Notes from Dan Elliot

I re-read the excellent Ecological Fruit Production in the North this summer.  Since it is out of print, I will pass on some information of interest. Pears need high phosphorus longer than apples (10-12 years) and only half as much nitrogen. For established apple trees apply 25-50 kg (55-110 lbs) of compost per tree in…

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Nutrient Requirements of Fruit Production

By Tami Schlies   Bob Purvis observed some nutrient deficiencies in fruit trees during his visit here in September and was kind enough to share with all of us some of his knowledge on these issues.  I have also investigated some other common deficiency symptoms and expanded on his advice in this article.   We…

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Soil Health

by TAMI SCHLIES Our guest speaker in January, Mr. John Evans of Palmer, got me thinking about soil.  He created Alaska Bounty, a “soil stimulant system” that replaces natural bacteria and fungi lost in chemical fertilizing, harvesting, and even tilling the soil.  His unitque system breeds microorganisms by aerating a special compost tea, versus the…

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Organic Fertilizer recipe

by TAMI SCHLIES   Instead of buying expensive, premixed fertilizer from specialty stores, try this recipe to make a complete organic fertilizer good for our Alaskan soils.  This is easy, too, because the measurements are by volume, not weight – just use a scoop!   Mix 4 parts seed meal or alfalfa meal, for Nitrogen,…

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Soil Facts

by Tami Schlies To many people, dirt is dirt, but to those of us who grow things, dirt is a dirty word.  The key word for us is soil, and there are many different properties to soil, all of which make our job as growers easier or harder.  Soil texture, profile, components, chemistry, and nutrients…

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ESTABLISHING NEW FRUIT TREES—SOME LESSONS LEARNED

  by Bob Purvis   During the past sixteen years, I have planted a few hundred fruit trees and recently watched the planting of several thousand at our Richland fruit ranch. Here are some observations I would like to pass on to Alaska Pioneer Fruit growers members who plan to plant trees in 1997.  …

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SUMMARY OF FEBRUARY MEETING (1990)

At the February 8 meeting, Helen Butcher introduced Josephine Jureliet, a long-time Alaskan from Haines. Jo gave a fine slide presentation on her trees and garden in Haines Jo has successfully grown Yellow Transparent’ (her favorite), ‘Northern Spy’, ‘Early Gold’, ‘Bing cherry’, ‘Black Tartarian’ cherry (the earliest to bear fruit), and unknown crabapples. With the…

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