Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/590163
44 NOVEMBER 2015 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com that's 3.5 inches or larger. The smaller apple is ideal for making fresh slices; the larger ones go to less lucrative processing uses. Schupp and Ferree's studies showed a 20 percent reduction in fruit size. "I first used root pruning 20 years ago on an IdaRed block on a 15-by-20 (foot) spacing," he said. "I did it one time and it really shocked them." By "shocked" he means they quit growing so vegetatively and got down to the business of producing apples. After that, he didn't use it again—until three years ago. After using it once, he took his long-idle machine back to Phil Brown and had it expanded to do two rows at a time instead of one. "The size of Jonagold is a big issue," Rasch said, and some growers are using it on Honeycrisp for the same reason. Many planted their Honeycrisp on M.26, think- ing the scion was a weak-grower and that Malling 9 or Budagovsky 9 would produce too small a tree. You can definitely see the difference in root-pruned trees, he said. "They look paler," he said. Strong soils Chris Kropf grows 133 acres of apples. "We have used it regularly for the last few years," he said. "Some of our varieties are way too vigorous, and it seems to help reduce bitter pit. Bitter pit is associated with high vigor, and vigor also makes it hard to set fruit." Kropf, who is Michigan's sales representative for Valent USA as well as a grower, says he and many other Fruit Ridge growers have strong soils. "We planted too big a rootstock, M.26, on some virgin soil," he said. So he root-pruned Gala, Jonagold, Gingergold, and Golden Delicious. "We definitely set more fruit on the treated trees and reduced bitter pit," he said. "We got smaller fruit, firmer fruit, and better color." A problem for Fruit Ridge area growers is variable soils, with weaker soils on eroded hilltops and silty, high-organic matter soils in the valleys. Dan Dietrich at Ridgeview Orchards in Conklin talked to growers who visited the family's farm during RidgeFest in July. Their rolling orchard, operated by Joe, Al, Dan, and Ryan, can become a mixture of large and small, productive and nonproductive, trees. They've used trunk scoring—even removing wedges of trunk wood—to control vigor and this year used root pruning extensively. They try to target the problem areas, but that's not easy. Chuck Rasch noted the same problem—uneven soils and uneven trees. But he finds it hard to prune selec- tively. The arms and the blades must reach under the limbs, close to the trunks, and there's not much clear- ance to raise the pruner, which is running 14 inches into the ground. Firmer fruit Tom Rasch, a grower from Belding, east of Grand Rapids, uses root pruning almost every year. "I've used it for over 25 years, and I use it every year on all my Macs," he said. McIntosh are quite vigorous. "You want a weaker tree or else you get big, soft fruit," he said. "We want it smaller and firm." Paulared is another early, soft variety that was popular on the Ridge 25 years ago and prompted the use of root pruning. Rasch also uses Apogee (prohexadione calcium) to control shoot growth, and says root pruning is "a last resort for correcting a mistake. We chose too big a root- stock for the soil and the variety, so it was growing and not bearing, and we couldn't get it to crop." Twenty years ago, he said, growers like himself were choosing M.26 and Malling-Merton 106 rootstocks. "We were scared of the 9s," he said. Trees were also spaced more widely apart. Besides improving color, root pruning promotes fruit buds for the next year and reduces biennial bearing. "With apples selling for $30 to $60 a bushel, we don't need a lot going to waste because they are too big or too green," he said. "Be sure you prune that tree and thin it well, or you'll get a bunch of itty-bitty apples," Tom Rasch cautioned. Chuck Rasch said the trees need good support and "If you have a freezeout year and no fruit to hold back the vigor that year, root pruning can help." —Phil Brown HAVE YOU PAID YOUR ROYALTIES? Summerland Varieties Corp. (SVC) is auditing plantings of cherry and apple trees that are licensed to SVC and protected by Plant Breeders' Rights. There will be a six month condential amnesty period where growers are asked to condentially report unlicensed trees for which royalties have not been paid. Amounts owing for growers who report before February 28, 2016, will be the royalty rate at time of planting. Growers who report after February 28, 2016, or fail to report by this date and are then found to be in possession of unlicensed trees, will be assessed a penalty and amounts owing will be equivalent to 1.5 times the royalty rate at time of planting. After August 1, 2016, amounts owing will be 2 times the royalty rate at time of planting plus any legal and adminis- trative costs incurred by SVC. Contact SVC to report unlicensed trees, arrange for payment of royalties and to sign a grower non-propagation agreement. Payment plans may be considered. The licensed and protected varieties include but are not limited to: Sumele (Satin™) SPC207 (Starblush™) 13N0770 (Stardust™) Sumleta (Sonata™) SPC103 (Sentennial™) 8S6923 (Aurora Golden Gala™) Skeena Sumnue (Cristalina™) Ambrosia SPC136 (Suite Note™) Santina Pioneer Mac 13S2009 (Staccato™) 13S2101 (Sovereign™) Honeycrisp™ Davison Gala Ginger Gold SPA493 (Salish™) Olsentwo Gala (Pacic Gala™) Summerland Varieties Corp. 105-13677 Rosedale Avenue Summerland, BC V0H 1Z5 Phone: 250-494-5157 Fax: 250-494-7472 Email: info@summerlandvarieties.com Growers who are not sure about their number of licensed trees can contact SVC for veri- cation of royalties paid. For a full list of SVC varieties and a royalty rate chart, please visit our website: http://www.summerlandvarieties.com/protected-varieties-royalty-rates Products & Solutions for Agricultural Safety • Chemical Gloves • Full-Face Respirator • Half-Face Respirator • Chemical Splash Goggles • Chemical Resistant Boots • Disposable and Reusable Suits Available Add a Cooling-Vest on hot days as a heat stress precaution www.oxarc.com Washington - Idaho - Oregon - Shop Online 1-800-765-9055 Safety First: Follow chemical manufacturer's guidelines for decontaminating the spray suite. Do not use suit if there are cuts, holes, tears, missing snaps, or separated seams. Chemical Protective Suit