With proper care, traditional orchards of heritage varieties offer multiple benefits.
Traditional orchards of heritage varieties require no treatment. Particularly hardy and vigorous, these varieties are tolerant to a wide spectrum of diseases. They coexist with them without compromising the tree’s longevity and production.
In Belgium, the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W) has, for 30 years, carried out a remarkable local fruit heritage conservation program of ours. This program now allows a network of nursery growers to offer a range of apple, pear, plum, and cherry varieties. With real success, as supply struggles to keep up with demand. Taste a “Reinette étoilée”, a “Gueule de Mouton”, a “Président Roulin” and we assure you, you will quickly forget the more common Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Golden!
The Traditional Orchard: A Productive Ecosystem
Planting an orchard adds another layer to the pasture. Grass production is minimally impacted, especially in the context of increasingly frequent dry spells. This allows for the continued presence of livestock, which benefits from the shade of the trees. The shade improves animal welfare, leading to better production. And the quality benefits the consumer! Just talk? No, it’s Science. Several studies confirm this.
A traditional orchard is a haven for biodiversity. It offers a valuable habitat structure for many bird species: nuthatches, tits, woodpeckers, owls, and other birds of prey. The fruits, which are never 100% harvested, benefit many of them, while older trees offer numerous nesting opportunities. In young orchards, it is possible to add nest boxes to attract breeding pairs early on. This is precisely what Vincent does on his farm!
The orchard ecosystem hosts a great diversity of insects at different levels: grass, bark, fruits. Pollinators play a crucial role: without them, no fruit!
You can appreciate the countless benefits of the traditional orchard for biodiversity by watching the documentary “The Orchard, Carousel of Life”.
The tree stores carbon in the wood and root system, and leaf fall helps increase the organic matter content in pastured soils, while returning deeply absorbed nutrients to it.
Orchards: A Value Chain
And then, there is the great diversity of products that come from the orchard. From fruit to juices, ciders, brandies, as well as compotes, jams. For several years, we have witnessed the emergence of meaningful economic projects that highlight the fruits of untreated traditional orchards: a future article to follow in the Mag!
Establishing and managing an orchard requires expertise and patience!
A traditional orchard project must be carefully considered well in advance, to ensure the suitability between varieties and the climatic zone, and the soil type. Flowering periods must coincide, as most varieties require cross-pollination. The value creation plan is also very important: will a more or less extended fruiting period be favored? What type of products will be primarily considered? Table fruits, processed fruits, compotes, jams, juices, ciders, brandies, etc.? What will be the required shelf life for the fruit?
Before planting, it will have taken an average of 5 years to produce a quality tree. This is where the full expertise of the grafting artisan and nursery grower is expressed!
Particular attention must be paid to the type of tree protection: root cage to protect the tree in case of a high presence of voles, and above-ground protections adapted for livestock, or even game, that frequent the orchard. These protections are one of the main cost items of the investment.
A traditional orchard should be grazed, rather than mowed. Indeed, this management method helps limit competition between grass and trees for water and nutrients. Furthermore, the regular trampling by animals will limit the proliferation of vole tunnels, which are fond of fruit tree roots.
Then comes the regular pruning, for training and maintenance of the trees.
Each year, the maintenance time is ultimately very limited, but absolutely essential.
It is thanks to all these efforts that the first significant harvests will occur 6 to 8 years after planting! With proper care, the fruit tree can exceed a century of production.
Between the start of the tree’s grafting cycle and its first fruit production, 11 to 13 years will therefore pass! Managing an orchard is, above all, living to the rhythm of the trees.
In Wallonia, there is an association specializing in traditional orchards and the valorization of their fruits: Diversifruits. Their website is a goldmine of information!
Traditional orchard planting projects are supported by PlantC.
