Apple Trees and Plum trees for Zone 3

Discussion in 'Fruit and Nut Trees' started by purple ox, Oct 3, 2004.

  1. purple ox

    purple ox Member

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    Clearwater BC
    Hello from the Purple Ox!We live in Clearwater and are starting our Arts Crafts and More business and want to grow apple trees that will thrive here in Clearwater BC on our mountainside 10 acres. 762 meters above sea level. We have quite alkaline soil so would also like to know what amendments would go with these trees. We would like to plant in the spring as we already have frosts here-the garlic is already planted! We have an good source of well rotted horse manure and composted wood chips that will go a long ways to amend the soil.
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    WA USA (Z8)
    Should be quite a few apples to choose from, as they have been grown in cold climates elsewhere for a long time. Plums will be more limited, as so many are prone to frost injury to the flowers. Other than that, it's probably a matter of which locally adapted cultivars will have the fruiting characteristics you want to use, something you have not stated yet. And if you are planting with the intent of selling the fruits and/or products made from them, then surveying your market (and talking to other operators already familiar with your market) may help determine which kinds to plant.

    Definitely sample your soil and have it tested before investing any serious time and money into trying to modify it. The composted manure may not actually be that useful to you, if it is well composted and leached of mineral salts/nitrates then it may be of value primarily as a mulch; if it is still fairly hot it may have too many salts/nitrates to be used on apples, on an alkaline soil (nitrates possibly promoting excess vegetative growth that has to be pruned, mineral salts perhaps adding to those in an already rather salty soil). And wood chips make the best mulch.

    Instead of incorporating organic matter into your soil, it might work better to plant your trees in the existing soil and mulch with organic matter (debris on the ground, as in nature, instead of in it).
     

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