CRITICAL FIRST STEP

To have the best probabilities of success, it is ALWAYS recommended to have a soil test, especially if this has not been conducted within the last 3 years. This map shows the various different areas on our farm. I ran 14 tests to determine how to best enrich the soil in each area for the specific cops/plants I wanted to grow. Virginia Tech ran the tests and sent back the data.

The previous owner said all the trees in the orchard were dead. One in fact was, and 3 others were iffy at best. The bark was covered with lichens and they had not been pruned for years (Lichens grow in moist conditions. Thinning out tree branches overhead allows more sunlight and airflow to reach the bark and may cause them to retreat).

I was hopeful that the soil test would shed some light on what might be done to save the strongest trees.

Based on the test, I found what was needed to improve the viability of my orchard. Boron a critical element was missing and needed to improve flavor of the produce. In addition potassium, potash and Calcium levels were low and needed to be improved.

Based on the soil enhancement program, all the trees blossomed. The strongest trees survived (5 of the original 8) and three of the trees produced something. The Red Delicious produced a couple of small apples that did not mature, the smaller Macintosh produced an apple or two that also did not mature, but the large one (bottom right) produced 40 pounds of apples. (The previous owner never was able to get a crop off the plants.)

The apples were covered with a fungus I identified as spotty blotch. It does not affect the taste or usability of the apple, but it looks nasty. I scrubbed it off and was able to make apple sauce and apple butter.

In reading up on the issue, It appears that lack of air circulation might have caused the problem. To remedy, the trees need further pruning. (I had already cut 1/3 of the mass of the trees out in the spring, and will need to do that again to get them back in shape for production)