21 Apple Trees, a Lake, and My Conscience

[webbmeister]

Phil:

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I especially appreciate the info on timing, and the tips for cost savings via the homemade recipe and using the fruit instead of the store-bought spheres.

I'm still waiting to hear from Gardens Alive about Surround. I'll post when I hear.

 

[PhilNH5]

Cedarranch,
What a great idea - yellow jacket traps. In all the years it never occurred to me to use them. I was aware of their existence but I just thought of them as something to use for picnics and BBQs. Never thought to use them on the fruit trees. I feel kinda' dumb that I never thought of it myself. I will file that info for future use. Thanks.

Jim,
Your welcome. All of those ideas were taken from Rodale press in one form or another. Either Organic Gardening mag or a Rodale book on gardening. The homemade bug juice is good stuff. More of a deterrent than a contact poison (though it is that as well). So you have to apply it after a rain or as needed. I had hopes it would keep my neighbors' cats out of the garden but it wasn't that good of a deterrent!!

Phil

 

[webbmeister]

Here's an update on Surround Crop Protectant:

There are two varieties. One, called Surround WP, is a wettable powder that is sold for commercial application. The other, called Surround at Home, is sold as a home-owner product. I think it too is a wettable powder. Both are described to be suitable for either a piston or diaphraghm pump, and both are described to be entirely non-toxic to humans and friendly/benefical critters. They both work by making getting at the fruit more trouble than it is worth for the insects that would normally make a diner out of your orchard. A sprayed orchard looks like it has been covered in frost. In addition to keeping critters (especially Plum Curculio) at bay, Surround is described as keeping the surface temperature of fruit several degrees cooler, helping to reduce sunburn. It rinses off with water, which is a blessing and a curse. A mere rinse under running water, and your apple is ready to eat. This same property, though, results in the need to reapply every 7 to fourteen days, depending on how much it rains. In the event of heavy rain, it is essential to reapply immediately.

Application rate is 6 - 12 pounds per acre, depending on the density of trees and fruit. It costs $80 for 25 pounds at GardensAlive.com.

It is said to work well on pears and other tree fruit, as well as grapes and plain old gardens. It is mixable with fungicides and other chemicals - if those are things you need.

So, here's where I'm going:I bought a SOLO backpack sprayer, a couple of cheap disposable rubber-coated hooded overalls, air-tight goggles, booties, some latex gloves, and a couple of disposable p-100 half-face respirators from Gemplers. This is overkill, I suppose, for non-toxic products, but I don't want to get clay (Surround) or Oil (Oil Away) in my lungs. The cost of the protective gear was less than a hospitalization co-pay ... so ...

I bought 25 pounds of Surround at Home and two gallons of Oil Away insecticidal (soap-based) spray from Gardens Alive. I will spray oil next weekend, then at bloom, and then at petal fall. The week after petal fall, I will spray with Surround, and do the same about every two weeks and after heavy rains. I'll report as things progress and at harvest time.

Thanks for all the tips! If it works out well, anyone in my neck of the woods is welcome to stop by and pick his/her fill.

Regards,

Jim

 

[dmccarty]

webbmeister,

I SWORE I would remember the name of the "product" I saw
last night in Mother Earth News. But I forgot. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

In the lastest issue of Mother Earth News, April/May, I suppose
they had a sidebar on spraying apples. Seems like they had
some really good results. The "chemical" was a special kind
of dirt. Just washed off which meant you had to spray after
rains and I think they said every 10 days or so. They said
they got bigger and better apples.

I just received the magazine yesterday.

Hope this helps...
Dan McCarty

 

[webbmeister]

Dan:

I think you're referring to "Surround" crop protectant. It is made of inert clay, ground super-fine. Let me know if what you're talking about is something different?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[AndyR]

As long as we are on the subject of apples, anybody know of a good site with info on identifying different varieties?

 

[Chuck52]

Andy,

Are you trying to identify old trees? There's actually an organisation dedicated to finding and saving heirloom apple varieties. The following site has descriptions of several varieties, and some links that might help.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/Descriptions1.htm>http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/Descriptions1.htm</A>

Chuck

 

[AndyR]

Thanks - looks like a great source.

 

[webbmeister]

There is also http://www.applesource.com if you are looking for descriptions of varieties.

Jim

 

[dmccarty]

Jim,

The clay was Surround. Its just superfine Koalin(sp) clay.

The article in Mother Earth News listed a couple of supplier
web sites. I was trying to post from home with the list
but things are a madhouse at home right now.

For some reason, some women in the South EAT this clay.
You can sometimes find it at little Stop And Rob stores in
the middle of nowhere. How is that for a piece of
maybe interesting trivia of doubtful use? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later...
Dan