Good Fruit Grower

September 2016

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6 SEPTEMBER 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com T odd Parlo has been growing organic fruit and operating a nursery at his Vermont farm for the past 20 years. At 1,750-plus feet above sea level, his farm lies in a region where the aver- age annual extreme low temperature reaches between minus 30 and minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the majority of fruit tree rootstocks — pears included — are only cold-hardy above zero, which falls short of requirements for growers like Parlo. "The Achilles' heel of growing pears in northern cli- mates is parent rootstock," Parlo said. "Most people tend to put scions on European rootstock, but there is a limit to their cold-hardiness." Four years ago, he applied for and received a $14,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant to evaluate the cold- hardiness of 600 apple varieties and almost 85 pear vari- eties within organic systems. "We had an opportunity, with the SARE grant, to get a large pot of cultivars and to do a little more rigorous recordkeeping," Parlo said. He did his own grafting, but nearly all his test varieties came from commercial nurseries, many of which are located in the northern United States and Canada. "What I couldn't fi nd commercially, I was able to get from the national germplasm collections," he said. His research is ongoing, but so far Parlo has identifi ed eight possible pear candidates that could serve as root- stock in colder regions. Cold's advantages There are some positives associated with growing in colder regions, including an absence of fi re blight, virtu- ally no plant diseases and fewer pests. In Parlo's region, growers deal with only two pests: blister mites and tar- nished plant bugs. Another advantage is the region's snow cover, which acts like an insulating blanket during frigid weather. In Parlo's case, temperatures periodically fall to 40 degrees below zero, but Parlo doesn't fear a severe low tem- perature as much as a rapid change in temperature that shocks the tree, leaving it no time to gradually adjust. In either case, roots are the critical concern because they are the least hardy part of the tree. "While trees can be cold-hardy up top, the roots are not because they are insulated by the soil throughout the year," he said. The cold-hardiness of most temperate fruit roots is actually above zero. There are rootstock selections com- patible with cold-hardy European varieties and available for growers located in regions with negative tempera- tures, but not extreme cold like Parlo's region. Seedling rootstock tends to come from Bartlett seeds, which Parlo said, "are not terribly cold-hardy." Clonal rootstock isn't an answer, either, because its plant hardi- ness seems to be closer to minus 30 degrees than minus 40 degrees. Parlo's best rootstock options are Old Home by Farmingdale 97, 513 and 333. "OHxF.97 is the most vigor- ous one and it's pretty hardy, but not that hardy," he said. OHxF.513 and 333 are slow growing, which is a sepa- rate problem. "A late ripening pear can still have leaves when we begin to see freezing weather," he said. "If it freezes and it's succulent, it's done." He also uses Pyrus communis, the European pear or common pear, but generally uses his own seed. "It comes from hardier genetics than commercially available, can- nery-generated strains," he said. P. ussuriensis is the most cold-hardy stock, but when European scions are put on top of them, pear decline becomes an issue. "Asian varieties are not very cold- hardy at all," said Parlo. Some growers use quince as rootstock, but it isn't hardy enough for Parlo's region. Early picks Most of Parlo's varieties are bitter tasting and not suitable for use as a scion. Parlo is quick to point out his trials are ongoing; still, he's identifi ed eight probable candidates for rootstock: —Stacey is an early bearer with an acceptable form. Blister mite was less a problem with this variety than others in his test. —Summercrisp displays good form and is vigorous without being excessive. It's susceptible to blister mite —Luscious has moderate vigor and good cold toler- ance. It seems to have a pollen issue, requiring it to be grouped with other pears. Its foliage tends to be less lush than others. —Hardy has a very vigorous tree that grows straight up like a poplar. It suffers from some cold damage. It has Pears In the hunt photo By lori parlo Todd Parlo, a Walden, Vermont, organic grower is evaluating 84 pear varieties as cold-hardy rootstock candidates. These David pears are one of the varieties he's earmarked as a good possibility. A Vermont organic grower is evaluating 84 pear varieties as cold-hardy rootstock candidates. by Dave Weinstock "The Achilles' heel of growing pears in northern climates is parent rootstock." —Todd Parlo

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