David Hare-Scott wrote:
songbird wrote:
....
in recent readings on permaculture i
really enjoyed seeing Sepp Holzer's methods
of growing fruit trees as he doesn't do
sprays, pruning or baby his trees. often
to reforest an area he'll include in his
seed mix (besides veggy seeds) seeds from
stone fruits, apples, etc.

The problem with this is that you don't get to choose your rootstock nor the
fruiting characteristics. These are the reason why nearly all fruit trees
are grafted.

yes, but then you also get known disease
vulnerabilities too.

as a low cost method of learning and working
with an area that i'd not like to be turned
into poplar trees it gives me incentives to
get out there and work on that area within the
next few years.

until reading his books i was kinda disheartened
by what would happen to that area and not too
willing to put a lot of money into it. efforts
here and there ok, but not much money. so to
take a second look at the situation and to start
pondering and planning, it's a bit of hope for
quite a bit of space.


....
the problem is the whole area is clay and
can be fairly wet at times. any seeds/trees
will have to adapt to that.

Yes but only if you give them a fighting chance. Do NOT plant them in
holes, as these will become ponds and the trees will die.

for sure, once i get a better idea of the
existing drainage then i'll likely trench
and slope areas so the trees/seedlings have
a chance of some dry periods, but they will
never be short of ground water. there's the
large pond behind this area and the nearly
constantly flowing ditches that run through
the property.


....
having some grafting root stock to
work with will be a side benefit. green
apples can be a source of pectin. fruit
woods are nice to work with for furniture
or as a source of aromatic woods for
grilling.

If you know how to do grafting then at least start with a bud that is of
known good fruiting ability.

in time i may get to that.


the questions a from seeds, time to
actual production for: apples, cherries,
peaches, apricots and pears?


4-5 years

thanks,


songbird