Big Dog - first year

[sandbur]

Really this is more the norm but sometimes in transplanting it shocks the trees into a fruiting state. Next year it wouldn’t surprise me if my Big Dogs don’t bloom and are back to a vegetative growth state again for a couple years.

Big Dog tends to have a heavy crop every other year. Mebbe if I pruned it heavily, it would be more consistent.

This year I took off some lower branches so I could run the riding mower under it. I usually just take off water sprouts that I can easily reach.


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[sandbur]

Big Dog tends to have a heavy crop every other year. Mebbe if I pruned it heavily, it would be more consistent.

This year I took off some lower branches so I could run the riding mower under it. I usually just take off water sprouts that I can easily reach.


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No apples under the old Big Dog, but this doe still likes to hang around.


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[sandbur]

It will be interesting to see what drop time is in your climate. I suspect it will be earlier than for me.

The last week in October and first part of November is typical for me. However, last year we had a severe drought and it started dropping earlier.


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The apples on this Big Dog are currently about 3/4 inch in size. I suspect a late drop. This location is slow to wake up in the spring. It is a top work of Big Dog on the wild swamp crab.


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[bwoods11]

I’m planting a Big Dog in Iowa, next week …

What’s everyone experience so far ?

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I've yet to have a Big Dog drop fruit yet, but they are solid growers here in SE MN. I grafted another one a week ago that will grow in a pot for a year before it finds its final home.

 

[TWalter91]

I've yet to have a Big Dog drop fruit yet, but they are solid growers here in SE MN. I grafted another one a week ago that will grow in a pot for a year before it finds its final home.

What size pot do you put them in? I have a few that I need to pot soon. Trying to decide on 2 gallon or 3 gallon.

 

[Native Hunter]

I’m planting a Big Dog in Iowa, next week …

What’s everyone experience so far ?

My experience is positive. I don't see any disease, and one of mine had about a dozen nice apples last year. I have two of them, and it looks like both have set fruit this year. The one that didn't fruit last year is in a frost pocket. It's still too early to get a good feel for the drop time, but my drop times in general for all fruit are a month to six weeks earlier than Blue Hill's Chart. That makes sense when you consider how much further south I am.

 

[Native Hunter]

I’m planting a Big Dog in Iowa, next week …

What’s everyone experience so far ?

Post 24 in the following thread shows my tree that fruited last year early in the season. The apples turned dark red toward the end of the season.

Post in thread 'Little Pup thinks it's already a Big Dog'

Jun 7, 2024

I think Big Dog likes living in KY for sure. Very, very clean and fruiting nicely for a young tree.

• Native Hunter

• 

 

[bigboreblr]

I believe sandur discovered this variety. Can;t say much myself, only 1 year in NY zone 5 with some cedars in the area. Disease wise looks good.

 

[b116757]

I’m pretty sure I have a Big Dog and maybe a Yellow Dog out on one of the farms if I get out there this weekend I’ll check on mine. I’d like to fertilize a little anyway. Mine would only be their third year in the ground at my place.

 

[bigboreblr]

Midwest deer trees sells big dog. Take a look at the description. Anything sandur has recommended or found is going to be a sure winner. Buckamn and courthouse are two other good ones to get too.

My man contenders at zone 3 camp are 30-06, crossbow, adirondack crab, buckman, courthouse, turning point, violi's and winter wildlife. A bit of nova ezgro, mn1734, and a couple of kerr's. Got dolgo seedlngs, antonovka seedlings, and a trailman for some early drop apples. I use mostly anty, a few dolgo, and trying siberian and B118 this year. Good thing about anty or dolgo, the graft fails, you got a ecent early to mid season apple.

 

[bwoods11]

Yeah Art is pretty knowledgeable on Apples !!

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

What size pot do you put them in? I have a few that I need to pot soon. Trying to decide on 2 gallon or 3 gallon.

I prefer 3 gallon pots, but I'll use a 2 gallon pot if that's all I have available. The smaller pots seem to dry out a little faster, so you just need to keep a closer eye on them during the summer.

 

[Teeder]

My experience is positive. I don't see any disease, and one of mine had about a dozen nice apples last year. I have two of them, and it looks like both have set fruit this year. The one that didn't fruit last year is in a frost pocket. It's still too early to get a good feel for the drop time, but my drop times in general for all fruit are a month to six weeks earlier than Blue Hill's Chart. That makes sense when you consider how much further south I am.

Wow, set fruit already! The buds are just getting close to popping here!

 

[bigboreblr]

You spread your branches out hunter? That dog camp jump high.

 

[Native Hunter]

You spread your branches out hunter? That dog camp jump high.

Sometimes I do

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Yeah Art is pretty knowledgeable on Apples !!

Art is the source for Buckman, Big Dog and Yellow Dog. He sent some scion wood to Ryan at Blue Hill to graft. Now Ryan has those trees for sale. I have some seedlings Art sent me the seeds for a few years back. They're doing well and seem to all be different. No fruit yet though.

We have several Buckman crabs growing at camp.

Good looking tree, Native. I hope our Big Dog seedlings do as well as your pic!