Organic Fruit Production and Viticulture [Paperback]

. I knew from the moment I first opened the book and found the IFOAM principles of Organic Agriculture on page 1 that this was going to be an interesting read.

The front cover states that the book is written by Stella Cubison in association with Garden Organic. The introduction explains how Stella has written the fruit pages, with Roy Cook of Sedlescombe Vineyard writing on viticulture and with the usual suspects from HDRA (sorry, `Garden Organic') all contributing within their individual areas of expertise of fertility management, weed control, pest and disease management and market opportunities. It goes on to say that the book is aimed at small-scale organic producers wishing to expand their fruit enterprise but that it will also be of use to the larger commercial operation as well as to the allotment holder. My comment has to be that it is the most up-to-date technical guide on producing fruit organically that I have ever come across. Usually fruit production just gets a mention towards the back of a more general publication.

The initial section of the book presents the organic principles and conversion requirements before going on to outline soil fertility, crop nutrition, weed control, habitat management and protected cropping. A chapter is devoted to each of these important aspects of growing organically and by the time you are a quarter of the way through the book you still have no idea of the name of the best strawberry variety for your garden. But you do know how to choose your site and how to keep it fertile and weed-free, and will have gained a good understanding of the surrounding habitat necessary to optimise the use of natural predators.

The following six chapters go on to divide fruit production into pome, stone, cane, bush and vine fruit with our UK favourite, strawberries, getting a chapter to themselves. Each chapter goes into fascinating detail of more specific information on sites, soils, crop types, varieties, planting material options, general care, harvesting tips and pest and disease control. Stella emphasises the cultural and management approaches to pest and disease control, as well as outlining the organically acceptable products that are available.

Stella writes with all the confidence I would expect from someone who has studied their subject to degree level and who has thoroughly researched her topic using all of the resources available, including those provided by one of our last remaining horticultural research stations, East Malling in Kent. The varietal information is up-to-date and reveals that, as is usual with most aspects of organic production, those varieties grown en masse for the multiple market tend to be those less suited to organic production. Rootstock choice has always been a mystery to me and again on this subject I feel Stella has outlined the choices both clearly and concisely, as well as giving potted histories on how the commercial world has developed over the past ten years or so. Pruning has also been a problem area to me and again the clear and concise way she describes the techniques available makes learning this skill all the more painless. Pruning for tree shape, winter and summer pruning and fruit thinning are all explained for each fruit type.
The book finishes with a chapter on the commercial fruit market and ideas for marketing your crop. Here Stella is clear in her advice - don't grow anything without first doing your market research. Wise words in what is a high investment sector of horticulture where the product can be highly perishable and requires high levels of labour to pick and pack. If you are thinking of growing fruit or vines of any kind, either for your own consumption or for a wider market, then this book should be on your book shelf.

I would totally agree with the comments of the last reviewer, having bought the book after reading his account. The book is clearly written by someone who has actually grown the plants mentioned rather than just being a theorist. I am considering planting up 3 acres so am not obviously not even a smallholder or commercial grower but found the advice & instructions clear,sensible & comprehensive, & relevant for my scale of planting.- with 28 years of gardening/allotment experience I have read some nonsense before.

Thoroughly recommended