For decades fruit growers have sprayed their trees with toxic chemicals in an attempt to control a range of insect and fungal pests. Yet it is possible to grow apples responsibly, by applying the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientific research and innovation.
Since The Apple Grower first appeared in 1998, orchardist Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which have been called ‘organic’s final frontier.’ In this new edition of his widely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries of growing good fruit with minimal inputs. Some of the cutting-edge topics he explores include:
- The use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy against curculio and borers, as well as its limitations
- Creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem through understory management of plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms
- How to make a small apple business viable by focusing on heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the ‘community orchard’ model
The author’s personal voice and clear-eyed advice have already made The Apple Grower a classic among small-scale growers and home orchardists. In fact, anyone serious about succeeding with apples needs to have this updated edition on their bookshelf.
Table of Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One
Growing Apples Locally
Apple Growing a Hundred Years Ago
Today’s Integrated Pest Management
Bringing It All Together
Conventional Wisdom
The Small Commercial Orchard in Context
Chapter Two
The Orchard Site and Its Climate
Sacred Slopes
The Four Points of the Compass
Dry Ground
Zone Hardiness
Windbreaks
Biodiversity in a Fruit Orchard
Proximity to Markets
Chapter Three
The Enriching of Fruit Lands
The Living Soil
Compost Forever
Soil Amendments
Foliar Feeding
Biodynamic Teachings
Cover Cropping
Ponderable Mulch
Soil Tests and Leaf Analysis
Trace Minerals for Every Tree
Chapter Four
The Trees and the Planting
Cultivar Selection
Rootstocks and Tree Spacing
Nursery Sources and Varietal Collectors
Grafting and Propagation
The Setting of the Trees
Orchard Size and Layout
High-Density Plantings
Down to the Nitty-Gritty
Chapter Five
Care of the Orchard
Intuitive Pruning
Training the Apple Tree
Pollination and Fruit Set
Frost Protection
Thinning the Fruit
The Great Grass Debate
Mowing Options
Summer Care
Preparing for Winter
Restoring Neglected Orchards
Chapter Six
Apple Pests and Diseases
The Beginning of Understanding
Good-bye, Foliar Pests
Insect Identification
Bug-by-Bug Profiles
Beneficial Insects
Good Sanitation
Fungal Diseases
Other Diseases of the Apple
Four-Legged Considerations
Chapter Seven
Spraying for Balance
The Complexities of Nature
All the Answers Aren’t Known, but We’re Gaining
Timing Is Everything
The Orchard Calendar
Botanicals, Elementals, and Forbidden Fruit
Gentler Sprays
Spray Equipment for the Small Commercial Orchard
Matters of Concern
Chapter Eight
Reaping the Harvest
When to Pick
Harvest Equipment
The Apple Picker’s Reel
Hiring Help
Windfalls and Fat Sheep
From Orchard to Packing Shed
Grading Revisited
Cider Making
The Juice of the Apple
Apple Storage
Chapter Nine
Marketing in the Local Economy
Getting a Fair Price
Apple Economics
Niche Marketing
Value-Added Products
Organic Certification
Advertising
Marketing Innovations
Long-Term Vision
Chapter Ten
The Last Organic Frontier
The Sustainable Orchard
Tree Spirit, Community Spirit
Organic Perseverance
Here We Come a-Wassailing
Esopus Spitzenberg and a Better Tomorrow
Appendix I Compendium of Orchard Tasks
Appendix 2 Apple Grower’s Source List
Appendix 3 Lost Nation Apple Recipes
Appendix 4 Bibliography
Index
About the author
Michael Phillips was a farmer, writer, carpenter, orchard consultant, and speaker. He lived with his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Grace, on Heartsong Farm in northern New Hampshire, growing apples and a variety of medicinal herbs. Michael is the author of The Apple Grower (Chelsea Green, 2005) and The Holistic Orchard (2011), and teamed up with Nancy to write The Herbalist’s Way (2005). His Lost Nation Orchard is part of the Holistic Orchard Network, and Michael also led the community orchard movement at www.Grow Organic Apples.com.
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