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NC Historic Sites »   All Sites »   Horne Creek Farm »   Southern Heritage Apple Orchard »   The Apples »   Tree Selection and Care »   A Year in the Life of an Orchard

A Year in the Life of an Orchard

Month
Trees
Worker's Jobs

January

  • Dormant
  • Pruning

February

  • Dormant
  • Care and repair of equipment

March

  • Buds begin to form
  • Disposal of pruning debris
  • Grass mowing

April

  • Buds begin to swell
  • Blossoms appear
  • Pollination begins
  • Grass mowing
  • Begin planting new trees

May

  • Pollination continues
  • Petals fall off
  • Grass mowing

June

  • Small fruit appears
  • Limbs are shaped and stabilized
  • Irrigation, if necessary

July

  • Small fruit appears
  • Apples begin to ripen
  • Irrigation, if necessary
  • Summer pruning
  • Harvesting of a few early varieties

August

  • Apples continue to ripen
  • Ladders and barrels are assembled
  • Harvesting of apples continues

September

  • Apples continue to ripen
  • Harvest continues

October

  • Late apples ripen
  • Harvest continues
  • Cider and apple butter is made
  • Fall apples are marketed

November

  • Very late apples ripen
  • Dormancy begins
  • Begin planting trees

December

  • Dormant
  • Planting continues
  • Pruning begins

 

Tree Selection and Care

  • A Year in the Life of an Orchard
  • Care of the Orchard
  • Grafting
  • Maintenance
  • Preparing to Plant an Orchard
  • The Apple Blossom

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https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/horne-creek-farm/southern-heritage-apple-orchard/apples/tree-selection-and-care/year-life