POP TIPS: spring holistic sprays
Phil Forsyth
Philly Orchardists,
Happy spring!
Just a reminder that now is good timing to begin applying holistic orchard sprays to boost plant health and resilience to disease. Holistic sprays may be composed of compost tea, effective microbes, neem oil, and/or other ingredients. For best effectiveness, apply up to 4 times in the spring (after bud break, at first pink of flowers, after petal fall, and two weeks after petal fall).
You can read more about holistic sprays, including recipe and application times, on Michael Phillips' website:
https://www.groworganicapples.com/organic-orcharding-articles/holistic-spray-ingredients.php
POP's blog post on Effective Microbes also includes a holistic spray recipe:
https://www.phillyorchards.org/2022/04/04/em-for-orchards-are-effective-microorganisms-effective/
Depending on specific pest or disease problems, some orchardists might also consider other organic sprays including the ones listed below.
Check out POP’s guides to orchard applications of:
• Biofungicides: Serenade and Regalia
• Sulfur Sprays and Early Spring Management Techniques
• Bt: Bacillus thuringiensis Orchard Sprays
Please also check out our youtube channel for videos on:
POPCORE 2: Eco-Orchard Pest & Disease Management
Spring Orchard Care: Neem Oil Sprays
If you want to avoid or minimize spraying in your orchard, starting with a good design can also help! Please consider joining us for our final virtual POPCORE workshop next Wednesday:
VIRTUAL POPCORE 4 WORKSHOP 3/29:
ORCHARD & FOOD FOREST DESIGN
Learn about POP’s approach to design and implementation of urban orchards and food forests, including plant selection, spacing, layout, and more.
Join us for the last in the 4-part series of POP’s Community Orchard Resilience Education (POPCORE) course! This workshop series is led by POP staff and is offered in a virtual format.
6:30 – 8pm: Virtual POPCORE 4 Workshop
- Orchard & Food Forest Design Process
- Plant Selection, Spacing, and Layout
- Summary of Community Design Process
- Practical Steps for Implementation
POPCORE combines many elements of orchard stewardship, plant knowledge and ecosystem design that POP has learned over the past 15 years. This four part series is intended to grow the knowledge, skillset, and self-reliance of our community orchard partners and volunteers, resulting in happier, healthier, and more productive community orchards.
Pre-registration required!
