INSTANT orchard: Managing early fruit production can be a challenge in knip trees

摘要

Knipboom trees require a different mindset from orchardists who are used to planting standard, one-year nursery trees, says a Washington State horticulturist. But planting the bigger knip trees may be a cost-effective way to quickly fill in orchard space with less training and pruning than what is traditionally required. A knip block of Gala apples, planted in 2007, "didn't do much" the first year, said Dale Goldy, horticulturist for Washington's Stemilt Growers, Inc. Goldy is also a partner in GoldCrown Nursery in Quincy, Washington, with Andy Gale and Dave Piepel.