December 23, 2006

For those of you who do not wish to get out the ladder to pick your fruit, trees should be kept to a height equal to 80% of the row width. So if your trees are spaced 12 feet apart, you should keep them 9 ½ feet tall. The best way to de-invigorate a central leader is to perform what is called the “June Cut.” Cut back the central leader to a weak lateral on or around June 21 – the longest day of the year.

If a young tree’s central leader is headed during dormancy, only 3 or 4 strong branches will grow and they will have narrow angles. Wait until the terminal bud breaks (green tip), and the bud under the heading cut will continue to grow as the leader while the buds below it will develop branches of relatively equal vigor. Pinch the second and third buds once they grow to 1 inch (do not remove completely) and the branches below will naturally develop wide angles.

Blueberries require ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. This is a special fungus that lives in poor, acid soils, and is different from the endo- or ecto- mycorrhIzal fungi that coexists with fruit trees or other plants.

In the process of an unrelated conversation, Debbie Hinchey mentioned she had a Fruit Growers meeting to get to. She did not realize that she was speaking to one of the people editing the 3rd edition of Gardening in Southeast Alaska. One section lists garden organizations or resources within Alaska. The editor realized that we were not listed and wants to include us. Maybe this will spur on more memberships from Southeast.

AK Pioneer Fruit Growers Association