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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- farm:peaches [2026/04/17 14:17] – created nathan
+++ farm:peaches [2026/04/30 15:51] (current) – 192.168.1.99
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== 🍑 Peach Orchard Layout – Detailed Planting Plan (Starter Block) ======
+====== 🌳 Secondary Orchard Layout – Detailed Planting Plan (Starter Block) ======
+----
 ===== 🎯 Goal =====
-  * Continuous harvest (early → mid → late season)
+  * Provide **flexibility for diverse crops**
-  * Simple layout (no pollination complexity like apples)
+  * Support **summer income + crop variety**
-  * Clean, scalable orchard block
+  * Serve as a **testing ground for new crops**
-  * Strong summer income crop
+  * Maintain a clean, organized orchard look
+  * Complement (not follow) the Core Orchard
 ----
-====== 🧠 Key Difference from Apples ======
+===== 🧠 Secondary Orchard Strategy (IMPORTANT) =====
-👉 Peaches are **self-fertile**
+==== What This Is ====
-  * No need for cross-pollination
+👉 A **parallel orchard system**, not a later phase
-  * Layout is about **harvest timing**, not pairing
+  * Runs alongside Core Orchard
+  * Can be planted at the same time
+  * Expands independently
 ----
-====== 🌳 Varieties (NC-Proven) ======
+==== What Makes It Different ====
-===== Early Season (late May – June) =====
+Core Orchard:
-  * Candor
+  * Apples, pears, plums
-  * Derby
+  * Highly structured
+  * Long-term backbone
 ----
-===== Mid Season (June – July) =====
+Secondary Orchard:
-  * Contender
+  * More flexible crop mix
-  * Redhaven
+  * “One-off” and test crops
+  * Faster return crops
+  * Still clean and intentional
 ----
-===== Late Season (July – August) =====
+👉 Think:
-  * Elberta
+  * Core Orchard = **system**
-  * Cresthaven
+  * Secondary Orchard = **controlled flexibility**
 ----
-👉 This gives you **6–8 weeks of harvest instead of 1–2**
+===== 🌳 Orchard Composition (Balanced but Flexible) =====
+==== Peaches (Primary Anchor – ~50–60%) ====
+  * Main summer income crop
+  * Structured planting
 ----
-====== 🌞 Harvest Flow Strategy ======
+==== Supporting Crops (Flexible Mix) ====
-^ Stage ^ Variety Type ^ Purpose ^
+  * Blueberries (grouped rows)
-| Early | Candor / Derby | Kick off season |
+  * Elderberries (edges or rows)
-| Mid | Contender / Redhaven | Main production |
+  * Fig (test + warm zone placement)
-| Late | Elberta / Cresthaven | Extend income |
+  * Future options:
+    * Additional stone fruit
+    * Experimental varieties
 ----
-====== 📐 Orchard Layout (4 × 5 Grid – 20 Trees) ======
+👉 Key Rule:\\ ✔️ Crops are grouped, not scattered\\ ✔️ Layout stays clean and repeatable
-===== Row 1 (North side – EARLY) =====
+----
-<code ->
+===== 🌞 Harvest Strategy =====
-Candor      Derby       Candor      Derby       Candor
-</code>
+^ Stage ^ Crop ^ Purpose ^
+| Early | Early peaches | Start fruit season |
+| Mid | Main peaches + blueberries | Core production |
+| Late | Late peaches + figs | Extend income |
+| Late+ | Elderberry | Value-added |
 ----
-===== Row 2 (EARLY → MID transition) =====
+👉 This orchard fills the gap between:
-<code ->
+  * Spring (flowers)
-Derby       Contender   Redhaven    Contender   Derby
+  * Fall (core orchard)
-</code>
 ----
-===== Row 3 (MID season – CORE production) =====
+===== 🌳 Peach Variety Strategy (Structured Core) =====
-<code ->
+==== Early Season ====
-Contender   Redhaven    Contender   Redhaven    Contender
-</code>
+  * Candor
+  * Derby
 ----
-===== Row 4 (South side – LATE) =====
+==== Mid Season ====
-<code ->
+  * Contender
-Elberta     Cresthaven  Elberta     Cresthaven  Elberta
+  * Redhaven
-</code>
 ----
-====== 🧠 Why This Layout Works ======
+==== Late Season ====
-===== 1. Harvest flows front to back =====
+  * Elberta
+  * Cresthaven
-👉 You move through the orchard as the season progresses
+----
+👉 Keeps peach production predictable and scalable
 ----
-===== 2. Labor stays manageable =====
+===== 📐 Layout (4 × 5 Block – Clean but Flexible) =====
-  * Not everything ripening at once
+==== Row 1 (North – EARLY + BERRIES) ====
-  * Easier picking + selling
+Candor Derby Blueberry Blueberry Candor
 ----
-===== 3. Mid-season is strongest =====
+==== Row 2 (EARLY → MID) ====
-👉 More trees where yield is best
+Derby Contender Redhaven Contender Derby
 ----
-===== 4. Simple system =====
+==== Row 3 (MID – CORE) ====
-👉 No pollination planning needed
+Contender Redhaven Contender Redhaven Contender
 ----
-====== 📏 Spacing ======
+==== Row 4 (SOUTH – LATE + TEST CROPS) ====
-  * Trees: **12–15 ft apart**
-  * Rows: **15–18 ft apart**
-👉 Same equipment and layout as apples
+Elberta Cresthaven Fig Elderberry Elberta
 ----
-====== 🌱 Ground Setup ======
+===== 🧠 Why This Layout Works =====
-===== Around trees: =====
+==== 1. Structure + Flexibility ====
-  * Mulch ring (3–4 ft)
+  * Peaches provide backbone
-  * Keep trunk clear
+  * Other crops fit cleanly on edges
 ----
-===== Between rows: =====
+==== 2. Clean Look Maintained ====
-👉 Fescue (recommended)
+  * No random planting
+  * Rows still make sense visually
-Optional:\\ 👉 Clover mix (nitrogen + rabbit feed)
+----
+==== 3. Easy to Manage ====
+  * Similar crops grouped
+  * Harvest flows logically
 ----
-====== ✂️ Training & Pruning ======
+==== 4. Expandable System ====
+  * Block can be repeated
+  * Or adjusted slightly per block
+----
-===== Shape: =====
+===== 📏 Spacing =====
-👉 **Open Center (Vase Shape)**
+  * Trees: 12–15 ft
+  * Rows: 15–18 ft
 ----
-===== Goals: =====
+==== Crop-Specific Notes ====
-  * Sunlight into center
+  * Blueberries: 4–6 ft spacing (grouped)
-  * Strong scaffold branches
+  * Elderberries: 6–10 ft
-  * Easy picking height
+  * Figs: 10–15 ft
 ----
-===== Annual Work: =====
+===== 🌱 Ground Setup =====
-  * Heavy pruning (more than apples)
+==== Around Plants ====
-  * Remove vertical growth
-  * Keep center open
+  * Mulch rings
+  * Keep trunks clear
 ----
-====== 💧 Irrigation ======
+==== Between Rows ====
-  * Drip line per row
+👉 Fescue grass (clean + mowable)
-  * Consistent watering during fruit set
+Optional:\\ 👉 Clover mix
 ----
-====== 🍑 Yield Expectations ======
+===== ✂️ Management =====
-===== Mature tree: =====
+==== Peaches ====
-  * 1–3 bushels per tree (varies)
+  * Open center (vase shape)
+  * Heavy yearly pruning
 ----
-===== 20 trees: =====
+==== Blueberries ====
-👉 Strong summer farm stand income
+  * Light pruning
+  * Remove old canes
 ----
-====== 🛍️ Sales Strategy ======
+==== Figs ====
-===== Phase 1: =====
+  * Minimal early pruning
-  * Fresh peaches at stand
+----
+==== Elderberries ====
+  * Aggressive cutback tolerated
 ----
-===== Phase 2: =====
+===== 💧 Irrigation =====
-  * U-pick (very popular)
+  * Drip line per row
+  * Consistent watering
+  * Extra attention for blueberries
 ----
-===== Phase 3: =====
+===== 🛍️ Sales Strategy =====
-  * Value-added:
+==== Phase 1 ====
-    * Peach jam 🍑
-    * Baked goods
+  * Fresh peaches
-    * Bundles
+  * Small fruit mix
 ----
-====== ⚠️ Challenges ======
+==== Phase 2 ====
-  * Brown rot
+  * U-pick (peaches + berries)
-  * Insects (plum curculio, etc.)
-  * Short shelf life
 ----
-====== 🧠 Key Rules ======
+==== Phase 3 ====
-✔️ Prune hard every year\\ ✔️ Keep trees low and open\\ ✔️ Harvest often (don’t let fruit sit)\\ ✔️ Stay on top of disease
+  * Value-added:
+    * Jams
+    * Mixed fruit bundles
 ----
-====== 🔥 Long-Term Vision ======
+===== ⚠️ Key Challenges =====
-  * Summer U-pick rows
+  * Brown rot (peaches)
-  * Kids picking peaches
+  * Insects
-  * Farm stand stocked daily
+  * Bird pressure (berries)
-  * Paired with flowers + veggies
+  * Water consistency
 ----
-====== 📝 Notes Section ======
+===== 🧠 Key Rules =====
-===== Best producers: =====
+✔️ Keep layout clean\\ ✔️ Group crops (don’t scatter)\\ ✔️ Maintain rows\\ ✔️ Treat as a system, not random planting\\ ✔️ Use this area to test—but test intentionally
-  *
+----
-===== Disease pressure: =====
+===== 🔁 Expansion Strategy =====
-  *
+👉 Same philosophy as Core Orchard:
-===== Harvest timing: =====
+  * Build in blocks
+  * Repeat layout style
+  * Adjust crops per block if needed
-  *
+----
-===== Changes for next planting: =====
+===== 🔥 Long-Term Vision =====
-  *
+  * Summer U-pick area
+  * Mixed fruit offerings
+  * Clean, walkable rows
+  * Flexible expansion area for new ideas
 ----
-====== 👍 Bottom Line ======
+===== 📝 Notes Section =====
-👉 Peaches are your:
+Best producers:\\ ·
-  * Faster return crop
+Test crops performance:\\ ·
-  * Summer income driver
-  * Perfect pair with flowers + veggies
-----
+Harvest timing:\\ ·
-END OF PAGE
+Changes for next block:\\ ·