I am trying to make a checklist for all my orchard chores. I thought I could make a calander-- just for the nut and fruit trees, it will include pruning and fertilizing.

Please tell me, when and how much you prune and fertilize, at any given time of year.

The fruits and nuts that I have now are: apple, pear, peach, blueberry, plum, fig, blackberry, rasperry, sweet cherry, mucadine, seedless grapes and pecan trees. Thank you for any help!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), January 28, 2002

Answers

Here are some computer software programs that might be useful, if you are looking for this type of checklist/management system.

Orchard Planning Software, http://www.makash.ac.il/region/kibbutz/brorhail/ak/_orchard.htm MacMan Farm Software, http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/macman/5738.html, MacMan recording software. The MacMan farm recording software has now been released to the industry. The software is the result of two years of development involving focus groups of growers, consultants and processor representatives. It enables growers to record a wide range of orchard management information.

The Penn State Apple Orchard Consultant, http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/software/software1.html The Penn State Apple Orchard Consultant is an Expert System. The program covers: Horticulture (Nutrition, Soil, Irrigation, New orchard planning, Cultivars) Pest Management (Disease, Insect and Weed control, IPM, Phytotoxicity, Tank mixing) Scouting Information (Techniques, Traps) Environmental Monitoring (Weather data, Degree day info, Record keeping) Orchard Specifics (Individual block maintenance and data application) Recommendations are tailored to the individual orchard blocks based on the history of the orchard. The software is updated annually to keep abreast of changes in the pesticide industry and regulations. Available in Mac and MS-DOS

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.