Emma Maxwell Ash & Elm Horticulture Tree fruit Emma Maxwell Ash & Elm Horticulture

Apples

Orchards Emma Maxwell

Apple facts Fruit for 20 -60 yrs Different rootstock Frost Late fruiting varieties Best not East facing Full sun is best Pollination Need pollinators Self fertile, cross pollination, triploid

Site selection SW facing slope Avoid frost pockets Avoid windy site Avoid morning sun in spring Free draining Avoid frost pockets Avoid windy site Plant wind breaks Wind-rock increases the risk of crown rot or ‘wet feet’

Site & Soil Dislike Salt laden sea air Windy sites Thin alkali soils Rainfall over 1m per annum Site over 500ft Shade Badly drained soil

Effects of Water Slight drought at flowering stimulates flower production Prolonged drought Flower fruit drop Need plenty of water in 2 months before harvest Drought spot on fruit Too much water Nutrient deficiency Increased lodging in windy weather Phytophthora – root / crown / collar rot

Buying trees Maiden – 1 year Feathered maiden Bare root containerised container grown

Rootstock M27 –Extremely dwarfing M9 –Very dwarfing M26 – Dwarfing MM106 – Semi dwarfing MM111 - Vigorous M & MM developed at East Malling (M) Merton(MM)

Root stock size M25 - 6m/ 20ft – 5-6yrs till fruit 1. Stronger - less prone to fungus 2. Deep roots better anchorage in flooding 3. Deep roots search out moisture in drought seasons 4. Standard trees that can be grazed under 5. Embercombe & Welsh mountain fruit tree nursery

Interstems TWO rootstocks one grafted on top of the other. The scion variety is then grafted on top of the second rootstock. MM111 for vigour and tolerance, 2nd for size M9 will give a MM106 size tree.

Root stock choice "MM" - Malling-Merton stocks early 1950s. developed primarily to provide resistance to Woolly Apple Aphid(Eriosomatinae) infestation MM111 most drought resistant M9 – Malling dwarfing stock relatively resistant to flood and phytopthora "Bud 9 & 118" bred in the Soviet Union Winter hardy early bearing "Bud 9 " resistant to crown rot and less susceptible to drought than most other dwarfing stocks "CG" or "G" - Cornell-Geneva stocks Resistant to Phytopthora and fire blight Winter hardy MM-developed from joint breeding program by John Innes Institute, in Merton, England, & East Malling Research Station G- series- The Geneva series of rootstocks are developed at Cornell University's agricultural experiment station based at Geneva, New York state, beginning in the 1970s, specifically to provide better rootstocks for North American conditions. (Orange pippin, 2013) 1. Resistance to fireblight, tolerance of phytophthora (which causes crown and collar rot in wet conditions) and winter hardiness were the main objectives. 2. All the G-series rootstocks exhibit these qualities to a greater or lesser extent.

Hugh Ermen, formerly of Brogdale Horticultural Experimental Station Own-root fruit trees Likely to have local resilience Typical sizes of Own Root trees Spur-type is similar to a tree on M9, i.e. 2-3 metres tall; Non-spur types are typically between M26 and MM106 Vigorous triploids giving trees between MM106 and MM111. Self set trees grown from seed along roadsides, railway embankments, footpaths etc.. are often quite small, and even when large seldom exceed the height of accompanying hawthorns/ hedge. Cropping more regular Size and quality of fruit same or better Double the lifespan better storage life. Fruit flavour could well be more intense and with generally more seeds per fruit, better fruit shape when observing Hugh Ermen, formerly of Brogdale Horticultural Experimental Station  http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/own_root.shtml http://www.orangepippin.com/resources/general/own-roots

Pruning The selective removal of parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots.

Why prune? Remove dead diseased dying wood To allow air circulation To allow sun to ripen fruits To increase fruit production To control size Shape Formative pruning

Training Bush - 45cm half standard – 1m Standard – 1.75m Pyramids & Spindle bush Supported types Cordon Espalier Fan Step over

Formative pruning Winter pruning Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Pruning

Varieties Choose what you like to eat Choose disease and pest resistance Flowering time to suit climate Pollination groups – ABCD Family trees Varieties

Variety choice Nearly 1000 different varieties available Varieties that are pest and disease resistant may cope with stress better Different resistance to humid conditions Flowering time to avoid late frost Low dormancy requirement Silva, O. ‘Water Required for a Gala Apple Tree’ (2013) Demand Media http://homeguides.sfgate.com/water-required-gala-apple-tree-59180.html

Pears Sheltered spot Conference, Beth & Concorde most suitable Doyenne du Comice & Williams Bon Chretien

Prunus Plums Damsons Green gage Cherries Nectarines Peaches Prune during summer if needed after flowering

Varieties Plum Cherries Victory – eating Czar – cooking Stella on Colt rootstock Culinary -Morello (can grow in shade)

Other fruit trees Mulberry Figs Medlar Quince

Mulberries Statement/ specimen tree Black mulberry Height & spread 30ft (6m) 7 yrs before first fruit Little pruning  135 Year Old Mulberry Tree

Mulberry (Morus nigra) Prune during dormant season It will bleed at other times Prune Dead, diseased, dying Shape

Figs (Ficus carica) Same family as mulberries Formative pruning Maintenance pruning Immediately after harvest, not in winter

Medlar (Mespilus germanica) Need annual pruning to encourage fruit Prune as apples and pears

Quince (Cydonia oblonga) Confused with Chaenomeles (Japanese quince) fruit of which is also edible. Fruit on tips Prune in dormant season Formative pruning Maintenance pruning to increase air circulation Light penertration

Fruit bushes Black currents Red & white currents Gooseberries Summer raspberries Autumn raspberries

Nut Trees Hazel / cob nuts Little pruning needed once established Walnut Chestnut Beech nuts

Site management Weed free for first 3 years Mulching ‘Green’ mulches (e.g. clover) are unsuitably competitive for use with young trees Organic material to aid water retention after rain has reached the root zone. Under planting to reduce losses of water, soil and nutrients Comfrey to brake up compaction an aid drainage Green manures