My other hobby

[Jig-fisher]

I bought my Burgundy tree from valley nursery years ago. I don't know if they would still carry it. Valley has the best selection of fruit trees of any nursery that I have visited. As far as thinning goes, I remove all but one or two apples from each cluster. That sometimes means taking out 3 or 4 apples on each cluster. I try to always leave the biggest in the center of the cluster. With apricots and peaches I remove 50 to 75% of the fruit. It takes time, but I think well worth it. I rarely have to support branches or have them break on me. The size of the fruit is great. I also spray my trees for coddling moth and I think it helps get all around the apples when you don't have a big cluster. When I do occasionally get worms, it seems they pierce the skin where two pieces of fruit come together.

I do dry batches of plums, peaches, apples and apricots but just in a dehydrator. I don't have a freeze dryer. They are all really good.
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