Salvaging the peaches or How NOT to take care of fruit trees -- ARGH!

Well, we all learn from our mistakes, don't we? And if we're smart, we don't miss an opportunity to learn from someone's else's! LOL. So, I'm sharing our big blunder with our fruit trees, hoping to save someone else similar grief down the road. Gotta love the journey, bumps and all though. : )

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• homesteading
• hobby farming
• self-sufficiency
• backyard orchard
• micro-orchard
• fruit trees
• economic collapse
• growing your own food
• preparedness

[Garrisonpea]

Hey, I watched this video about a year ago and I bought some dwarf fruit trees from Arborday foundation. What size are the trees in this video? Semi- dwarf or full size? I've read some comments from people who didn't have good results from the trees from Arborday foundation, I want to make sure I get some fruit so I bought a couple of trees locally which are semi-dwarf. Did you start another orchard in your yard? If so what did you plan?Thanks Joyce

[Michigansnowpony]

@Garrisonpea -- Hi, Our trees behind the house were supposed to be dwarf, but only the pears wound up being that small. The rest grew to semi-dwarf size. We are in the process of starting another mini orchard beside where the new garden is behind the horse paddock. I got a few trees / shrubs in last year, but this year plan to fill in the rest. I have / will have blue berry bushes, nanking cherry bushes, golden raspberries, dwarf pear, plum, peach, and apple, currants, and others.

[marthale7]

If you have fruit that is not ripe put an apple and place it in a paper sack. will ripen them... We all learn from our mistakes! :)

[Michigansnowpony]

Thank you -- I"m going to definitely keep that trick in mind next year. But I'm going to MAKE myself thin the fruit if the tree doesn't have a fruit drop like it usually does (but didn't this year).

[Michigansnowpony]

Avocados. . . Oh man, one of my favorites. Sometimes I can get them for a $1 a piece on sale. (definitely not buying local at that point!). Have you thought about drying your extra apples? I want to try that this year as well as make canned apple pie filling. Does one need a fruit press to make cider?  I've thought of doing that, but those presses cost a small fortune!

[CMLovejoy]

What part of Michigan do you live?

[Michigansnowpony]

I'd tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya. . . ha ha I'm in the lower pennisula, about middle of the state, about 15 miles from Lake Michigan.

[cousin229]

If a branch breaks by the weight of the fruit, take the fruit off and help the branch up with a wood frame and use burlap to wrap the area back together, some times it will heal well

[cousin229]

you can make confits with dried peaches they are delicious you press the dried peaches and slice them into squares ..

[telemarker77]

you should have propped branch up. that is common even in commercial peach orchards. you're right your peach trees should be open center pruned with 3-4 main branches.

[Dixie096]

Renee, I'm sorry to hear about your peach tree woes. Hopefully next years better and your jelly looks delicious!

[ivankinsman]

Yes, I agree the pruning issue is a difficult one. I generally go on the principle of an 'upside down' candleabra i.e. keeping the centre of the tree clear. We have difficulty with peach trees owing to disease so buy them in from our local market when in season and bottle (can) them and make them in peach jam. Looks like you have nice, mature trees - ours are still too young!

[centervilletn]

put a piece of ripened fruit in with them and the alcohol in the fruit will bring the others in ...its will artifically make the fruit breakdown and sweeten