September 2022 - 19

POME FRUITS
requiring a couple of years to heal
the spurs.
Recent years have seen more
high-density plantings of 3-by10
feet and 2-by-12 feet " We are
putting on 97s and using root
competition to get what we need
to control the growth, " Schmitten
said. " In my opinion, the best
way to control growth is through
root competition. "
Planting investments
" We are learning we can afford
to replant and take some of the
older trees out, but it's a slow
process, " Schmitten said. " Even
with the best and most modern
rootstocks, we're not getting
production until five, six or seven
years. We can do better with
higher density, but in reality, it's
five years. "
A formidable insect pest, the
pear psylla drips honeydew as it
feeds on the fruit, which stunts,
defoliates and destroys trees.
" We will do everything from
washing the trees with overhead
irrigation to high volume water
to break this honeydew bubble so
we can get pesticides to the insect,
then spray, " Schmitten said. " It's
becoming more complicated for
us. There are not a lot of products
to kill it off. We rely on predators,
which help a lot. "
At Daybreak Orchard, high
above the Columbia River north of
Wenatchee, Stemilt grows highdensity
Bartletts with Old Home 97
rootstocks on 6-by-12-foot trellises.
Many of the region's orchards
are decades old. With little new
large-scale plantings, growers see
full production at eight years versus
five years.
" We're hoping with a little closer
density we can get more fruit
early on in the orchard lifecycle, "
said Bryan Mrachek, area district
manager for Stemilt. " The pear
industry hasn't really targeted it
that much. "
In another block at the site,
a former Red Delicious apple
orchard, Stemilt planted 5-by-12feed
spacings on 87 rootstocks.
" We are hoping planting a little
bit tighter will reduce our need
for tree training here, " he said. " It's
been very expensive. It has to be a
combination of maintaining vigor
and training. "
Long-term, Stemilt wants to use
harvesting platforms to reduce
costs and increase production.
Stemilt also plans to tighten its
sprinkler spacing, which should
create more fruit uniformity in
weaker areas.
" Stemilt is really committed
to continuing the pear category, "
Mrachek said. " This site shows
some of the highest-quality pears
Stemilt sees every year. " FGN
FGN | SEPTEMBER 2022 | 19

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September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022

September 2022 - 1
September 2022 - 2
September 2022 - 3
September 2022 - 4
September 2022 - 5
September 2022 - 6
September 2022 - 7
September 2022 - 8
September 2022 - 9
September 2022 - 10
September 2022 - 11
September 2022 - 12
September 2022 - 13
September 2022 - 14
September 2022 - 15
September 2022 - 16
September 2022 - 17
September 2022 - 18
September 2022 - 19
September 2022 - 20
September 2022 - 21
September 2022 - 22
September 2022 - 23
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September 2022 - 26
September 2022 - 27
September 2022 - 28
September 2022 - 29
September 2022 - 30
September 2022 - 31
September 2022 - 32
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