Week of February 20, 2022

My February visit to TAProots Farm was a BLACK AND WHITE experience. The four days included a major winter storm with 18 inches of snow on the ground receiving an inch of 50 F degree rain, followed by ice and snow storms, and temperatures plummeting to 10 F, accompanied by 25-30 mph winds with gusts much stronger. The result was local flooding then a solid sheet of glare ice over all the fields and orchards. The Polaris all-wheel drive ATV was the sole means of movement. The work to be done in February is critically important, and did not take place in 2021 due to COVID-19. This includes pruning down to the ground the perennial flowers and the asparagus. The fruit trees, including the ornamental crabapple, pear, apple, nectarine, apricot, and plum trees needed lower and damaged limbs removed, along with the “water sprouts” shooting above the canopy of the tree. The goal was a bowl shaped, especially in the trees planted 1-2 years ago. The table grapes were aggressively cut back to fewer buds and tied to the trellis. The thornless blackberries were cut back to 3 feet tall to encourage branching and heavier fruit setting. The six bluebird houses were cleaned out, with only one without a nest and at least 3 nests with more than one nest last year. Of course, much was left to be done in the spring, given the harsh weather. Nonetheless, the orchards are ready for a fruitful summer.