Introduction to Growing Peaches and Other Stone Fruit in MN

Whether on a scale as large as a high tunnel or in a shelter for one tree, this class explains protection system principles in which you can successfully grow peaches, apricots, plums and nectarines organically in a commercially viable way.

The student will learn what cultivars of fruit to look for, why grafting your own trees makes the system work better, soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, pollination, insect and W**d control, tree training and pruning, harvesting and preparing the winter protection system that allows all this to happen. One to two hours of instructional time will start at WEI and move to Stone Creek Farm, just 22 minutes away in Shafer MN, where you will tour a working example of the system in action, with more than 100 peach and apricot trees.

The trees in the system have fruited after a winter with multiple outside temperatures in the 20s and 30s below and as low as -35°f, so far, the research is showing that the system could work with outside temperatures as low as -42 to -45°.

Crops permitting, students may be able to purchase ripe peaches after class.

You may also like the following events from Women's Environmental Institute:

• Next month, 19th July, 12:00 pm, Magic in the Moment: Haiku as Meditative Practice in North Branch
• This August, 3rd August, 01:00 pm, Let's Make Mead in North Branch
• This September, 13th September, 01:00 pm, Wildcrafted Jams and Jellies in North Branch

Also check out other Workshops in North Branch.