My husband is a pomologist, that’s to say he is a fruit scientist and farmer. I can’t count the people that ask me each year what he does during the winter. Yes, his hours are more 9-5pm and there is more time to take vacations but there is still plenty of planning and caring for the trees that goes on. While most of us try to stay cozy in our homes during the frigid winter, our fruit farmers nurture the trees in hopes of an abundant and tasty crop in the coming season.
Pruning is one of the most valuable and labor intensive activities in the orchard that takes place while the trees are sleeping through the winter. The primary purpose of pruning is to increase sunlight penetration, remove less productive wood, and shape the canopy into an efficient, stable form to ensure a healthy strong tree. If a tree is left unpruned, the quantity of fruit produced might be greater, but the quality usually drops. Pruning increases fruit size, promotes uniform ripening, increases sugar content, and decreases disease and insect problems. It also allows easier access for timely harvesting. Pruning is certainly one of the most important investments a farmer can make during the winter months.
Over the years, Mike has brought home cuttings from the fruit trees he has pruned. This year, he brought home some apricot, plum, peach and cherry trees. It is thrilling to watch vases full of cuttings slowly emerge throughout our home. Since the buds open faster than if left on the trees, we get to entertain spring blossoms earlier in our home. I love bringing spring into our home so we can watch first hand the buds bursting with color and fragrance. They are a welcomed addition after a cold grey winter. I also brought in some forsythia cuttings to add to the rainbow of flowers waking up in our home.
What do you do to awaken spring into your home? Please share and I will continue to share with you.
