Things Are Moving
The past week of warm weather sure changed the way things feel in the orchard. Plum flower buds at the University of New Hampshire Horticulture Farm are already showing green. Cooler weather this week will will likely put the brakes on things, but wow, spring is bursting out.
Strawberry fields are still mulched with straw, and despite the warm weather of the past week, seem perfectly content to stay covered for at least another week. While we want to get mulch off early so plants can soak up the sunshine and rebuild food stores lost over winter, this is just a bit too early. Unfortunately, deer are out and about in our strawberry fields. Fields are still brown and lifeless, but when deer nose through the mulch covering our berries, they find tender strawberry leaves and crowns that satisfy a spring hunger.
- Strawberry plants offer deer a taste of green after a long winter. Photo: W. Lord
- A deer nosed though straw mulch to eat a strawberry plant. Photo: W. Lord
- A deer nosed though straw mulch to eat a strawberry plant. Photo: W. Lord
UNH Cooperative Extension is offering several more pruning demonstrations for home fruit growers. This coming Saturday, March 28 will sport 2, a blueberry session in the morning, and an apple/peach session in the afternoon (Carroll County Pruning Demos).
Bill Lord, March 22, MMX
Posted: March 22nd, 2010 under Fruit Growers Journal.
Comments
Comment from Tom Kaye
Time March 25, 2010 at 1:11 pm
The snow has finally disappeared from the garden/orchard area. The hardware cloth around the fruit trees kept the voles out and the white paint on the trunks seemed to have protected the trunks. Our 7′+ deer fence will now be tested to see if it will keep the deer out. We got it fromt CritterFrence. It’s heavy duty poly attached to 8′ metal posts. The posts are inserted into ground sleeves and held up during the winter. Of course most of our perennials and assorted shrubs and other trees are fair game. We fenced the main garden and orchard but everything else is on it’s own.
Comment from Jack Mastrianni
Time March 30, 2010 at 5:47 pm
With the warm weather coming this weekend we will have a real burst of growth in the orchard. I am thinking of doing a sulfur spray. There is no return of below freezing temps for at least a week, maybe longer!!
Sprayed Bobbex deer repellant on the perimeter apple trees and that along with horses and sheep and guard llamas have kept deer at bay. Looking forward to planting 5 new apple trees. All disease resistant varieties.
Comment from Bill
Time March 30, 2010 at 6:13 pm
With green tissue starting to show, an apple scab infection is likely with the rain that is predicted for Monday. If your orchard had scab last year, this first spray is essential. So yes, I would indeed protect my trees.
Comment from Carl
Time March 24, 2010 at 6:00 am
Bill, other than a little nibbling on apples we haven’t seen too much deer activity this winter. Knock on wood! I have been enjoying your journal.
Carl