Category Archives: Uncategorized

Robin Wall Kimmerer knows: Whether the serviceberry or a fig bush or a peach tree, after you plant, baby, plant, you must prune, baby, prune. Pruning fruit plants opens up space where new fresh fruiting wood can grow then set big, yummy fruit to thank you for the dynamic reciprocal relationship you planted and started to nurture years before.

The Ravenna Community Garden (RCG) was laid out in 2010 and planted by volunteers in coordination with Seattle Parks staff. Around 2020, fruit trees/bushes were added to RCG. The Ravenna Community Garden is located at the intersection of NE 68th St. and 21st Ave. NE, NE Seattle & just west of Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. WARNING: This Ravenna Community Garden (RCG) isn’t the Ravenna P-Patch Community (Secret) Garden which is positioned elsewhere north of the University Village shopping center.

Along with raised beds for vegetables, fruit trees/bushes are planted along the NE 68th St. sidewalk and north/south park walking path. PNW climate-appropriate varieties plugged include: Brown Turkey fig bush, Frost peach tree, Methley Asian/European plum tree, Puget Gold apricot tree, Chojuro Asian pear tree, Hollywood Asian plum tree and containerized blueberry bushes.

Now nearly 5 years later, it’s time to dormant prune these fruit trees/bushes creating scaffolds for growing abundant, quality fruit pieces.

On Sat 7th Feb 2026 10 AM to noon, everyone is welcomed to attend a free in-person, hands-on demonstration by an experienced college horticultural instructor covering:

1) How to dormant prune, for the PNW climate, young (~5-year-old) fruit trees/bushes.

2) How to make a pruning cut that will properly heal.

3) How to assess and thin fruit tree/bush scaffolds for future fruit production.

4) IDing, removing and properly disposing of diseased portions of fruit tree/bushes.

5) What to do with disease-free prunings.

6) How to ID, process and store scionwood harvested from prunings

ATTENDEES: Meet 10 AM at the the Ravenna Community Garden sign installed at the north entrance near the intersection of NE 68th St. and 21st Ave. NE. This event will be outdoors with no seating provided (if needed, please bring your own). Dress for the weather, muddy/uneven walking surfaces and being outside for 2 hours. Public restrooms and heated interior space should be available at the adjacent Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. Free parking available on street.

No attendees are expected to do anything other than observe and learn. Attendees can bring their own pruning tools and practice supervised pruning cuts. Some related tasks (for example, cutting up prunings and digging up sod under fruit trees) may be performed following the training and volunteer help is welcomed. Scion wood from prunings may be available for distribution to attendees.

Have questions or need more details? Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com

If your orchard tools could talk … but they don’t, so Ken Tuomi, professional arborist and longtime STFS member, who has led past Plant Amnesty orchard/horticulture tool talks will bring his arborist equipment and discuss select tool applications, limitations and basic care.

Following the show-and-tell portion, Ken will demonstrate operation of select tools as he assesses and summer prunes at least one mature dwarf apple tree in the Magnuson orchard. Summer pruning your mature fruit trees now helps to avoid all that crazy vigorous vegetative spring growth that comes with winter/dormant pruning.

Suggested Stuff to Bring:

*Everything you need for being outside 2 hours with a small group of people.

*Your own orchard tools with related questions or to practice summer pruning a fruit tree with the ready advice of a fruit tree arborist pro.

*Your surplus fruit from your backyard orchard to share … berries, Asian plums/pluots, early season apples, maybe some Breba figs …

*Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Dress: For weather, dry dirt/dead grass walking surfaces and for gardening chores IF you choose to practice summer pruning (NOT REQUIRED!!!)

Facilities: Spare … Closest toilet is port-a-potty by green P-Patch shed behind The Brig. (Got TP?) Indoor tennis center across intersection may allow use of indoor plumbed toilets.

Questions?: Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com

Meet at the Magnuson Park demo orchard sign installed by longtime STFS member and one of Magnuson Garden’s bests Jerry Packard (RIP).

Google Maps for Magnuson Orchard by The Brig Bldg, 6344 NE 74th St, Sea, WA 98115 (47.682388, -122.259640)

Free Parking in front of The Brig Bldg and Magnuson Orchard

Be aware of all Seattle-area road construction and plan accordingly. Revive I-5 work may cause congestion south of Ship Canal Bridge.

This Saturday (June 7th) 10 AM to noon, at the NE Seattle Magnuson Park demo orchard, STFS members and friends are thinning apple fruitlets then covering remaining fruitlets with either individual maggot barriers or netting over the entire tree. Everyone is welcome.

To brush up on fruitlet barrier protection, fruitlet thinning and insects that damage PNW apple fruitlets, check out STFS USP newsletter 39 05 2021 May.

Don’t want to fruitlet thin or bag/drape? Saturday’s participants can also help STFS by pruning the “D”s and rootstock suckers or weed creeping buttercup underneath fruit trees.

Maggot barriers will be available for purchase with cash or personal check. 100 heavy weave maggot barriers per package priced at $10 per package. Small quantities of maggot barriers are also available free for attendees to take and test in their backyard orchards. Paying with cash, exact change would be very helpful. Please make personal checks out to “STFS”. All money goes to STFS. Thanks.

The STFS Maggot Barrier How-To webpage offers advice on barrier protecting fruitlets and has been recently updated to include STFS Life member Lori B.’s procedure for applying NovaSource Surround kaolin clay to maggot barriers for added protection. Yes, Surround can only be purchased in 25-pound bags, but STFS Life member Marilyn T. has graciously donated her nearly 25-pound bag to interested attendees. Free 1-cup containers of Surround will be available on Saturday for anyone following Lori B.’s online instructions.

Currently, the Magnuson orchard floor is being cleared to bare ground including removal of the grass alleyways in order to accommodate more fruit plants. Online Magnuson orchard planted varieties map shows what’s already in the ground mostly planted over 20 years ago. What should STFS plant to better demonstrate the fruits that can thrive in PNW backyard orchards? Do you have any uniquely PNW fruit plants, scion or cuttings which you could donate for planting into the Magnuson orchard? Please forward your ideas to STFS’s email (seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com).

Meet: At the Magnuson Park demo orchard sign installed by longtime STFS member and one of Magnuson Garden’s bests Jerry Packard (RIP).

Google Maps for Magnuson Orchard by The Brig Bldg, 6344 NE 74th St, Sea, WA 98115 (47.682388, -122.259640)

Free Parking in front of The Brig Bldg and Magnuson Orchard.

Bring: Everything you need for being outside 2 hours with a small group of people. Tools that you use to snip fruitlet stems which might include trauma scissor, snubbed wire cutter, heavy duty toenail trimmer, maybe this nifty fruitlet pruning tool or just your nimble digits. Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Dress: For light outdoor physical activities and weather which is expected to be almost PNW hot (nearly 80 F) and sunny.

Facilities: Spare … Closest toilet is port-a-potty by green P-Patch shed behind The Brig. (Got TP?)…Indoor tennis center across intersection may also allow use of indoor plumbed toilets.

Questions?: Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com

STFS Free hands-on, in-person fruit tree grafting workshop Sat Apr 5th 10 AM to noon NE Seattle Magnuson Park orchard led by horticultural educator Ingela Wanerstrand. All welcome to attend.

No grift here…FREE in-person, hands-on Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop from a PRO horticultural educator

Sat Apr 5th 2025 10 AM -> noon @ NE Seattle Magnuson Park Orchard

!!!WARNING: This is a FREE LEARNING WORKSHOP for anyone & all to attend!!!

!!!NO attendees are expected to do any WORK!!!

!!!PLEASE: Come, Observe & Learn then LEAVE ASAuPrefer!!!

Bark, bridge, bud, cleft, saddle, side veneer, splice, whip&tongue, … there are many, many different grafting methods for joining parts (scion, rootstock, maybe even an inter-stem between) of similar plants to grow as one plant. That’s the how … then there’s the where…

“Top-working” generally refers to grafting (by various methods) new fruit producing scionwood onto an existing compatible tree already planted outside. “Bench grafting” typically means grafting at a bench or a similar (hopefully warm) interior setting during winter or early spring uniting scionwood and young bareroot rootstock.

On Sat 4/5/25, Ingela will first demonstrate several grafting methods while top grafting plum, prune, maybe apricot scionwood onto a full grown Marianna 2624 rootstock planted years ago in the Magnuson orchard. Later at the nearby picnic table, Ingela will graft apple scionwood onto bareroot rootstock using several additional grafting methods.

A limited amount of free apple rootstock (possibly B9, M111, G41, G935) will be available for the bench grafting demo using apple scionwood brought by attendees. Attendees can take and grow up free apple grafts.

Still want more? After Ingela’s workshop, at least one STFS member will be sticking around to 1) wrap trunks of apple trees with corrugated cardboard for codling moth monitoring, 2) install mason bee cocoons and structures, 3) weed fruit beds and/or 4) layout for upcoming green mulch planting. You can stay to help or to watch or just leave especially if it’s a nice day weatherwise.

Meet at the Magnuson Park demo orchard sign installed by longtime STFS member and one of Magnuson Garden’s bests Jerry Packard (RIP).

Google Maps for Magnuson Orchard by The Brig Bldg, 6344 NE 74th St, Sea, WA 98115 (47.682388, -122.259640)

Free Parking in front of The Brig Bldg and Magnuson Orchard

Bring: *Plum, prune, apricot (or even some almond) scionwood to donate for top-grafting demo onto Magnuson orchard’s Marianna 2624 rootstock tree

*Apple scionwood for bench grafting demo then take graft home to grow up for your backyard orchard

*Additional scionwood to exchange with other attendees

*Old, used pushpins, thumbtacks and “open-face” corrugated cardboard to donate for codling moth monitoring

*Everything you need for being outside 2 hours with a small group of people. Respiratory illness spread probably will be receding, so you decide whether to mask though this event is outside allowing for social distancing. Your own grafting tools and materials if you want hands-on practice with the ready advice of a fruit tree grafting pro. Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Dress: For weather and definitely for muddy walking surfaces and for gardening chores IF you choose to help with orchard upkeep tasks (NOT REQUIRED!!!)

Facilities: Spare … Closest toilet is port-a-potty by green P-Patch shed behind The Brig. (Got TP?) Don’t expect any heated building access although indoor tennis center across intersection may allow use of indoor plumbed toilets.

Questions?: Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com

Online: Magnuson orchard planted varieties map

Online: Tips on scion harvest and store

Online: Basic fruit tree grafting

In-person, hands-on Apple/Pear Fruit Tree Dormant Pruning Training from a PRO horticultural educator

This Sat (Feb 22nd 2025) 10 AM -> noon @ NE Seattle Magnuson Park Orchard

!!!WARNING: This is a FREE LEARNING WORKSHOP for anyone & all to attend!!!

!!!NO attendees are expected to do any WORK!!!

!!!PLEASE: Come, Observe & Learn then LEAVE ASAuPrefer!!!

… (or stick around to help w/ light physical activities like pruning w/ Ingela W., harvesting scion w/ Ingela W., weeding beds w/ other STFS members, laying out miner bee habitat, removing several dead fruit trees and prepping for replant, winding copper wire around pear branches to experiment with rust control, etc…)

Meet at the Magnuson Park demo orchard sign installed by longtime STFS member and one of Magnuson Garden’s bests Jerry Packard (RIP).

Google Maps for Magnuson Orchard by The Brig Bldg, 6344 NE 74th St, Sea, WA 98115 (47.682388, -122.259640)

Free Parking in front of The Brig Bldg and Magnuson Orchard

Bring: Everything you need for being outside 2 hours with a small group of people. News reports respiratory illness spread is bad right now, so masking is suggested though this event is outside allowing for social distancing. Your own pruning tools if you want hands-on practice with the ready advice of a fruit tree pruning pro. Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Dress: For weather which is expected to be warmish (50s F) with possibility of passing shower, for muddy walking surfaces and for gardening chores IF you choose to help with orchard upkeep tasks (NOT REQUIRED!!!)

Facilities: Spare … Closest toilet is port-a-potty by green P-Patch shed behind The Brig. (Got TP?) Don’t expect any heated building access although indoor tennis center across intersection may allow use of indoor plumbed toilets.

Questions?: Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com

Dormant fruit tree pruning … on cold a winter’s day?

Apple and pear tree pruning often occurs in the dormant season (Nov 15 –April 15) which challenges the backyard orchardist when making thinning cuts. Thinning cuts are made to open up sunlight channels into the tree so the best fruit develops throughout the tree and not just at the tree’s top or periphery. Without leaves on the tree during the dormant season, the backyard orchardist must imagine how upper branches may shade out fruit production on lower, more accessible branches. Are you more planner than visionary? An organized backyard orchardist could long-term plan dormant season pruning by flagging branches during the summer for removal the following winter. Doctors are trained to first do no harm, but backyard orchardists aren’t performing brain surgery. Keep in mind the key phrase when dormant pruning: When in doubt, thin it out! Make the most of your thinning cuts and your time spent outside in wet, chilly PNW weather. More online fruit tree pruning tips: “Pruning Tree Fruit – The Basics” by Gary Moulton & Jacky King, WSU Mount Vernon Research & Extension Unit

Online: Magnuson orchard planted varieties map

Online: Tips on scion harvest and store

Online: Basic fruit tree grafting

Learn all about Designing Edible Landscapes from Laure Jansen, long-time STFS member and owner of Alta Rosa Farm Vashon, beginning at 10 AM. Here are some helpful guidelines and checklists from Laure: Laure’s Goals, Laure’s Production Goals, Laure’s Property Survey.

Big, big thanks to STFS President Mike E. for spotting scheduling error with the earlier zoom info even after a probably long, long workday.

The CORRECT zoom link info is:

Time: Jan 25, 2025 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting via computer

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85136778074?pwd=dSplUW2pcMhDj86Mq6i4H0G9hyxmcA.1

Meeting ID: 851 3677 8074

Passcode: 045167

One tap mobile

+12532050468,,85136778074#,,,,*045167# US

+12532158782,,85136778074#,,,,*045167# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 851 3677 8074

Passcode: 045167 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kFjdRygcI

UPDATE: Presenter Michael “Skeeter” Pilarski and STFS Secretary Melinda M. have put together the resource PNW-native-fruit-plants-and-where-to-obtain supplementing Michael’s talk. Thank you, Michael and Melinda.

STFS mtg this Sat (Dec 14th 10 AM) zoom-only is free for all to attend and begins with Michael “Skeeter” Pilarski’s talk on Edible Native Fruits of Puget Sound

Michael Pilarski has worked with over 1,000 species of plants, native and
non-native. He has been farming since 1972 and professionally wildcrafting
since 1997. Some of his specialties are agroforestry, permaculture,
ecosystem restoration and ethnobotany. He currently farms in Chimacum and the Methow Valley.

Join Zoom Meeting via computer or other “smart” device:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81427443488?pwd=cWGPoWsJSEEb0aAP5YYYMHOn2TnAXQ.1

Meeting ID: 814 2744 3488

Passcode: 709113

Join Zoom Meeting via One tap mobile:

+12532050468,,81427443488#,,,,*709113# US

+12532158782,,81427443488#,,,,*709113# US (Tacoma)

Join Zoom Meeting via the humble phone:

Dial by your location

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Same Meeting ID & Passcode as above.

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdZeQz8D3W

Even if you don’t grow orchard blocks of cider apples, you may be able to glean juicy advice from Claire’s talk on strategies for wisely watering your backyard dessert apple trees.

Zoom connect info:

Join Zoom Meeting via computer or other “smart” deivce:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83554223958?pwd=nDOnpHppyhgaKY0t729AxoqULPebPz.1

Meeting ID: 835 5422 3958

Passcode: 319884

Join Zoom Meeting via One tap mobile:

+12532050468,,83554223958#,,,,*319884# US

+12532158782,,83554223958#,,,,*319884# US (Tacoma)

Join Zoom Meeting via the humble phone:

Dial by your location

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Same Meeting ID & Passcode as above.

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keDBwvkMPx

Presentation Synopsis (written by Claire Yost)

My presentation will be on my research thesis titled: Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) conserves water but has limited impact on cider apple fruit and juice quality. RDI is an irrigation management strategy in which the tree is intentional kept in a water deficit, meaning tree water needs (evapotranspiration) exceed water inputs (irrigation and rain). RDI is widely used in wine grapes to conserve water, limit vegetative growth, and improve fruit and juice quality attributes. These positive changes can decrease economic inputs through reducing irrigation and pruning costs. Additionally, fruit and juice attributes such as tannins are increased, leading to a higher value crop. To our knowledge, RDI has not been done in cider apples yet and our research sought to see if cider apples would respond similarly to wine grapes to RDI treatments in Washington state across four cultivars. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of monitoring methods for RDI, which can be used in various irrigation management strategies. These strategies included weather based models, soil moisture and plant water status monitoring.

Here is the complete abstract if you wanted a longer synopsis. (written by Claire Yost) The United States has experienced a resurgence in cider apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) production, with Washington State as the leading apple producer. However, the cider industry is experiencing several challenges, including orchards struggling to meet the demand for cider-specific cultivars, new orchards sometimes having insecure access to irrigation water or only access to high-cost municipal water, and cidermakers trying to differentiate their product in an increasingly crowded market. This project evaluated whether regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) could (1) conserve water while maintaining yield, and (2) increase fruit and juice quality to help producers differentiate their products. The first study evaluated the effects of RDI on tree physiology, fruit yield and quality, and net returns in a partial budget analysis, while the second focused on RDI impacts on juice quality. Trees of four cultivars (Dabinett, Golden Russet, Nehou, and Porter’s Perfection) were managed with either RDI or control irrigation treatments at two distinct locations: Mount Vernon and Wenatchee, WA. In Mount Vernon, no water stress (ψstem) was detected in the trees managed with RDI, though apple weight and fruit phosphorous decreased by 3.9% and 12.5%, respectively, while fruit firmness increased by 1.2% for fruit from trees managed with RDI. In Wenatchee, a decrease in ψstem in trees managed with RDI led to reductions in fruit size (diameter and weight) in both cultivars, bloom density in ‘Golden Russet’, and leaf nutrients (N, P, K, Cu) in ‘Nehou’, as well as increased firmness for both cultivars. Fruit weight decreased by 15.5% and 33.1% for apples from ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Nehou’ trees managed with RDI, respectively, though there was no corresponding decrease in yield, at least not one that was statistically detectable (P = 0.724 and P = 0.297, for ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Nehou’, respectively). Irrigation was reduced by 100% in Mount Vernon and in Wenatchee, 40% and 27%, for ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Nehou’, respectively. These water reductions resulted in a net gain of $347 per hectare with RDI if irrigation was scheduled using a publicly available online tool based on a calculated water balance. However, if irrigation was scheduled based on ψstem for RDI but with the online tool for business-as usual irrigation, the extra labor associated with measuring ψstem resulted in a net loss of $295 per hectare if RDI was implemented. The second study found no changes in juice quality for fruit from trees managed with RDI in Mount Vernon, but in Wenatchee, there was an increase in specific gravity and soluble sugars. However, implementing RDI did not increase total tannins or total phenolics in the juice at either location, nor did it result in meaningful differences in the phenolic profiles of the juice.

SCFS/STFS Growing Figs in PNW talk by Ingela Wanerstrand THIS Mon. (Sep 16th) 7 PM to 9 PM. In-person/zoom hybrid. Free to all.

Zoom connect link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81937049309?pwd=GafqJWTYV0KV0VWELzUa0OM8gSTd87.1

Questions? Please email SnohomishCFS@gmail.com.

For in-person attendees: Everett Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201, USA (map)

Growing Figs in the PNW with Ingela Wanerstrand covers the selection, care, pest control, and propagation of fig trees for a bountiful yield in the PNW.

Ingela’s fig talk will also be recorded and available via the SCFS YouTube channel several days after the program.

Sat Aug 10th 10AM to noon – Free in-person only summer pruning workshop focused on mature plum trees as well as full-grown free-standing apple/pear trees at Magnuson Park demo orchard adjacent to The Brig building.

Long-time STFS member and Edmonds College instructor Ingela Wanerstrand will lead workshop. Ingela led the dormant pruning workshop this past February which was bursting with helpful advice. This Saturday’s participants can practice pruning skills on demo orchard fruit trees with guidance from experienced horticulturalists.

All (STFS members, WCFS members and members of the public) are welcomed to attend.

In addition to pruning, participants can also help gather and dispose of prunings, weed beds, spread wood chips and help connect more drip lines to the existing irrigation system.

Saturday’s attendees are responsible for deciding their own level of masking, socially distancing and other respiratory-spread disease precautions. Onsite, there probably will be no access to interior spaces. Dress and be prepared for the weather. Bathroom facilities may be limited to outside portable toilets near the P-Patch.

Please bring: 1) Face coverings and other items that you need to help minimize possible spread of COVID-19. 2) Apparel and PPE appropriate for forecasted weather and gardening activities. 3) Pruners, loppers, and saws for fruit tree pruning. 4) Your own snacks and liquid refreshments. You can decide whether to share or not.

Also, bring your underutilized plant/tool/book/other fruit-growing resources to trade/barter/sell with other attendees. Bring what’s good for someone else and look for what’s good for you.