A pleasant surprise in the misting rain!

 Going out to check this years grafts; and I was shocked our blog namesake apple has come back from the dead. A Blairmont on M111 set two buds into leafing out so very late in the year! This is why I leave perhaps dead looking grafts with a touch of green out and cared for.

Hopefully it will fight on. Perhaps giving me further wood to graft this fall.

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First outing with inexpensive foreign grafting tool with omega head

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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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