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For beginners.....
Soil Preparation
As we stated in last month's newsletter, soil preparation should be done in the fall before planting. This is the time to do a soil test to determine the needs of your soil. This way you have time to correct any deficiencies that may show up in the results and to improve soil fertility
Correcting the soil pH is one of the one of the most effective nutrient management practices to improve fertility in an apple orchard. Try to maintain the soil pH in the range of 6.0 for the subsoil to 6.5 for the topsoil because the pH influences the availability of the various elements to the plant. For example, as the soil pH becomes acidic (pH <5.5), the phosphorous in the soil becomes unavailable to the plant. It does not matter if there is an adequate amount of phosphorous in the soil; the roots are unable to uptake it, or some elements become toxic at high or low pH. Correcting the soil pH needs to be done before planting because once the trees are in place, it is very difficult to change it. In regions with acidic soils, lime, preferably dolomitic for apple orchards, is usually used to raise the pH.
Other ways to improve soil fertility include:
Addition of organic matter
Maintenance of good tilth
Crop rotation
Erosion control
Addition of nutrients when needed
Cultivar and Rootstock Selection
Selecting and ordering the cultivars and the rootstocks you will be planting is a decision that should be given much consideration. It should also be done in the fall. For large plantings or custom orders, this is done two years in advance. There are approximately 10,000 apple cultivars and 20 rootstocks commercially available. On what basis do you decide what to plant?
The following is a list of factors to consider when selecting a cultivar:
Marketability of the cultivar. Is this cultivar well known? Or will you have to open a market for this cultivar? How will you sell it? Does it fit a niche market?
Adaptability to the region. Here in Vermont, the issue of winter hardiness needs to be considered very seriously.
Uses. Determining your marketing avenues will help decide on what cultivars to plant.
Maturity. Depending on the marketing plans you have for your apples, it might be advantageous to have cultivars ripening at different times.
When selecting a rootstock to use for the cultivar you have chosen, consider what effect the rootstock is going to have over the arial portion of the tree. The genetic control of the rootstock on the cultivar include:
Size. The overall size of an apple tree will be greatly determined by the rootstock, but you must consider the cultivar that will be grafted onto the rootstock. You may not want to have a low vigor cultivar grafted unto a very dwarfing rootstock because the result may a very 'runted' tree
Date of bloom and amount of bloom. Some rootstocks may delay or hasten bloom.
Precocity. Precocity or ability to bear fruit early is one of the advantages associated with some rootstocks, particularly the more dwarfing stocks
Winter hardiness. Winter hardiness of the rootstock is important to consider here in Vermont. Some rootstocks are slower at 'hardening' for winter and might be killed if an early frost occurs.
Resistance. As you are able to chose disease resistant cultivars, so may you chose disease resistant rootstocks to such diseases as fireblight and collar rot.
To get more information on potential cultivar and rootstock for Vermont, check our website at : http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple/hort/cultivars/index.htm
http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple/hort/rootstocks/index1.htm
Or write to me requesting this information.
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