myfunnybunch Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We're looking at a country house with a small orchard. We estimate around 75-100 trees. Sour cherries, sweet cherries, pears. Love the house, love the location, love the yard and garden, love the property. But I'm a little concerned we'll go into this and find that we've bitten off a little more than we can chew. Any idea how much time and money goes into caring for this many fruit trees? Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 we have our own orchard of around 45 trees. we mulch the trees early summer and prune in winter. we spray the apple trees with white oil in winter for scale and spray the stone fruit in early spring with bordeaux for leaf curl. apart from that the only other job is mowing underneath and harvesting the fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We're looking at a country house with a small orchard. We estimate around 75-100 trees. Sour cherries, sweet cherries, pears. Love the house, love the location, love the yard and garden, love the property. But I'm a little concerned we'll go into this and find that we've bitten off a little more than we can chew. Any idea how much time and money goes into caring for this many fruit trees? Cat Could you call the local county agricultural extension office and see if they have any input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We're looking at a country house with a small orchard. We estimate around 75-100 trees. Sour cherries, sweet cherries, pears. Love the house, love the location, love the yard and garden, love the property. But I'm a little concerned we'll go into this and find that we've bitten off a little more than we can chew. Any idea how much time and money goes into caring for this many fruit trees? Cat My folks bought a place a few years back that has 1000 apple trees. Do you know how well the trees were cared for by the previous owners? My folk's apple trees were severely neglected and the amount of work, if they want to rehabilitate them, is high. First year there were just a couple bushels of apples. Then my dad got bees and now they've got cart loads. Mostly the apples are not pretty looking because they're not using sprays. But it makes great apple cider. My folks also have connections in the Amish community and they come out once a year at the end of the apple season and pick up windfalls and what's left on the trees for their apple cider. But if you were just content to let nature be, you wouldn't have to do anything. I love that you've got a variety of fruits growing. Your kids are going to love climbing, picking and eating apples in the fall. :) Healthy immune systems ahoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in the Kootenays Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We have around 50 trees. We started out with the neighbour caring for the trees and harvesting the fruit. We gradually took over the work. It takes dh a couple of days to prune and a couple more for a variety of sprays. If you're in an area where people orchard commercially, doing nothing will make you a really unpopular neighbour because how you care for your trees affects the neighbours' trees. However, if that's the case, they'll gladly help you out - it's in their own self interest. My biggest problem is giving away the fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 Thank you! I think we're going to go for it. :) Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We only have about 20+ trees, but what an wonderful opportunity. If we could, we would jump at a chance like that. Good luck. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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