We had an abundance of fine apples for the Sample the Apple and Pear Day on October 14th. Several years of no spraying had increased the damage from codling moth and apple scab to the point that many apples were unusable last year but this year there was a great improvement in the quality of the apples since we have returned to some spraying for apple scab and codling moth.
Many of the apples are low enough for a small child to pick.
The Jonagold’s were looking good.
See you there!
Here are a few photos from our Volunteer Apprecieation Luncheon we had a couple of weeks ago. Click photos for larger view.
Jacky King joined us and gave a talk about the cider program.
A big thank you to Bob Baines for cooking the smoked ribs!
Our next public event is our Sample the Apple and Pear Harvest on October 14th. We will be picking some apples and pears to take home and there will be an educational program plus sweet cider tasting.
Bring your pruners and come to our workshop for some teaching and hands-on experience pruning. There will be a demonstration on summer pruning of apples and pears and another on pruning espalier. A tour of the Fruit Garden will also take place. Those who wish to get some hands-on experience under the guidance of experts can remain to help prune our espalier.
We will have scionwood for a number of cider apples at the Winter Field Day this Saturday, March 4, 2017. Registration begins at 8:30 am. Event begins at 9 am.
The weather should be reasonable this Saturday, January 14th so dress warmly and come on up to the Fruit Garden which is next to the Master Gardeners’ Discovery Garden at 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon.
Kiwibob will first explain about the winter pruning of hardy kiwis and then participants will form groups and each group will plan the pruning of one large plant. After Kiwibob approves the plan the group will work together to prune the plant. Bring your pruners, plus long handled pruners and pole pruners (if you have one).
Free for members, $15 for non-members.
Registration begins at 9:40 am.
Workshop: 10 am – noon
Participants may stay past noon to continue working and learning. Snacks will be provided for those who wish to stay.
Bring your pruners and come to learn about the winter pruning of Kiwis on January 14th, 2016 in the Fruit Garden. More information…
In preparation for the coming workshop on kiwi pruning, please check your kiwis for AYLS, a condition or disease which causes yellow blotches on leaves. See Kiwibob’s AYLS web page for more information and photos.
I checked my kiwi’s here in Arlington, and sure enough, I found some leaves with the typical yellow blotches. You have to check carefully because there may only be a few leaves showing the blotches now, but more will show up later in the season. Be sure to check the older leaves on the underside of the plant. If you find any please report on the AYLS page above.
Saturday, July 16th. Registration begins at 10:10 am, pruning demo starts at 10:30 am in our Fruit Garden, at 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon.
If your kiwis are getting out of hand, be sure to join us!
The kiwis are waiting for Kiwibob to come and give them a much needed training session. Followed by a talk on figs, and a demonstration of summer pruning of apple trees and bud grafting.
