Philadelphia Orchard Project

We're holding TWO Open Orchards this month! Wed 7/8 from 6-7:30 and Sat 7/18 from 10-1. Come out and explore the POP Learning Orchard at the beautiful and historic Woodlands Cemetery in West Philly. A guided tour of the orchard, nursery, and high tunnels will be offered. Check the event page for more details.

This is a free event but donations to support POP’s ongoing programs are appreciated.

ALSO — we still have a few volunteer spots open for Tues 7/14 (9:30-12) at the POP Learning Orchard at the Woodlands, as well as Wed 7/15 (11-1:00) at St. Raymonds House in Germantown. Sign up on our website!

🔗 Check our EVENTS link in bio for details.

Late May Orchard Updates!

1. It’s fruit thinning season! May and June are the time to pluck off some of your young fruitlets to ensure a quality harvest and selectively remove pest and disease impacts. This is a before photo of densely packed apricots.
2. Apricots after thinning to 3-5” apart. Plums are also 3-5” and peaches typically 6-8”.
3. Apples, European and Asian pears are typically thinned to 5” apart.
4. Leave the biggest, healthiest fruitlets and remove ones impacted by pest and disease, like the plum curculio damage shown here.
5. Fire blight is already showing up on pears and apples! Prune out this aggressive bacterial disease to at least 12” below any signs. And don’t forgot to disinfect your tools!
6. Harvest season is also kicking off with these ripening Goumi berries!
7. You might also start to see some ripe Juneberries as soon as next week!
8. Guess who decided to finally sprout after the heat this week? Maypop vines!