Pruning Principles for Orchards - Standards to Tall Spindle!

Pruning and training trees is one of the key orchard activities to optimize tree growth and fruit development. We have lined up one of our region’s leading orchard experts, Larry Lutz, to help us unlock some orchard management secrets and lead us in some hands-on orchard demonstrations. We will be looking at a wide variety of new (and old) orchard plantings and there will be lots of time for Q&A and sharing ideas. We may even be able to challenge a few assumptions about the ideal orchard growing system for New Brunswick. Come on out and join us! RSVP appreciated*.

Title: Pruning Principles for Orchards - Standards to Tall Spindle!

Date/Time: Thursday, March 28, 2013, 09:45 - 16:00

Location (start): Verger Belliveau Orchards, 1209 Principal St., Memramcook (map)

Agenda:

9:45am - Meet at Verger Belliveau Orchard

10:00 - Introductions and Welcome – Apple Growers of New Brunswick

10:10 - Overview of Pruning Principles – Garth Nickerson, NBDAAF

10:30 - Orchard Development in NS & Tree Training and Pruning for Smaller trees – Larry Lutz, Scotian Gold

11:15 - Verger Belliveau Orchard Tour / Discussion (Std., M106, M26, M9 trellis plantings…)

12:00 - Lunch (BYO lunch or on your own)

13:00 - Travel to Cocagne

13:45 - La Fleur du Pommier Orchard Tour / Discussion (S. Dwarf + old and new trellis plantings: BA, O3, M9, G11, G16…)

15:30 - Uris Williams and Sons Orchard, St. Antoine (larger tree M111 plantings…)

Larry Lutz is well known in the apple circles through his long association with Scotian Gold, as a fifth generation fruit grower and with his involvement with numerous associations. He attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College earning a B.Sc in Agriculture and is a designated Certified Crop Advisor as well as a Professional Agrologist. Larry is now the Director of Grower Services with Scotian Gold and provides a wide variety of technical advice and services to fruit growers. Larry is the past president and long time board member of the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA). He has also served on the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association and various farm organizations such as the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.

*RSVP: It would be helpful to know how many to expect so we can make arrangements; just reply to this email (Yes/No/Maybe) and indicate a tentative # attending. Call me if you have any questions; 453-3470 or 461-9628. Garth

Garth Nickerson, P.Ag. / agr.

Crop Development Specialist Nursery/Tree Fruits

Spécialiste du développement des cultures Pépinières/arbes fruitieres

New/Nouveau-Brunswick Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries/Pêches

P.O./C.P. 6000

Fredericton, New/Nouveau-Brunswick

E3B 5H1

Canada

Tel/Tél: 506-453-2108

Fax/Téléc: 506-453-7978

email/courriel: garth.nickerson@gnb.ca

Website: http://www.gnb.ca/0027/Index.htm