Orchards

[SCinPNW]

What size of fruit trees do you recommend full size, semi-dwarf, or dwarf? I have looked at the pros and cons of all the sizes and am thinking that semi-dwarf for our orchard due to their smaller size.

We will be closing on a shy 10 acre piece in January/February timeframe and as Admin1 recommends at the beginning of this thread I want to be ready to move with getting the orchard started.

Thanks for any feedback you have.
SC

[610Alpha]

The guy claims he hasn't fertilized in 6 years.

QUOTE]Twenty years ago, Stefan Sobkowiak bought a commercial apple orchard with the intention of converting it to an organic orchard. He did just that, but eventually understood the limitations of the organic model originating from monoculture. He then decided to tear out most of the trees and replant in a way that would maximize biodiversity and yield while minimizing the amount of maintenance required. Inspired by permaculture principles, the orchard now counts over 100 cultivars of apples, plus several types of plums, pears, cherries, and countless other fruits and vegetables.[/QUOTE]

What if there is a better non-Monsanto way of growing our food?

[Benn Gleck]

The guy claims he hasn't fertilized in 6 years.

QUOTE]Twenty years ago, Stefan Sobkowiak bought a commercial apple orchard with the intention of converting it to an organic orchard. He did just that, but eventually understood the limitations of the organic model originating from monoculture. He then decided to tear out most of the trees and replant in a way that would maximize biodiversity and yield while minimizing the amount of maintenance required. Inspired by permaculture principles, the orchard now counts over 100 cultivars of apples, plus several types of plums, pears, cherries, and countless other fruits and vegetables.

What if there is a better non-Monsanto way of growing our food?[/QUOTE]



I'm wondering if the honey locust trees he was using for nitrogen fixing is the same honey locust trees that I have growing at my BOL? They are the nastiest tree I've ever seen. They are covered in HUGE thorns, we call them Jesus trees cause they look like the thorns used to make his crown.

[610Alpha]

I'm wondering if the honey locust trees he was using for nitrogen fixing is the same honey locust trees that I have growing at my BOL? They are the nastiest tree I've ever seen. They are covered in HUGE thorns, we call them Jesus trees cause they look like the thorns used to make his crown.

I believe Honey Locust is a Nitrogen fixer...so is Black Locust (it is in the top 3 I believe) plus the wood is tough and great to burn.

[motesjm]

What if there is a better non-Monsanto way of growing our food?



I'm wondering if the honey locust trees he was using for nitrogen fixing is the same honey locust trees that I have growing at my BOL? They are the nastiest tree I've ever seen. They are covered in HUGE thorns, we call them Jesus trees cause they look like the thorns used to make his crown.

I wish I could get a thick stand of those growing along my fence line. Nature's very own concertina wire.

[Benn Gleck]

I wish I could get a thick stand of those growing along my fence line. Nature's very own concertina wire.

They'd be great for that but they are murder on tires! I've had to put a couple of plugs in my ATV tires because of them. No kidding some of the thorns are 5" long!

I've heard there's a thornless honey locust that they are using as a landscape tree, maybe thats what the guy is using in his orchard. The tree makes a nice filtered shade and very little leaf litter because of the small leaves but it has a metric crap ton of pods some years like this one. The pods are edible, I tasted one this year and I'm still living..... hey maybe thats why I'm growing a second head!?