Webinar Schedule and Participant Guide
Webinar Schedule
Live instruction for 2024 has concluded. You are welcome to complete this course on a self-paced schedule and join our next live session in Winter 2025. All webinars are recorded and posted here in your online classroom to watch anytime. Building off feedback from previous course years, we supplemented this course with additional webinar content this year. Look for this in weeks 4 and 5. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely and may return to participate in future live offerings of the course as well. Please join us!
Weekly Topics
Week 1: Introduction, tree fruit botany, orchard venture analysis and business planning
Topics covered: Course overview, tree fruit botany and pollination requirements, evaluation of orchard goals, business planning
Week 2: Site evaluation, ground prep, and establishment
Topics covered: Site considerations for orchards, pre-planting site modifications
Week 3: Varieties, rootstocks, and training systems
Topics covered: Appropriate fruit cultivars and rootstocks for the region and market, review of orchard training systems
Week 4: Cultural management considerations
Topics covered: Pruning, tree training, thinning, and nutrient management
Week 5: Integrated Pest Management
Topics covered: Sustainable management of insect pests, tree diseases and weeds in the orchard
Week 6: Harvest and Marketing
Topics covered: Ripening physiology, harvest planning, cold storage, marketing your fruit