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Post by Reagan on Mar 8, 2022 17:30:15 GMT -6
I realize now I’m not real clear. I’ve only seen fruit on the original tree in this thread. The long skinny one hasn’t had fruit or light.
Long and skinny will get more light. The big nearly dead is on the fence line and is getting as much as it will get.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 8, 2022 18:50:58 GMT -6
I've come to believe that if you're not ready to spray fruit trees at least a couple times a year, then I wouldn't waste much time planting and protecting expensive grafted trees. Seedlings, especially those that get started on their own would be about all I'd mess with. If those seedlings prove themselves to not be "self sufficient" then I'd either rip them out or just forget about them. Right now I have 4-5 wild crabs that I have found that are trees. Ive only seen a fruit on this one. The others were far more shaded, smaller and appear healthier. I’ve been opening them up. I’ve found a few more wild saplings. Right now I have no people apples planted. I do have 8 deer crabs coming this spring. Some of them, but not the ones I referring to in the post you quoted. The only wild crabs I spray are those that have shown larger/more interesting fruit and those that I can easily get to with an atv. |
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Post by benmnwi on Mar 8, 2022 20:35:40 GMT -6
The best deer drawing apple tree I know is a wild tree on my friends farm. It has never been sprayed, pruned or fertilized, but it is a wild crabapple tree that drops apples during the mn rut.
It received no care, but What it has going for it though is full sun and no woody competition.
My grandma had a great haralson tree that produced loads of fruit despite receiving no spray, pruning or fertilization. It also was in full sun with no competition.
Those full sun locations are rarely the best spots to kill deer, but they are great spots to grow apple trees. Based on what I've seen I think the amount of apple tree care needed increases as the shade % increases. Give them full sun and no competition and they are more likely to do better on their own.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 8, 2022 20:44:42 GMT -6
Full morning sun is very important in helping prevent funguses/diseases. Getting the foliage dry as quickly in the morning as possible really helps. Being exposed to any direction breeze is also important for the same reason.
I suppose there are also locations where insect pressure is naturally decreased for some reason that we aren't aware of yet too.
I get plenty of fruit without spraying, but most do not have the appearance that an average consumer would choose for eating.
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Post by Reagan on Mar 8, 2022 21:06:11 GMT -6
Full morning sun is very important in helping prevent funguses/diseases. Getting the foliage dry as quickly in the morning as possible really helps. Being exposed to any direction breeze is also important for the same reason. I suppose there are also locations where insect pressure is naturally decreased for some reason that we aren't aware of yet too. I get plenty of fruit without spraying, but most do not have the appearance that an average consumer would choose for eating. That might be part of the problem of the big nearly dead tree. It’s shaded from the east and kinda low in the hills. It probably doesn’t get full sun until noonish. |
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Post by smsmith on Mar 9, 2022 13:38:44 GMT -6
Full morning sun is very important in helping prevent funguses/diseases. Getting the foliage dry as quickly in the morning as possible really helps. Being exposed to any direction breeze is also important for the same reason. I suppose there are also locations where insect pressure is naturally decreased for some reason that we aren't aware of yet too. I get plenty of fruit without spraying, but most do not have the appearance that an average consumer would choose for eating. That might be part of the problem of the big nearly dead tree. It’s shaded from the east and kinda low in the hills. It probably doesn’t get full sun until noonish. I'd remove the dead wood, give it as much sun as you can, and hope for the best. Scattering some lime and gypsum under the drip line wouldn't hurt anything either. |
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