Air Rooting Fruit Trees

[jdmidwest]

The goal this year was to rebuild the garden at the farm and build up an orchard.  The original orchard behind the house has long gone.  The last apple tree died a few years ago.  It had not been managed properly in my lifetime and never produced any fruit.  The last pear tree is out there still kicking.  It has a big cedar and a elm growing up around it also.  But it is still viable and bloomed this year.  It last produced fruit about 10 years ago.

I am trying the air root process to make clones out of the ones I have.  Strip a section of the limb, apply growth hormone, put moss in a ziplock bag with a slit around the bare limb section, zip tie.  In a month, it should root out, trim off and start new tree.  I did a black apple tree I planted a few years ago with 4 others that failed.  See how it works out.  I have another tree at the other place that is one half yellow delicious and half granny smith.  I plan on making some off of that one too  to move out to farm.

I will be really nice to get that one pear cloned.  Not even sure which generation planted that.  Probably Great Grandpa Hamp.

[jdmidwest]

Tilled that garden spot today behind that apple tree and the bee hive.  Planted 2 rows of sweet corn and some zucchini squash and dill.  Plenty of room to add more later on.  Its only mid April, no need to rush it.

Only had an inch at the farm this week,  but St Francois jumped 10' on Thursday.  Must have got a dump up near Fredricktown.  88 at farm this afternoon.  El Nino winds.

Did 3 more air grafts on the pear this morning also.