The apple grower : a guide for the organic orchardist

Author:Michael Phillips

Summary:Now that organically grown foods are the latest culinary craze, the time has come for the organic orchardist. Phillips, who grows apples without artificial pesticides or fertilizers in Northumberland, New Hampshire, provides instructions on growing and marketing. Selecting the right site (weather, soil, drainage, and proximity to markets are considerations) and understanding the role of micro-organisms are top priorities, he insists. Phillips gives instructions on planting, pruning, and training the trees, and on protection from frost. There are chapters on pests and diseases, organic spraying, harvesting, and marketing. Interspersed throughout the text are tips for backyard fruit growers, a bit of earth-friendly philosophy (Phillips' style of writing is best described as cornball), and lots of black-and-white photographs and illustrations. A valuable basic guide for novice backyard and commercial apple growers