Stone Fruit in Upcountry Maui

Stone Fruit Management outline
Stone fruits have potential for moderate production in Kula; however, several adjustments must be made to the orchard including fertilization and irrigation. It is challenging to give every tree exactly what they need because there are so many varieties on one main irrigation line. These recommendations are a generalization for all stone fruit varieties. All day sun is ideal, so thinning of the wattle forest should be priority. This leads to irrigation and mulching. Irrigation should be every seven to ten days, with increased duration prior to fruit set. Wood chips from the surrounding forest will go to good use as mulch. Weeds should be cleared 4-6 feet around trees and replaced with mulch; furthermore enhancing water retention and weed prevention. Fertilizer (10-10-10) should be applied early spring around march 1st . Pruning should be completed in the fall, with the use of specific techniques. Implementation of this plan will be labor intensive and ongoing; however, an increase of production is possible.
· Photosynthesis is the main requirement for growth and fruit production. Stone Fruits want full day sun. Thinning wattle trees from the top and bottom sides of the orchard will increase sun exposure.
· Irrigation is the second step in the process. Weeds that compete for water supply should be removed 4-6 feet from trees, and the area should be recovered with a thick mulch (woodchips) to increase water retention. Watering should be done every seven to ten days. Additional shut off valves should be installed at the beginning of each row. Certain varieties (Apples) will require water year round.
· All trees require fertile soil for maximum growth and fruit set. We should attempt to maintain a PH range 5.5-7 PH, with greater performance on the lower end of the range. Apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring, or apply a thick layer of compost early spring and fall. Fertilizer should be applied to the drip line of the trees while using caution to keep the area around the trunk clear.
· Pruning and Thinning are directly related to fruit production. Pruning should be done in the fall after final harvest. Shaping a strong tree is important, and can be accomplished by training scaffold branches. Remove all crossing branches or new vertical growth within the canopy as well as any shoots less than twelve inches long. This will increase sunlight and air flow. Topping is an important technique; consequently, keeping fruit within reach and increasing sugars. Use caution when removing old growth. Many varieties only fruit from growth more than one year old. Thinning should be done after flowering and before pit hardening. The idea is to limit the number of fruit that the tree will produce. This will promote larger healthier fruit. Thin clusters to no more than four fruits, for varieties that fruit on new growth make sure that there is only one cluster per shoot.
Increasing orchard production will be a great success for O’O farm; however, it will be costly in the form of labor. Trees are a long-term investment, if we take the right steps now, O’O will have a healthy productive orchard for years to come. Increasing direct sun will be a major project, but the reward is increased fresh fruit production. After that we can focus on our three main priorities: Irrigation, Fertilization, and Pruning. With coffee set to be a main crop at O’O, it is crucial to understand the needs of a healthy orchard!