Orchard Rye and Rust

[@ProfKSE]

I'm always envious that you have 6 weeks of growing time (Spring+Fall) more than what I get in Michigan. We have first pink on some trees here. A few trees are still almost dormant (Macoun & Wolf River).

[@603chefmon]

same here in N.H.

[@troutfishholland]

Looked pretty cold up there last week. Sounds like you are fine yet.

[@ProfKSE]

@@troutfishholland yes, very little frost damage.

[@saltriverorchards4190]

I’ve been selectively allowing certain “weeds” to come up around my trees. My favorite that grows easily here is curly dock. It has a nice deep tap root to draw up nutrients and minerals from deeper than the tree roots reach and the big leaves shade out the nitrogen stealing grasses such as fescue. This allows more access to nitrogen and minerals for my trees. Other weeds that I allow are anything in the mint family and mustard family as they attract beneficial insects. I’m also starting to plant berry bushes and other companion plants in my tree rows. Rhubarb is nice to have as well. Big leaves to shade the soil and provide some sort of sellable crop.

[@ProfKSE]

I use short clover (Whitetail clover) to fix nitrogen into the soil. I have to reseed every few years.

[@troutfishholland]

White Dutch clover does amazingly well and survives gly treatments early in the year. Ragweed seems to do nicely also. Lol

[@cqammaz53]

So it is like comfrey chop and drop

[@daviddavenport2665]

my fruit trees are just starting pink am about 2 weeks behide cause of this cooler weather we just got down to 25 at night but now its in the 70s great old upstate new york for ya

[@troutfishholland]

Fingers crossed for a fair weather spring to come your way. !