FARM CALENDER
JANUARY: January 2010 the weather was seasonal with a a great deal of snow regularily (No Major Storms). Signs, lights and decorations were taken down, tested and boxed for future use. Major pruning was accomplished on the apple trees. Work on mowers in preparation for the cutting season was delayed until pruning was completed.
FEBRUARY: Weather continued colder than prior years and regular snow falls throughout the month Continued with Apple pruning.
MARCH:
Complete pruning of apple trees. Tune up the chainsaw and cut all stumps as low as possible, cull out trees that are ugly! Also do some butt pruning if time and weather allows? When frost leaves the soil and it is dry enough, plow or roto-till and prepare for spraying pre-emergence herbicide to reduce impact of weeds. March weather continued colder than prior years more snow than rain.
APRIL:
Major changes in weather occured this month. Temperatures, varied from freezing to as high as 85 degrees. Of specific concern was the earlier blossoming of the apples due to the warmth, which also coinsided with the major winds that we experienced. Pollination of the trees was affected, bees could not fly and the strong winds blew off a significant amount of blossom.
Rototilling and spraying of Herbicide in Orchard, finished pruning of Apples.
MAY:
Grass and Weed cutting began, we continued butt pruning, and root pulling of Christmas trees, checked trees for hatching of "Pine needle scale", and Saw Fly caterpillars, sprayed as necessary. Sprayed herbicide on broad leaf weeds.
Apples again needed spraying of fungicide to reduce apple scab, during each week of May. Had numerous days of rain from during most of the month. Plenty of weed and grass cutting was required. May 29 sprayed Orchard with insect spray and fungicide.
JUNE:
Began Christmas tree shearing (shaping of each tree). Also continue to cut grass and control weeds. The weather in June was wetter than normal. Sprayed apple Orchards June 11 & 30 Insecticide & Fungicide. Rainfall was above normal for the month. Mowing of Grass and Weeds was ongoing.
JULY:
July the weather was wetter than normal and some varieties were developing a significant apple scab on the skin. The Apple volume looks good with Jonathon, Red & Golden Delicious doing well.
AUGUST:
Summer weed control. The weather continued the first three weeks of the month with last week being very cool, sunny and dry (3 mornings the temperature was 42, 42 & 44) most unusual. On the third week we decided to remove the smaller apples and those most affected by the apple scab. This resulted in 600 bushels being destroyed. We rationalized that by doing this the remaining apple would grow larger and provide a greater satisfaction to our customers. We also spent time working with the new owners of the land on the North and South side of Powers Road from Illinois 47,to allow us to erect signs. This also required working with the village of Huntley. We are still located in the same place but there have been some major changes to the west of our Farm. OPENING DAY FOR APPLE PICKING IS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
APPLE CROP APPEARS TO BE GOOD. WE WILL OPEN AT 10:00 AM SEPTEMBER 11,
SEPTEMBER:
Setting up signs, cleaning up the sales office, and generally preparing for our SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 opening our hours will be 10:00 AM till 5:00 PM daily with EXCEPTION of Mondays (we will be closed). Farm work continues, with picking up drops mowing weeds and grass. Plus processing of honey from our hives.
***** WE WILL CLOSE OUR APPLE PICKING OPERATION OCTOBER 3 2009. WE THANK ALL OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR RETURN WHEN WE PLAN TO START PICKING APPLES THE FIRST WEEKEND AFTER LABOR DAY, STARTING SEPTEMBER 10, 2010.*****
OCTOBER:
This month we will be preparing our farm equipment for winter and complete final trimming of Christmas Trees.
NOVEMBER:
Start putting up Christmas Tree signs on Highway 47. Opening date is November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Hours will be from 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM Daily.
CLOSED On Mondays.
Order toilet. Trim the base of trees, where the lower limbs have been damaged by mowers, herbicide, weeds, or overgrown.
DECEMBER:
Continue selling Christmas Trees until December 16. For trees after this date please call 847.669.3251. .
