I regret to report that 2 out of 4 of my clarks crab grafts from last year have completely succumbed to fireblight. It has been a really tough year for fb, taking out all of my harrow pears, honey crisp, and many strikes on liberty, freedom and arkansas black.
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Sorry to hear that. Please report what you see as most resilient with the High FB pressure.
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Washington State University.
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The ones that have done really well are Williams Pride, Ruby Rush, Gold Rush, Galarina, and Yates.
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Thank you. The “My Fruit Tree” folks? They will test for unique, one of a kind seedlings? I have one here that I’d like to get an ID of.
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I think they offer a basic test for around $50 that checks for an exact match in their database and have a detailed test for $200 or $300.
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Just say if I took the opal apple flowers and crossed with Clark’s crabapple and vice versa and grow out the Opal apple seeds and Clark’s crabapple seeds. Which of those seedlings would you prefer?
Tony
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i think i would take my chances with the clarks crabapple seedlings.
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Where are you located? Sorry about your blight loses. You’ve probably checked but do you see any black sunken lesions in the bark where blight might have over-wintered in your orchard?
You must have that strain of fireblight we do that kills everything resistant or not. Harrow pears, honey crisp apples, liberty , freedom and arkansas black apples are considered highly resistant by most experts. Nobody would rate anything you mentioned as less than moderately fireblight resistant. I suspect you didnt get a copper spray on this year wouldi be right? You will be shocked how much difference 1 or 2 sprays make. If you did spray with copper i would throw my hat and go to town and pick up some nut trees and a roto tiller for tomatoes. I hate fireblight. Im sympathetic and understanding to what your going through. 1 trick i do is break the rows with nuts or goumi etc not even remotely related to pears or apples. Since we know your strain of fb is a killer by planting breaks of nuts or other plants between your pears and apples it cant spread as quickly. You have a fb source close to you that came from. We have been the victim of fb here many times.
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FB is bad for me this year too. The past 2 years, very minimum. Then this year it hit hard. 2 Asian pears, 2 Bartletts, Pink lady, Golden Russet Bosch pear. The more bloom and flowers, the worst for the tree. Even the neighborhood Bradford pear got hit.
My Clark’s Crab is still being grafted and the parafilm is protecting it. In addition, the root stock is too young to flower. I just hope the graft took.
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Yes. Blight is endemic in my orchard. Honeycrisp was the worst host for it. It is now removed. There was also a large pruning cut on a mature pristine tree that had black ooze around it. I refuse to remove that tree since it is my best apple for summer rot and production (mostly because it is more mature than my other trees).
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I think its precocity is its weakness. I have one remaining graft surviving on a small rootstock. I will make sure to remove any flowers for the next few years.
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You are correct about my missed copper spray. I had a big project at work that took almost all my attention when I should have sprayed. The bad blight strain showed up a couple years ago and I fear that it may have come in on scions, but it seemed widespread in the area (multiple trees with large strikes across the county). Ive noticed some trees that were hit hard last year have developed good resistance. Specifically Williams pride and Gold Rush. Perhaps their lineage could be examined to identify where the resistance comes from.
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This fireblight has a weakness, but it may take us a couple of years to find it. I understand the fight against it. The weather has been perfect for it. It is a mystery ,one day it will disappear again.
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B10 has taken 2nd place in leafing Clarks Crab.
I hope B10 does better then B9. It is very easy to graft.
Not sold on B118. Even green it is still stiff. I put it out on 3 types and will stool a few just in case.
M26 is another easy grafter. Just how well will it survive the wet kiln?
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How did you get opal? I love that apple. I have 4 seedlings from last year. Hoping for something good.
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Just a question if ? Just to crack Clark’s brain a bit. But I think it would be a good cross though.
Tony
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Looks really good! Heathy looking tree!
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