Orchard Horticulture Workshop

Please join course instructor, Leo Garcia, for three -days of aSpanish language Orchard Horticulture Training

Tuesday February 24th- Thursday February 26th 8am-3pm

Pine Grove Grange

Class Outline

This class introduces participants to the basic principles of applied tree fruit horticulture. It will give participants a better understanding of the many seasonal tasks and jobs that they are already performing in the orchards on a daily basis.

Class Agenda

Day 1

· Tree fruit historical perspectives – tree fruit journey to America, world production vs US production, production by state, evolution of the tree fruit industry, current tree fruit economy

· Basic plant physiology – how plants function - plant structures, stems, leaves, flowers and roots, hormones, cells, photosynthesis, day length, dormancy, chilling requirements, cold hardiness, essential nutrients, nutritional requirements, conventional and organic fertilizers, soil and leaf analysis and interpretation, pH – alkaline, neutral, or acid, amendments, soil pH chart and nutrient availability, physiological disorders caused by nutritional imbalance - cork, bitter pit in apples, alfalfa greening, soft fruit, storage problems, others

Day 2

· Flowering, pollination and fruit set – flowering stages, hormones, pollination and fruit set, parthenocarpy, bee hives per acre, hive and bee activity, managing crop load, pollen tube growth, fruit load based on trunk diameter, chemical and hand thinning, fruit load management through pruning, blossom hand thinning and mechanical

· Alternate bearing - variety, tree age, vigor, crop load, nutritional and hormonal imbalance, stress

· Spring frost and winter damage – critical temperatures at different bud development stages, frost protection, thermal inversion, wind machines, heaters, irrigation, winter cold hardiness rootstocks and varieties, acclimation and de acclimation

· Harvest – maturity indicators, starch, pressure, sugar, flesh and seed color, fruit texture, senescence, resource management and harvest plan, harvest management products – stop drop, smart fresh, others, storage designation, controlled atmosphere CA, regular storage, pack out, fruit sizes - apples, pear cherries, packing – commit to pack, pre size, processor, market – domestic, export

Day 3

· Soil and water management – soil texture and structure, field capacity, available water, soil type, soil profile, moisture measuring devices, irrigation scheduling, environmental management

· Pruning and training – dormant and summer, delayed heading, cherry stubbing, understanding apical dominance, limb positioning and fruiting, cut responses, hormonal balance

· Plant propagation – sexual, seeds, asexual, grafting, air layering, budding, stool beds - nurseries

· Orchard establishment – location, land preparation, aspect, variety, rootstock, replant decease, old or new site, fumigation - alternatives, soil analysis – amendments, support system, pruning and training, early production, planting density, tree quality, equipment, management skills, market requirements, fruit quality, pesticide concerns, labor, establishment cost – production loss, financing, early production

For questions or registration the old fashion way, contact Kris Schaedel at the Hood River SWCD 541-386-4588 or a3JpcyB8IGhvb2RyaXZlcnN3Y2QgISBvcmc=

Si tiene preguntas y desea hablar en español, llame a Jaime Rivera al 541-490-0699 o Z29yZ2UgISBpbnRlcnByZXRpbmcgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ==

Course Instructor Leo Garcia of Wenatchee Valley is a graduate of Washington State University with a BS in Horticulture, Pomology, and the Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Foundation Program. Mr. Garcia worked for Washington State tree fruit and viticulture industries for the last 32 years starting as an Orchard Employee, Crew Supervisor, Fieldman, Orchard Manager, and Lead Horticulture Professor and Director of the Latino Agricultural Programs at Wenatchee Valley College until his retirement in 2021. Mr. Garcia, created, developed, and implemented the Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program (HOEEP) at Wenatchee Valley College 28 years ago. The program is still going strong with more than 2,000 graduates. He has also served in numerous Advisory Boards and have provided educational opportunities for the ag industries through his Agricultural Training and Consulting business for more than 20 years. It is an incredible opportunity to be able to host Mr. Garcia and facilitate a training in Hood River. Please join us!

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