Tag Archives: golden russet

2015 Orchard Season in Review

The 2015 orchard season started with a fairly good spring followed by an abnormally wet early summer, then had an extended dry spell as autumn progressed. Insect and disease pressure was moderate and reasonably controlled by occasional spraying. European Apple … Continue reading

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Apple Processing Day 2015

Apple Processing Day at Rurikia for 2015 was planned to be held on 3. October, but as the day approached the weather was more suitable on Sunday the 4th so the date was shifted – a good move as it … Continue reading

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Of pruning and migrations

Today was dormant orchard pruning day at Rurikia. With over 20 trees it is usually better approached as an off and on activity a tree or two at a time over a few weeks as winter winds down, with each … Continue reading

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2014 mid-season orchyard report

For the first time in several years the orchyard entered July with plenty of water. The trees and vines are green, the grass is green, and the garden is green (perhaps slightly too green thanks to rampant weed growth!). Unfortunately … Continue reading

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The Rurikia 2013 Season in Review

Preparation for the 2013 season began in late 2012. Having identified the likely culprit in the attacks on young apples to be the European Apple Sawfly, the orchard area was given a dose in October 2012 of approximately 5 million … Continue reading

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Golden Russet – past the breaking point

Years ago the sump pump failed and the basement flooded at Rurikia; a portable pump with a temporary outlet into the driveway was used to pump it dry. Unfortunately the flow routed through the orchard directly to the Golden Russet … Continue reading

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Halftime intermission

I write this while sitting at Rurikia having completed pruning the orchyard and encouraging, as far as targeted thinking can do so, the fruit trees to slow down their rapid progression into spring. It feels like late March, and the … Continue reading

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off and running

The impatience of the previous post has been replaced with hectic activity.  The forecast is calling for a chance of snow showers later this week with lows in the 20’s, but the last few days with their mixture of warm … Continue reading

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July 2010 apple tree scab and fireblight survey

In early July 2010 I noticed some fireblight and spent an afternoon surveying the orchard for general condition of the trees and paid particular attention to the level of scab and fireblight present. Several of the trees had been fairly … Continue reading

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An Antique Apple Addiction

I first came across the concept of “antique” apples when I was looking for the variety Elstar to plant in the first expansion of my orchard. I had heard of “heirloom” and “old fashioned” plants before, but “antique” was a … Continue reading

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