Washington State College extension specialist Bernardita Sallato, heart, gives a preharvest tour on Sept. 17 by way of an indication block on the Roza Analysis Farm in Prosser, the place WSU’s new selection, WA 64, is planted on completely different rootstocks and coaching programs to assist growers get to know the way it performs. (Kate Prengaman/Good Fruit Grower)
Washington growers can now begin inserting nursery orders for WA 64, the latest launch from Washington State College’s breeding program.
As a result of choosing a rootstock and coaching system is usually a troublesome determination for growers attempting a brand new selection, WSU established an indication block at a analysis farm in Prosser to showcase how the brand new selection performs when paired with completely different rootstocks and programs. With often scheduled discipline days deliberate — together with a preharvest occasion this week — the trade will get to observe the bushes develop below completely different administration approaches.
The planting contains G.41, G.890, G.969 and B.9 rootstocks. Every rootstock is then planted in a single-leader system, two-leader programs each vertical and V, and a UFO-style multileader system.
The purpose isn’t to discover a good system, mentioned WSU extension specialist Bernardita Sallato. As a substitute, the planting offers growers an opportunity to see the completely different programs in particular person and think about which is perhaps the very best match for his or her operations.
“Each farm has their very own traditions for tree coaching,” mentioned Dave Gleason, a horticulturist with Domex Superfresh Growers and an advisor to Sallato’s demonstration orchard. As such, after visiting the block, completely different growers may take away completely different approaches to the brand new selection.
His takeaway to date?
It’s too quickly to know for certain.
“In the event that they appear to be they’ve the suitable vigor now, it is perhaps an excessive amount of in 5 years,” Gleason mentioned of the third-leaf planting.
Total, nonetheless, it seems to be a “pretty grower-friendly” apple, he added.
One essential issue to think about: WA 64, a Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink cross, wants good mild interception to paint up, Sallato mentioned. Which means for extra vigorous rootstocks, reminiscent of G.890, growers may have to do summer season pruning or defoliation.
When paired with G.890 rootstock, these single-leader bushes have practically crammed their area within the third leaf, and Sallato and her crew felt comfy cropping the decrease branches. WA 64 wants good mild interception for colour growth, she mentioned, so programs like this will likely want summer season pruning or preharvest defoliation. (Kate Prengaman/Good Fruit Grower)
The excellent news is that throughout all rootstocks, the brand new cultivar responds properly to winter pruning, notably stub cuts, Sallato mentioned.
“Each single lower led to regrowth,” she mentioned. “That’s good as a result of it offers us an opportunity to pick the branches we wish for the following yr.”
She additionally highlighted UFO-style blocks, which “provide you with flexibility to regulate as (the tree) grows for the way it grows at your website,” she mentioned. A extra vigorous website, for instance, may lend itself to including extra uprights.
As growers start planting WA 64 within the coming years, Sallato mentioned WSU plans to proceed planting extra demonstration blocks with extra choices, together with including M.9 T337 and G.11 to the combination subsequent yr.
“(So,) we’re rising the bushes as growers are rising them, to assist them make choices,” she mentioned.
—by Kate Prengaman
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