I’ve been winter pruning my cordon apple trees; here’s the general method I used and details of how I pruned each tree.
Category: Orchard Work
Seedling Apple Trees – Let’s Give ’em a Go
In the face of all the best advice to the contrary, I’ve decided to try growing a new apple variety or two from seed.
Plot #79 Orchard Year in Review, 2021 Edition
We’ve had a mixed year on our allotment plot orchard. Here’s a round-up of the good, the bad and the downright ugly.
The 2021 Ordsall Hall Medlar Forecast is: ‘Very Good’
One of the most reliable fruits in the heritage orchard has a very long history and a very unique flavour.
Robert Donald, on Clamp-Storing Apples
A nurseryman provides details of a common method for storing apples, pre-fridges.
Rescuing Grandpa Buxton, the Leaning Apple of Plot #79
Excess apple loads can cause serious problems at this time of year; a leaning tree is one of the easier ones to remedy.
Thinning Apple Fruitlets in our Air-Pot Mini-Orchard
Now is a the best time to hand-thin apple fruitlets, particularly on smaller trees and definitely on any that are growing in pots.
Time to Check Grafted Trees for Rootstock Regrowth
As leaves start to grow on your top-fruit trees it’s a good time to check your grafted plants for unwanted rootstock bud-break.
‘John Downie’ is the Star of the Spring Show
We’ve had a really good year for blossom in the back garden, with crab apple ‘John Downie’ putting on a splendid display.
Grafting Advice and New Cultivars from SkillCult
A shout out for Steven Edholm’s superb SkillCult blog, where he’s been offering grafting advice and talking about his apple breeding project.