CAFRE’s orchard management event at Loughry Campus

The event will focus on topics such as soil fertility, disease management, caring for younger tress and winter pruning.

Agricultural Inspector Kieran Lavelle will provide a detailed demonstration of different pruning techniques to give a clear understanding of when and how to prune trees of different age ranges.

When an orchard has received adequate fertiliser and has the correct soil pH of between 6 and 6.5, the next step to improve the fruit size is through substantial winter pruning. For example, the poorest quality apples are found in the shaded sections of the tree and on older, less productive timber. Removing the lower branches and those branches which have become heavy, thick and poorly dressed with fruiting branches should be a priority for removal.

The free event is open to all those who wish to learn more about orchard management.

The event will be held at the Loughry College orchard in Cookstown on Wednesday, March 18, beginning at 10.30am.

Participants should register and book a place online at: https://www.cafre.ac.uk/short-courses/orchard-management/.

For more details, contact Nicola Warden on 028 9442 6939. Those attending the course can get to the event by passing through the main Loughry College entrance and going straight at the mini-roundabout to park in the old Lindsay Hall car park. The orchard will be signposted from there.