Since The Apple Grower first appeared in 1998, orchard expert Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which have been called `organic's final frontier'. In this new edition of his widely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries of growing good fruit with minimal inputs.
Some of the cutting-edge topics this book explores include:
*the use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy against curculio and borers, as well as its limitations,
*creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem through
understorey management of plants, nutrients, and beneficial micro-organisms,
*how to make a small apple business viable by focusing on
heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the `community orchard' model.