thetrooper
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Post by thetrooper on Dec 31, 2021 20:17:31 GMT -6
So in 2020 I found this apple tree growing wild. I didnt even know it was there even though it was 2ft off a path I drive down about once a week. The only reason I could identify this tree was because it was fully loaded with what I'm assuming was its first crop or first decent crop. The tree was completley engulfed by wild grape vines, BlackBerry, and other brushy growth. On top of that it was also surrounded on all sides by ash saplings. The fact that this thing was even alive surprised the hell out of me. It also had a bumper crop a year the rest of my orchard got nuked by a very late frost in 2020 The location is about 100 yards from my existing apple orchard so it gets good pollination. In August 2020 at the time of discovery this tree could have only been 8 years old at the most since its location was an actively cut hay field. It grew with what I see as good structure as I have only minimally pruned it. Dormant pictures are from today Dec31 2021. Its approximately 15-18ft tall. The apples are a golden color but it is not great flavor although the deer definitely like it. The apples have hang on until late November early December. Let me know what you guys think. I have never grafted but I was thinking about grafting it onto some rootstock this year or even doing some top work on some other trees because of its vigorous growth and fruit timing.    |
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thetrooper
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https://youtube.com/channel/UCTABKyXSkmW2MWSabMLnQHw
Posts: 106
Likes: 171
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Post by thetrooper on Dec 31, 2021 20:21:27 GMT -6
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Post by Reagan on Dec 31, 2021 22:20:16 GMT -6
I think if you prune that tree and have some extra, you should give me a couple of sticks.
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Post by nhmountains on Jan 1, 2022 5:44:56 GMT -6
That’s a great find. Good job on the pruning. If it were me and I had a late hanging tree like that, I’d leave it and not graft it over. You’ll be better off with diversity unless you’re making a frankentree. Here the deer seem to prefer red apples over the yellow until a few frosts.
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Post by Sandbur on Jan 1, 2022 5:59:53 GMT -6
That’s a great find. Good job on the pruning. If it were me and I had a late hanging tree like that, I’d leave it and not graft it over. You’ll be better off with diversity unless you’re making a frankentree. Here the deer seem to prefer red apples over the yellow until a few frosts. I think trooper was talking about gathering scion from it . |
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Post by Sandbur on Jan 1, 2022 6:00:52 GMT -6
Trooper, I say go for it and get some scion to others like Reagan in your area.
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Post by nhmountains on Jan 1, 2022 6:15:02 GMT -6
That’s a great find. Good job on the pruning. If it were me and I had a late hanging tree like that, I’d leave it and not graft it over. You’ll be better off with diversity unless you’re making a frankentree. Here the deer seem to prefer red apples over the yellow until a few frosts. I think trooper was talking about gathering scion from it . Lol. I guess I was up too early and didn’t read it right. And I didn’t drink last night. Yeah. Those would be good scions to spread around. |
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Post by chummer16 on Jan 1, 2022 7:33:05 GMT -6
I would be grafting it. I think a great native tree with the characteristics you describe is more valuable than any named tree. It has already proven itself.
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Post by nhmountains on Jan 1, 2022 7:59:48 GMT -6
I’d try to tie down a few of those limbs to get more light into the trunk and promote more fruit buds. The apples may pull them down late summer anyways though.  |
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Post by Sandbur on Jan 1, 2022 8:26:09 GMT -6
I’d try to tie down a few of those limbs to get more light into the trunk and promote more fruit buds. The apples may pull them down late summer anyways though. Is there a triple leader that should be thinned to one leader? |
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Post by nhmountains on Jan 1, 2022 8:35:27 GMT -6
I’d try to tie down a few of those limbs to get more light into the trunk and promote more fruit buds. The apples may pull them down late summer anyways though. Is there a triple leader that should be thinned to one leader? He maybe able to pull that other one down and make it a bowl shape instead of central leader. He doesn’t have bear so he’s ahead of the game. |
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thetrooper
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Post by thetrooper on Jan 1, 2022 11:40:34 GMT -6
Yeah it's kind of weird it almost had a bowl shape when I found it. I didnt prune much just some damaged limbs and some that were pointing where they weren't suppose to. Do you think i should alter the structure? Sometimes I feel like when I prune I get too aggressive an set tree back slightly so I've been trying to go light on pruning the last couple years.
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thetrooper
Full Member
https://youtube.com/channel/UCTABKyXSkmW2MWSabMLnQHw
Posts: 106
Likes: 171
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Post by thetrooper on Jan 1, 2022 11:45:46 GMT -6
Trooper, I say go for it and get some scion to others like Reagan in your area. I was gonna buy some rootstock to graft it onto. I also have about 15-20 seeds will sprout them out this year. I had about 20 seedlings from it last year but the damn late frost destroyed then and I had them outside already. |
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 1, 2022 14:01:12 GMT -6
Nice looking tree(good find)!
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Post by nhmountains on Jan 1, 2022 15:19:17 GMT -6
Yeah it's kind of weird it almost had a bowl shape when I found it. I didnt prune much just some damaged limbs and some that were pointing where they weren't suppose to. Do you think i should alter the structure? Sometimes I feel like when I prune I get too aggressive an set tree back slightly so I've been trying to go light on pruning the last couple years. I’d put weights or tie down the upward limbs to open up the inside more and go with the bowl shape. I lot of orchards do that instead of central leader. Keep an eye on heavy fruit sets though until those limbs get bigger and stronger. |
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