Resisting Disease

Apple Scab

The need to learn to minimize the use of sulfur in the holistic orchard is paramount. Tell us here about your "dance with scab" in ascertaining when to spray and when not to spray.

• Much ado is made in the revised Apple Grower about "leaf crevice coverage" and the gauging of ascospore maturity (see chart on page 184) in determining the need to spray sulfur. Growers need to understand infection parameters exceedingly well in order to maintain that deeper level of natural protection provided by competing microorganisms.

The Nuances of Compost Tea

Creating a competitive environment in the phyllosphere holds wide appeal. What results do you have to report?

• Matt Pearson in New Jersey shares that compost tea enhanced with Serenade has eliminated his brown rot woes with peaches.

Inducing Systemic Resistance

While the search for native herb remedies goes on, numerous growers are trialing pure neem oil for insect balance, disease suppression, and outrageous tree health.

Cedar Apple Rust

This disease can be a major concern for growers in the middle zones of the country. Any inklings to share with your friends?

Summer Disease Suppression

Ideas abound as to how to curtail sooty blotch and flyspeck . . . let's hear what works for you!

• Don McLean in New York notes that Stylet oil applied every two weeks starting in mid-July at 2% concentration makes for far cleaner-looking fruit.

Every fruit grower has worthy contributions to make to these pages. . . so please contact Michael Phillips about your own orcharding research experiences, novel ideas, and success stories.

Holistic Orchard Research

• Soil Health
• Resisting Disease
• Insect Dynamics
• Balanced Orchard Nutrition
• Biodynamic Fruit
• Varietal Notes
• Rootstock Realities
• Thinking Links for Holistic Orchard Research