Our Orchard

Our orchard (as of 2022) has around 2,500 trees representing over 15+ apple cultivars (varieties). Each variety has its own complex taste and texture, which is reached in a specific “picking window”. For more information on each variety, please scroll down to “Apple Varieties” on this page.

Our season for apple picking in our orchard typically opens Labor Day Weekend and wraps up around Halloween. (Check our Facebook page for varieties available for picking each week…again, we aim for that prime “picking window” on each variety so that the apples will be some of the best you’ve ever tasted!) Apples are available for U-Pick and pre-picked. (Prices vary depending on variety, as well as if it is U-Pick or Pre-Picked.)

Our orchard is comprised almost exclusively of dwarf trees. Dwarf trees are quick to come into production (usually two years after planting), are easier to maintain, offer easy picking, and provide the most production per acre. We have selected trees are that suited for our climate and are grafted onto rootstocks that are suitable for our climate as well. Many of our trees we have grated ourselves. As you walk through the orchard you will note that our trees are pruned to capitalize on sun exposure from all angles; that is exactly our intent, as this gives all apples the best environment for growth and nutrition. Our orchard was designed especially by Hal taking sun exposure into primary consideration: planting in a “north – south” layout would ensure the Sun’s “east – west” route would cross over all of the trees equally! Our soil at the orchard is a sandy loam so we choose to utilize drip irrigation. On the ground along the length of each row of trees you will see a single hose. That hose is full of equally-sized small holes, and when we irrigate the same amount of water is distributed all along the hose ensuring no tree receives too much or too little hydration.

We are concerned about the health safety of our apples. If it were up to us, we would not use any pesticides. However, we could not produce a product that would be acceptable to you, our valued consumer, both in appearance and eating experience (who wants a worm in their apple, right?). Also, to ensure the health of the trees we need to make use of pesticides and fungicides. All the chemicals we use are regulated by the FDA both in what we can apply and when we can apply them. Our orchard actively employs Integrated Pest Management techniques, which include (for example) mating disruption and pest threshold counts (trapping). Both of these actions help us to greatly reduce the use of pesticides. We are always happy to provide examples of these techniques and/or answer any questions folks may have concerning Integrated Pest Management or our growing process.

Many folks will ask if we sell young apple trees? The answer is yes. Contact us for varieties available and pricing.

Discovering - Pruning Apple Trees