Finished top working today. Got out Rouville, Golden Harvey, Wickson, Pionier, Piervomaiskoie and Hudson Golden Gem out. Hopefully I can get some pollen samples taken later.

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First outing with inexpensive foreign grafting tool with omega head

  Have to admit I was hopeful and anxious about how this blade/tool combination worked. Sure you would get a strong graft. But the cambium layer? How would they line up?  Well interestingly enough I noticed even if a scion/root stock mismatched; you can eyeball the cutter to make a great line up. So anyway I felt it would be sacrilegious to not do Blairmont on the first graft. And soon it was sitting in the field in a pot. I also grafted P.1 on M111 and Kaido on M111. Both have resistance M111 does not have. And I felt M111 would bring good vegetative growth for cuttings. Lastly I planted mother trees of G.214, M111 and P.2. Roots on root stocks? All looked good. G.214 had plenty of feathery roots. Can't do a lot more today. Have to get potting soil. And must take the tiller to break the compost pile up. A nearby farm has tested and graded compost soil with no added nitrogen. For a great price by the bucket{about 12 50 pound bags} Also have to settle on my feed bags and how to best
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 Welcome to the Blog!   Looks like a busy season ahead. So many wonderful people in the fruit growing community. Lots of valuable groups where folks willingly share their well learned advice. From Vendors, Universities and our own USDA. You can find lots of information and help. Especially your local County Agents. Lastly to my dear wife and family tolerating my projects. One of the things that inspired me was the Blairmont Apple developed by the USDA; with a lot of thought and effort. But as Apples go; it's reception was lackluster and today it is more of a curiosity.  This is ashamed as the Apple has many good traits. Late bloom misses frost. It is relatively scab free. Yields sizable 80mm or better fruit on average. Typically ripening is around mid-August. The USDA said three weeks ahead of "Delicious". In orchards observed, no occurrence of fire blight or powdery mildew, bitter or black rots. Flavor is mildly sweet with a little bit of tang. With fruity and vinous aro
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