Finding a New Orchard Crop – 2020 Guide
Fruit, particularly tree fruit, is a long-term investment. Farmers need to balance looking ahead to what consumer demand will bring five years down the road with …
Pay Attention to Apple Tree Nutritional Needs – 2020 Guide
When establishing a new orchard, growers are usually very diligent in identifying all the components needed for rapid tree establishment, including performing soil tests to determine …
Fruit Quality Begins in the Orchard – 2020 Guide
When it comes to defining fruit quality, growers might think a bit differently than consumers. “Fruit consumers are concerned with flavor, texture, the balance between sugar …
Tips for Starting an Orchard and Growing Fruit in 2020
Nowadays, when pollution is increasing, growing fruits and vegetables is becoming more and more popular. And that goes for personal needs in order to eat healthy …
Getting the Orchard Winter-Ready
Crisp fall air, fresh cider and prime apple picking and pie-making season have all come and gone. The last of the late-season apples have been picked …
Before You Start an Apple Orchard
Every year orchards are purchased or planted by people who have no experience in growing apples. For some, an orchard will be a challenge and a …
Orchards: Getting to Harvest (and Preventing Pre-Harvest Drop)
It’s a goal orchardists work toward all season: getting the crop to maturity for a bountiful, high-quality harvest of fruit. Depending on marketing outlets, the timing …
Orchard Floor Care: Weed Control
Often, commercial tree fruit growers manage the orchard floor with herbicide strips in the tree row, and grass or dirt strips between rows. While herbicides can …
Tips for Dealing with Pests in the Orchard
Looking for bugs isn’t a nerdy middle school hobby – not if you’re an orchardist. It’s essential for tree fruit growers, no matter what spray program …
A Beauty of a Ranch
Pears, peaches and much more A dirt road leads up a hill to Blum Ranch in Acton, Calif., where the Blum family has been growing peaches, …