May is the right time to protect your apples, pears and Asian pears from apple maggot fly and codling moth. Can’t have that!
City Fruit, a 501(c)(3) non-profit helping residential tree growers grow healthy fruit, harvest & use what they can, and share the rest, offers a comprehensive pest protection class at the Solid Ground Bldg in Wallingford on Saturday, May 1, 1:30 – 3:00 pm.
Conveniently scheduled so you can attend the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant sale in the am, the workshop provides opportunities to learn various strategies for reducing damage from apple maggot fly and codling moth. These include choosing more resistant cultivars, maintaining tree hygiene, using barriers (fruit shields or ‘footies’), installing traps, promoting beneficial insects and using organic sprays. The workshop explains each insect’s life cycle and the various methods for reducing fruit damage.
Classes are $15 for City Fruit members, $20 for non-members.
Register at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107067 or the City Fruit Web site at www.cityfruit.org . Or send a check, with the name of the class and your contact information to City Fruit, PO Box 28577, Seattle 98118. If you can’t afford a class but really want to learn, email them at [email protected] .
The Phinney Neighborhood Association serves as City Fruit’s fiscal sponsor and is the co-sponsor of these events.
Update: Barb writes:
Thanks so much for promoting the Organic Pest Protection for Apples and Pears class that was scheduled to take place this Saturday at Solid Ground offices. Unfortunately, due to lack of students pre-registering, the class has been canceled. There is another session of the same class scheduled at the Phinney Neighborhood Association on May 8. See the City Fruit web site for more information, and register if you want the class to happen: http://cityfruit.org/classes.htm
Whoa whoa whoa. WHOA. We can grow Asian pears here? If that’s really true, I know what’s getting planted in my backyard.
How to Grow Asian Pears says best zones are 5 – 9.
Zone Map says we’re Zone 8.
I want a bite when they’re ripe.
@CindyY: I know where you live, James! (Or close enough to smell the ripe fruit!)
Unfortunately, due to lack of students pre-registering, this class has been canceled.
There is another session of the same class scheduled at the Phinney Neighborhood Association on May 8.
See the City Fruit web site for more information, and register if you want the class to happen: http://cityfruit.org/classes.htm
PS – there are lots of Asian pears in Wallingford, many that go to waste for want of someone to pick them. Usually neighbors are happy to have someone take them away – either you or Community Fruit Tree Harvest volunteers.
Well this is fantastic news. Jordan and Chris (and Barb, if you’re interested), there will be sharing aplenty once “Project Growing Asian Pears in My Backyard Because It’s So Delicious But Excruciatingly Expensive at the Grocery Store” is off the ground.
As for these other Wallingfordian Asian pears going to waste…. We must remedy this situation at once. Is there already a map showing fruit for the taking?