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adminKeymaster
testing again.
adminKeymastertesting again.
adminKeymasterTesting
adminKeymasterNot sure about U picks but Randy and Sonja sell apples at their Rabbit Creek Orchard. The old Bradley Orchard in Chugiak sold apples as well but they sold their orchard and not sure if new owner will. Those are the only one’s I know of in the Anchorage area
adminKeymasterWhile Oriole, Zestar, Simonet, and Prairie Magic are very good apples they do not reliably ripen everywhere. Oriole never set fruit for me let alone ripen. Zestar and Prairie Magic have a lot of die back every year at my location and also have yet to get fruit. Simonet has never set fruit for me either (though I keep hoping) but has no die back here. Oriole I removed. With that said, many of the mid to late ripening varieties one has to try at their locations, maybe they will maybe they won’t. I am of the belief to always have the mainstays and then branch out from there. Each location can be so different. One won’t know until they try. Growing apples in Alaska is an ongoing experiment!
adminKeymasterThe grafting workshop is actually what prompted me to ask the question (it’s got a very special place on my calender :). I’ve got rootstock on order for it, and wanted to start planning the varieties I should be looking out for when it comes time to graft.
Right now my plan is to get a few reliable varieties as a core, and then start branching out into more experimentation with varieties and seedlings. I’m also considering some espalier work along the fence line of my lot to help get take advantage of underutilized space.
Carroll and Breaky have my attention now, and I love the taste of Chinese golden Early (though I’m aware of the water core issues).
I’m also curious about Oriole, Zestar, Simonet, and Prairie Magic. Looking at the research page on the website these are rated highly, but I was wondering if there is any more specific information on ripening times. I think I remember finding a generic chart comparing ripening times to yellow transparent in a past news letter, but I’m having a hard time tracking it down again
adminKeymasterDo you know about our Grafting Workshop on April 12? For the price of the rootstock (usually under $5) you can graft your own trees with scion wood from our members trees. The variety selection depends on what members bring in, but there are usually varieties that would otherwise be hard to acquire.
adminKeymasterThe Elevation is about 500 Feet.
adminKeymasterI tried butternut in Anchorage but they did not survive. They do have tap roots which isn’t good in our cold soils. I have not tried them here in Wasilla.
adminKeymasterHave you ever taken a soil sample and had it analyzed? you might have a Boron deficiency. Boron is a trace element responsible for setting fruit. Cherries are also hit or miss. While some are successful d/t their micro climates others are not. Meteor, Montmorency and North Star are typically grafted on mahaleb rootstock that isn’t really hardy here. Another possibility is when in bloom for you there is no insect activity to actually pollinate.
Will be interesting if your Lapins survives or thrives being a sweet cherry that are not reliably hardy here.
adminKeymasterI’m in South Anchorage. We lost a big toka plum, stacey pear, evans cherry, kay gray grape, and all the other grapes besides valiant died to the ground (but are all coming back from roots now). Also lost pretty much all the apple flowers. The currants, gooseberries, alaska blueberry, latham raspberries, and a haven peach came back with no damage. Everything in pots first got frozen and then baked, an awful combination. The only peach in a pot, a reliance, lost all but 1 bud. I should have had it in the ground but that’s life. On the bright side the lack of fruit is helping them grow past the spring damage very quickly.
adminKeymasteradminKeymasterMost of my Evans cherries were 3/4 dead, both 2 and 3 year old trees. All my apples (Norland, State Fair, Prairie Magic) did fine. I’m up on the mountainside here in Chugiak, so both water and cold air tends to drain away fairly well.
adminKeymasterQuite a bit of die back here in Wasilla as well. Some trees have put out new growth but most of the blossoms and fruit spurs were desiccated. Trailman I thought was dead but it has now just begun to break bud and leaf out on 29 June! Cherries actually faired better believe it or not, Crimson Passion was in full bloom on the 12th of June. Haskaps all did fine except some of the pure Japanese varieties some of which have put out new growth but a couple still have no sign of life.
Kevin
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