FRUIT WIKI HOME
This Wiki is open to public view... but only members of the Holistic Orchard Network's discussion forum are invited to actually contribute to page content. Fruit growers wanting to provide detailed orchard information have that option here -- in the form of a full-blown wiki "Orchard Profile" -- as individual member profiles on our Growers page will continue to be kept hidden (as some of you requested such privacy in order to freely share important orchard specifics). Opening up the variety pages and growing methods that we are creating together in the wiki format, on the other hand, appropriately reaches far beyond our inner circle. Happy growing, all!
Create a page here for a description of your orchard and you. Pictures can be uploaded and inserted. Strong suggestion is that all images be edited before uploading to no more than 600-700 pixels wide. This will save upload time, space on the server, and the picture will fit into the Wiki page without further fiddling. Also, create a folder with your name and change to it before uploading your pictures. This will help keep things organized.
Fairly obvious- production methods. We need some energy applied to this section, folks! Condensing the ideas expressed in the ongoing talks would be a good starting place. Don't be hesitant about initiating the structure as page titles will evolve as much as the content itself through community concensus.
Tree fruit varieties: descriptions, history, climate notes, growth habits, special requirements. And by no means does this need to be limited to apples... our project editor will strive to keep some semblance of fruit type clarity here!
Growers are encouraged to add their observations about posted varieties by using the comments feature below the actual wiki page on each variety. Comments are not announced as having been posted however. If you're comfortable permanently integrating varietal feedback onto the actual wiki page via the "editing" function in the format established, please do. Otherwise an adminstrator will bring up new comments from below on occasion. Please be sure to mention your location and growing zone in your comment. This is a GREAT feature for sharing varietal experience!
New variety pages may be created by any member who wishes to do so in the existing format. All that is required is to hit the "Create new page" link, enter the variety name as Title, select Varieties as Category, and leave notification checked so others can know this has been created. It is not necessary to enter any tags. The variety page should normally include general facts about the variety (the sort that can be found in publications) while the discussion is for grower experience with that variety.
This is the place to comment and exchange on rootstock performance and adaptability in your orchard. Hopefully, grower comments on rootstocks should help other growers in selecting the best rootstock for their future plantings!
We have tried to group the rootstocks by family to limit the number of pages (for example, the Malling family includes the well known M-7, M-9, M-26, M-27). Rootstocks that are not part of a family or a series should be found in the "Orphan rootstocks" page.
If you have experience with a rootstock that would be worth sharing, weather good or bad, from a commercial or amateur point of view, please go to the wiki page for your rootstock and post a comment, or edit the wiki page to include your comment (whichever way you feel most comfortable). Once in a while, administrators will bring the comments into the main page.
Current information in these wiki pages is mainly from:
Apple Rootstock Fact Sheets from Geneva NY
Wikipedia
Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory, 3rd edition, by Seed Savers Exchange.
This is for directions on how to do stuff with the site, not for how to grow stuff. Good discussion on many of the things that could be "formally" posted on a site wiki page can already be found on our forum in the Making It Better category. Anybody want to tackle site clarity so all members clearly understand how to work this site?
Holistic Orchard Glossary (TERMS)
Check out our community glossary for definition of words and expressions used by cutting edge fruit growers.