Orchard Design

Factor to consider. Depends on growers goals Maximize yield vs. management convenience Management efficiency, Fruit Quality, early return on investment. Above not always mutually compatible.

Designing an Orchard: Objectives - Utilize orchard space We must capture the greatest amount Sunlight exposure is directly related to fruit quality, bud formation, and fruitwood survival Competition for soil, moisture, nutrients, and light. (close planting vs wide)

Close Planting – Less soil per tree Vigorous management The more dense the orchard the more horticulture expertise & precision. Also need to consider: Pruning Thinning Harvesting Pest control Frost protection Irrigation method

Close Planting – Less soil per tree Cost per acre Initial cost per acre Timing to first return Expected life Volume or quality

Types of Planting Low and Standard density Open center – vase (Alternating) 16’ x 22’ square (feet varies)

Medium and High Density Advantages Early yields Orchard efficiency Spray Ladder work Weed control Inverse fruit graded to vegetative growth

Disadvantages High establishment cost Can’t control vigor Life span

Long Term Investment- 30+ Years 1. Site selection Choose a proven area Risk involved in an unproven area Labor supply plentiful Thinning Pruning Harvesting Packing houses Tech people Farm Advisor Field management

Long Term Investment- 30+ Years cont. 2. Size Fresh: 5 acres Commercial: 15- 20 3. Weather Micro climate Need 1) Frost Protection 2) Dominant rest 3) Fog/ Chilling requirement (# hrs below 45° F) peaches & nectarines 650-850 before February 15 Leaf buds more than flower buds

Long Term Investment- 30+ Years cont. Definite warm temperature can offset previous chilling Warm areas have “low chillers” less than 400 hrs Extreme Cold: -Frost -Wind -Hail -Heat

Long Term Investment- 30+ Years cont. Water Supply Moistures peaches need 3- 5’ of water per year Good drainage needed Past Crops Soil fumigation Nematodes Crop diseases Slope West slope = more sun

Soil Preparation Ripping Drainage Leveling Hard pan- ripper subsoil Plow pan- chisel ** Dry as possible Drainage Tile drains Leveling Furrow Flood Slope fall depends on Soil type Head of H2O

Soil Preparation Cont. Fumigation Heavy soils/ slight grade Light soil steeper grade Irrigate a ripped field Eradicate Johnson Grass & Bermuda Grass Fumigation Do after ripping before final leveling late summer- early fall Soil moisture low- soil warm

Soil Preparation Cont. Planting Design Direction N&S Double Setting- 10 X 20 then 20 x 20 no economic advantage Cost of trees is doubled Add exp. To table out Stable out orchard Planting wire Digging hole, watch for setting No fertilizer at that time Don’t let trees dry out Heel in trees or put in bins with shavings Plant January and before February 15!

Soil Preparation Cont. Delaying planting Cold Storage- April- May Crown gall Agro bacterium Radio Bacteria Fill holes- Spread out roots pack soil May add water- refill setting

Newly Planted Trees Must be headed back 20”- 24” clip side braches Protect trees by white latex paint or tree wraps and milk cartons Prevents sun burn and chewing by rabbits Protects tress from herbicides Caring for young trees Irrigating Fertilizing Protect trees Weeds Insects Suckers Intercropping Toss up

Orchard Floor Management Complete Cultivation Bare non cultivating Pre and post emergent herbicide Partial non- cultivation

Finally Fruit Growth and Development Fruit growth and development begins during the previous season- may – June Stress at this time is bad Late fall and winter buds become dominant to emerge, they need chilling 650-1000 hours. If chilling is insufficient problems will arrive. Bloom period extended- difficult to control diseases X pollination Flower bud abscission Small fruit

Finally Fruit Growth and Development cont. Fruit Growth stages Stone fruits: Bloom1st week of march -> Flower pollinated embryo fertilized- rapid growth (stage I). Growth at this point is due to cell division, lasts for about 30 days after full bloom any stress at this point can effect final fruit size. Temperature at this time determines time of harvest. Warmer temperature= early harvest, 60 days after bloom pit hardens in California Agriculture between 4/15 and 5/15. Stage II- pit hardening- the lag phase fruit size increases very slowly Stage is practically undetectable while the pit hardens the embryo is growing rapidly- stress has little effect.

Finally Fruit Growth and Development cont. Flower and Fruit drop can occur almost anytime between bloom and harvest, after bloom lots of flowers and fruit drop un pollinated flowers or unfertilized ovules. Another drop in May (June drop) competition from nutrients carbs or growth hormones. Still another drop- pre harvest- short period that carries the fruit to (p) itself off the stem Stage III- 4-6 weeks before harvest- increase in size and weight each fruit may gain 10 grams fresh wt/ day with 1000 fruits/ tree this equals 1 ton yield increase/ day.

Finally Fruit Growth and Development cont. Cell expansion: Need to () pressure in the fruit (H2O) Carbohydrates produced by leaf Hot weather in the leaf to more transpiration and water loss = smaller fruit.

Finally Fruit Growth and Development cont. Dry Farm- Ripped Ground 3x During Solid Shake January- Ridge up small Spacing: 20’ 9”= right for 6½ 16’ in row 130 trees/ acre Drip System- Emitters- 4’ apart 1 gallon/ hr 4 hours every day, 8- 8½ hours.

Peach One of the most popular fruits Native to China Scientific name: Prunus Persica Persica- suggests Persia Persian Apple China- Persia- Europe- Mexico Spanish Missionaries introduced the peach to California in the 18th century and in the early 1800’s the Russians brought peaches to S.F. and planted them near Ft. Ross The gold rush spread them all over California.

Nectarine Prunis Persceca var. Nectarine History unknown- nectarines probably arose from peach seeds Peaches and nectarines have similar leaf characteristics and growth habits. Nectarines lack pubescence (Fuzz) Different due to a single recessive gene Generally peaches and nectarines are grown with the same irrigation, nutrition and cultivation as well as harvesting method. Nectarines are more susceptible to brown rot and flower thrips.

Peaches and Nectarines Cont. California peaches and nectarines produced for fresh consumption are called FREESTONES- but you may have semi free, semi-cling, or cling with yellow, red or white flesh. Most cling are grown for canning- clings have non-melting flesh, Freestones have melting flesh. Fresh Cling Nectarines O’ Henry Loader Fantasia Elegant Lady Carson Flame Kit Flower Crest Fortuna May Grand Spring Crest Vivian Royal Grant Jane Lady Halford Fairlane Fay Elberta Corona Cortez Dixon

Peaches and Nectarines Rootstalks Why Rootstalks Do not reproduce the same characteristics as parents grown from seed Need to be vegetatively reproduced so that the trees are exactly the same as parent Resistant to nematodes or other soil born diseases All peaches and nectarines grown for commercial production are budded or grafted on peach seedling rootstalks Other Prunes species like apricot, plum have been tried but not successfully done.

Peaches and Nectarines Rootstalks Cont. Rootstalk Selection Compatible with scion species ex- peaches and nectarines are not compatible on most plum root stalks while plums are compatible on both peach and plum. Nematode and disease resistant Adapt to soil and moisture Support live root system Vigor