunday. It’s supposed to snow 2” tomorrow morning and then rain. I’m still tired so I’m ok with going out Sunday Well I got setup. The wife had me moving furniture around the house all day today. Sounds like she has more in line for tomorrow so no pruning this weekend. It’s stuff that she’s been waiting on doing for a year so I didn’t argue.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 27, 2021 18:45:25 GMT -6
Update, my wife the nurse says I’m not going out until Sunday. It’s supposed to snow 2” tomorrow morning and then rain. I’m still tired so I’m ok with going out Sunday Well I got setup. The wife had me moving furniture around the house all day today. Sounds like she has more in line for tomorrow so no pruning this weekend. It’s stuff that she’s been waiting on doing for a year so I didn’t argue. My wife wanted to pick up some furniture on layaway. I remarked that it was foggy earlier and would the moisture damage it in the back of our pickup. SHE decide to wait for another day and I clipped scion.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 27, 2021 20:11:29 GMT -6
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 27, 2021 20:21:09 GMT -6
I see some fruit Spurs on there!
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 27, 2021 20:29:15 GMT -6
I see some fruit Spurs on there! I'm glad you brought fruit spurs up (I was going to ask anyway). Are these short ones spurs? The longer one is just a twig right? We cut a truck bed full by the time all was said and done.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 28, 2021 3:54:31 GMT -6
I see some fruit Spurs on there! I'm glad you brought fruit spurs up (I was going to ask anyway). Are these short ones spurs? The longer one is just a twig right? We cut a truck bed full by the time all was said and done. I would say yes. Several of my trees that rested last year are loaded with spurs.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 28, 2021 4:12:26 GMT -6
Yes, the shorter stub is definitely a spur. The longer one could produce a flower as well. Also, some varieties are tip bearers meaning the fruiting buds are near the tips of the trees limbs. Also , remember the spurs come from two year wood or older. Some people, like my neighbor, seem to trim off all their new growth every year and never get any blossoms. Looks like you should get several apples this year Cat barring any late spring freezes.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 28, 2021 7:30:50 GMT -6
I'll be honest and tell you I've never paid attention to first yr or 2nd yr growth. Wonder if I've been screwing myself?
Late freezes are VERY COMMON here. Just had a week of 0 degree weather that immediately turned into a week of 50's and 60's. Decent chance we will have several heavy frosts after getting use to the 70's.
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Post by badgerfowl on Feb 28, 2021 7:49:06 GMT -6
That’s pretty much the extent of my pruning. Try to get 4 limbs every 12-18” up the tree, eliminate crosses and water spouts.
Fruit spurs are the gnarly looking ones. Leaf buds are small and simple.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 28, 2021 8:55:04 GMT -6
Yes, the shorter stub is definitely a spur. The longer one could produce a flower as well. Also, some varieties are tip bearers meaning the fruiting buds are near the tips of the trees limbs. Also , remember the spurs come from two year wood or older. Some people, like my neighbor, seem to trim off all their new growth every year and never get any blossoms. Looks like you should get several apples this year Cat barring any late spring freezes. While cutting scion, I have noticed a growth collar and wonder if I had two growth spurts last year. Spring growth, dry for a few weeks, and then we had adequate rain. It just doesn’t look like two year old wood and I swear I took off that growth last spring.
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Post by smallchunk on Feb 28, 2021 23:05:35 GMT -6
I'm really kicking myself for not taking some before and after pics of some of the pruning I did today. There were two Dwarf trees that were here when I bought the place that the previous owner said has never had apples. I suspect they are both honeycrisp and they look rough. I did some chopping so we shall see how they turn out!
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 5, 2021 12:54:43 GMT -6
This Crab seedling from my grandma in law gets very little pruning and has apples every other year. I took two or three water sprouts off and that was it. Lots of fruit spurs on it. i do need to cut back the surrounding tag alders. . This Big Dog crab on the swamp crab has lots of fruit Spurs. I only prune as high as I can reach on snowshoes or this year, as high as I can reach from a two step stool. I didn’t want to drag a ladder out there.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 5, 2021 12:58:59 GMT -6
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