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Only ten days after being grafting, the new wood is already showing signs of growth. The graft taking means there was a clean seal, good wood, and that no water seeped into the exposed limb. Below are a few pictures of the growth on the same trees you saw being grafted in the previous blog.
We do the best we can every year to pick out new varieties at the nursery, mostly using gut feeling about how these varieties will work in our lineup. For whatever reason, they don’t always work out. Sometimes they revert back to an old gene, not producing the way we thought they would. Other times depending on the soil and weather conditions, that particular variety just doesn’t take off in its environment. There isn’t a lot you can do for the tree if this is the case, but what we can do if the tree is young enough, is graft a new variety to that root stock. To graft a tree over from one variety to another you must first expose all but one limb (see picture above). Peaches and Nectarines are interchangeable while plums can only be grafted to plum trees.
Once the limbs are exposed you have a few hours to a few days to graft depending on weather conditions (the dryer the better).
Several notches are then sawed into each freshly cut limb.
Wood that was gathered during the fall pruning season is then cut into small pieces and inserted into the slots. The wood has been stored in our cold storage since November and kept moist by coating it with sawdust.
The final step is to coat the exposed ends with tree seal to ensure that no moisture gets in and rots the grafts.
Our grafting crew. When it rains it pours, and it definitely poured in the Valley. For seven straight days the forecast was rain with little chance of anything else. Between Monday and Friday of last week HMC received 2.53 inches of rain. Today the current rainfall total: Total as of this date last year: Which means we are currently 168% ahead of last years’ total rainfall at this time. So far it has been a farmer’s winter, with a lot of rain and an average amount of chill hours on the trees. The wood on the branches is looking very healthy, and pruning is moving along as scheduled. Below are a few pictures of the winter trees, the rain, and our view from HMC.
WEATHER UPDATE: 2 inches of rain today in the Valley! Will have severe affects on Table Grapes! Autumn Royal: Black Seedless Grape Available now till the end of October Pack styles: Berries are large averaging 13’s and 14’s, flavor is sweet, crisp and juicy.
Thompson: Green Seedless Grape Available now till the end of October Pack styles: Thompsons are very well attached and berries are green. Grapes are crisp and are averaging over 1 inch in length and 18 - 20 brix.
Red Globe: Red Seeded Grape Available now till the end of October Pack styles: Globes are averaging 15’s to 1 inch in size, with full color and nice finish.
It is finally beginning to feel like fall. Tree fruit is trickling out as the last boxes are shipped from our warehouse. The temperature dropped from 100 degree highs to 80 degrees overnight. And grapes are in full production, with the introduction of our Gobbl’n Brand black grape. Below are a few picture recaps of the season. Thank you for your support throughout the summer. Hopefully we’ll see you at the PMA.
Tree Fruit Tree fruit is still going strong into this first week of September. The way we see it, in about two weeks Nectarines, Whites, and Black plums should begin to taper off. Where Peaches and Red Plums should start to slow down about 2 weeks after that. Our Holiday red plums are having their best year yet averaging 17 brix in every box.
Table Grapes Table Grapes are streaming in steadily day after day. We are now heavy into Thompsons and have begun packing our 16 # Plastic Box. As for Red Seedless Grapes, we are right in the middle of Crimsons, and beginning to get good volume on Scarlet Royals. Our newest addition this year is the Vintage red seedless. A sweet grape that is similar in flavor to Crimson and similar in sizing to a Scarlet Royal. Our last Summer Royal was shipped out this week, right in time to start the Autumn Royal black grapes.
Now Available Peaches Thompsons Coming Soon Red Globes Tree Fruit
Peaches Nectarines Plums
Table Grapes Thompsons
Size – Larges are averaging 12’s and 13’s
Crimsons
Size – Larges are averaging 11’s and 12’s
Summer Royal
Size – Larges are averaging 11’s and 12’s
Scarlet Royal
Size – Larges are averaging 12’s and 13’s A short recap of last week… There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. As July comes to a close and August begins, everyone feels that we’ve hit our stride on this last downhill push of the season. The fruit is the best it’s been all season, and our later varieties are opening up really nice end of season opportunities. After this next week, peaches, nectarines and plums will be available in abundance through mid September.
Promotional Opportunities from HMC Farms Champagne Grapes – Available now until mid September HMC Proprietary Holiday Red Plums – Available September through mid October Tree Fruit Record setting heat is finally behind us as we cool off into the 90’s towards the end of this week. The heat wave has slowed production a little, but the harvest that is coming off is still strong. Varieties Available Peach - Kaweah, Henry II & Summer Lady
Table Grapes Table grapes are off to a great start this summer. Quality has been great, color is solid and the taste is sweet. This trend with our flames is sure to continue into our green, black, and red grapes. One of the things that sets us apart in the grape market is our abundance of specialty Champagne and Niabell grapes. Varieties and Pack Styles Available Champagne - 16/1# Clamshells
Flame Table Grapes - Jumbo and Large size grapes available - Good size, full color, sweet, crisp berries - Packed in a 19# Corrugated Euro, 19# Styro, and a 19# Plastic box
Champagne Table Grapes - Munchkyn Brand Champagne Grapes - Super sweet small berries - 16/1# Clamshells per box
Coming Soon - Summer Royal – 7/17 - Thompson Seedless – 7/24 - Red Globes – 8/15 - Princess – 8/15 - Niabell – 8/15 - Scarlett Royal – 8/15 - Crimson – 8/20 - Vintage Red – 9/5 - Goblin Grapes – 10/1 |
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