Sleeping Eyes Research

Establishing a new orchard requires land preparation, trees, nutrient and water management, and pest control. Historically, tree planting densities were as low about 100 trees per acre. However, with the advent and use of size controlling rootstocks, planting densities are now quite high requiring as many as 2500 trees per acre. Fruit growers are obviously concerned about the added expenses this means to establish a modern orchard.

NNII is helping fund a study to look at lower costs methods for creating trees for orchard plantings. One possible alternative to planting finished trees from a nursery is to plant “sleeping eye” trees. A sleeping eye tree is grown one less year at the nursery. The rootstock is budded with the preferred variety in the fall. Before winter, the rootstock with its dormant bud is harvested, kept under optimal storage conditions, and then provided the next spring to the grower for establishment in the orchard. The grower is then responsible for training of the tree resulting from growth of the bud, a step that is usually conducted at the nursery. This results in a lower outlay by the grower at this point in orchard establishment.

In research conducted at WSU-Prosser and supported by NNII, Dr. Matt Whiting and his graduate student are comparing the growth and productivity of “sleeping eye” and nursery finished trees in and orchard setting. Results of this work will be forthcoming in the next couple of years.