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Checking in with the apple trees

  • June 8, 2014
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  • Rory

Apple tree blossoming on branch

It’s been two weeks since we planted our apple trees and now the blossoms are in the process of converting into tiny apples. When we bought the trees, I was advised to remove half the blossoms when they got to this stage the first year, so the trees would focus on root development more than fruiting.

Tiny apples forming on apple trees

There weren’t nearly as many mini-apples (or whatever you call them) as I though there’d be. Not as many as there were blossoms, for sure. I only clipped two trees. We’ve had a lot of windy days lately, I suspect most of the blooms simply blew off.

But it was a good excuse to spend an evening with the apple trees. I do water the trees almost daily, but that is often a rushed chore sandwiched between feeding the chickens and weeding the flowerbeds. I was enjoying the benefits of slowing down and spending some quality time with each tree. I am beginning to learn their individual personalities. Harralson is bountiful and needed lots of picking. The HoneyCrisp are still young bucks, hardly any blooms at all. Zestar #2 won’t stand straight, no matter how many ropes I tie.

Deer getting the lower limbs of the apple trees

I saw signs of deer gnashing — every branch hanging outside the fence was chewed. But the limbs inside were fine (good thing I fenced on day one). Unlike my older apple trees in the front yard, there were no signs of worm damage to any of the apples. But there will be if I don’t spray soon.

The weather was beautiful tonight. It was relaxing inspecting every branch and bloom. There was bit of a zen experience to it all.  I can see why people become arborists.

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Rory

Rory Groves moved his family from the city to the country several years ago to begin the journey towards a more durable way of life. Rory and his wife Becca now reside in southern Minnesota where they farm, raise livestock, host workshops, and homeschool their five children. He is the author of Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time.

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