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Traditional orchards have declined significantly since the Second World War - which is why we're so proud of ours.
The orchard consists of some older trees located nearer the vegetable beds and poly tunnels, and the main planting at the back of the plot, which was mostly planted in 2013 - 2015.
The age of the trees in the older orchard is unclear. However, all of the apple varieties have been identified, some with the help of Wisley, and all have labels on them, though these do fall off.
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Here's a brief seasonal guide to how we care for Rosamund's orchard:
Winter (Dec - Feb)
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Pruning: Prune apple and pear trees to remove dead or diseased wood, improve air circulation, and shape the tree. Stone fruit trees (e.g., cherries, plums) should be pruned in summer to avoid silver leaf disease.
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Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of trees to protect roots from frost and suppress weeds.
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Tree inspection: Check for signs of disease and pest damage. Look for cankers and remove affected branches.
Spring (Mar - May)
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Fertilisation: Apply organic matter such as well-rotted manure around the trees as growth begins.
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Weeding: Keep the area around the trees free from weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
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Pest monitoring: Start monitoring for pests such as aphids and caterpillars.
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Blossom protection: Protect blossoms from late frosts by covering trees with horticultural fleece on cold nights.
Summer (Jun - Aug)
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Watering: Ensure trees are well-watered, especially young trees and during dry spells. Deep watering is more effective than frequent shallow watering.
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Thinning fruit: Thin excess fruit on apple and pear trees to improve the size and quality of the remaining fruit. Leave one fruit per cluster.
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Pest and disease control: Continue monitoring for pests and diseases. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
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Summer pruning: Prune stone fruit trees to remove excessive growth and improve air circulation.
Autumn (Sep - Nov)
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Harvesting: Pick fruits at the correct stage of ripeness. Handle them carefully to avoid bruising.
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Storage: Store fruits in a cool, humid, and well-ventilated area. Use appropriate storage methods for different types of fruit.
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Leaf clearance: Rake up fallen leaves to prevent the spread of diseases such as apple scab and brown rot.
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Soil improvement: Apply compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility.
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Don't forget to sign up for our popular annual Apple Pressing Day!
Organic methods
Rosamund is fully-organic. That means we only use organic or natural pest control methods and fertilisers such as compost and manure.
Biodiversity
The secret to a happy orchard is biodiversity. We encourage beneficial insects by planting wildflowers and maintaining hedgerows and undergrowth.
Water conservation
We collect rainwater and mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce watering needs throughout the year.