Fruits tree fruit general

Tree FruitsTree Fruits

[email protected]@garden.org

Delicious harvestDelicious harvest

Beauty in several Beauty in several seasons – seasons –

attractive attractive flowers, form, flowers, form, fruitsfruits

Growing surprisingly Growing surprisingly easyeasy

CHOOSING A SITE CHOOSING A SITE

Very well drained soilVery well drained soil

Full sun Full sun

Some protection from Some protection from strong windsstrong winds

Slight slope for drainageSlight slope for drainage

Fertile soil with no competition from weeds, power Fertile soil with no competition from weeds, power lines, rocks, other treeslines, rocks, other trees

PlantingPlanting

Bare root - prune broken Bare root - prune broken rootsroots

Potted - remove from pot, Potted - remove from pot, clip circling rootsclip circling roots

Dig hole two to three times Dig hole two to three times width of roots or soil ballwidth of roots or soil ball

Gently slope sides of holeGently slope sides of hole

PlantingPlanting

Plant tree at same depth as in Plant tree at same depth as in nursery or containernursery or container

Place graft at least six inches Place graft at least six inches above soil to allow for above soil to allow for settlingsettling

Place root ball on slight Place root ball on slight pedestal of undisturbed soil, pedestal of undisturbed soil, up to 1/3 above grade if soil up to 1/3 above grade if soil is wetis wet

PlantingPlanting

Backfill hole with same soil that was Backfill hole with same soil that was removed removed

Don’t amend soilDon’t amend soil

PlantingPlanting

Build 3-4" high soil dike around root Build 3-4" high soil dike around root ball to retain waterball to retain water

Mulch with 3-5" of organic mulch, Mulch with 3-5" of organic mulch, keeping it at least 2" from trunkkeeping it at least 2" from trunk

Water wellWater well

Tree paintTree paint

Paint trunk up to second Paint trunk up to second branch or bud with branch or bud with white latex paint, white latex paint, diluted 50-50 with diluted 50-50 with waterwater

Prevents sunscald Prevents sunscald By the time the paint By the time the paint

flakes off, bark strong flakes off, bark strong enough to withstand enough to withstand full strength of sunfull strength of sun

WateringWatering

Water is key to stimulating new roots Water is key to stimulating new roots to replace those lost when dug to replace those lost when dug

After planting, water well to get rid of After planting, water well to get rid of air pockets air pockets

WateringWateringIf rain not plentiful, must provide irrigationIf rain not plentiful, must provide irrigation

inch of water every week to ten daysinch of water every week to ten days

rain gauge rain gauge

Don’t overwater - tender roots easily drownDon’t overwater - tender roots easily drown

Long, deep, infrequent watering encourages Long, deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper rootingdeeper rooting

FertilizingFertilizing

Don’t fertilize newly planted treeDon’t fertilize newly planted tree

In subsequent years, in early spring give In subsequent years, in early spring give tree 1/4 to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year tree 1/4 to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year of age (to a maximum of ten pounds)of age (to a maximum of ten pounds)

If prune heavily in dormant season, this acts If prune heavily in dormant season, this acts as stimulus, so don’t fertilize that year.as stimulus, so don’t fertilize that year.

MulchMulch3-4 inches organic mulch 3-4 inches organic mulch

protects plant rootsprotects plant rootsprevents evaporationprevents evaporationmoderates soil temperaturesmoderates soil temperatureskeeps weeds downkeeps weeds down

Organic mulch feeds treeOrganic mulch feeds tree

compost, rotted sawdust, pine needles, oak leaves, compost, rotted sawdust, pine needles, oak leaves, clean straw, shredded barkclean straw, shredded bark

MulchMulch

Pull mulch back two feet from trunk Pull mulch back two feet from trunk before winter to keep rodents from before winter to keep rodents from damaging tender barkdamaging tender bark

Pests and diseasesPests and diseases

Good cultural practices will keep plants healthy and Good cultural practices will keep plants healthy and reduce stressreduce stress

regular watering and fertilizingregular watering and fertilizingremove all fallen fruits and leavesremove all fallen fruits and leavesremove weeds that may harbor pests in fall remove weeds that may harbor pests in fall Prune to improve air circulationPrune to improve air circulationremove insects by hand or strong spray of waterremove insects by hand or strong spray of waterremove diseased branches or leaves and dispose of remove diseased branches or leaves and dispose of

themthemuse barriers and trapsuse barriers and traps

Pests and diseasesPests and diseases

Disease-resistant plantsDisease-resistant plants

Encourage predatorsEncourage predators One of best defenses in orchard – One of best defenses in orchard –

dormant oil spray before or just as buds dormant oil spray before or just as buds swellswell

Controls many different insectsControls many different insectsEvidence that it helps control some fungal diseasesEvidence that it helps control some fungal diseases

Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection

AdaptationAdaptationCold hardinessCold hardinessHeat toleranceHeat toleranceFrost toleranceFrost toleranceDays to fruit maturityDays to fruit maturityDate of bloom (frost avoidance)Date of bloom (frost avoidance)Disease, insect resistanceDisease, insect resistance

Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection

Match cultivar to siteMatch cultivar to site

Adaptation to soil typeAdaptation to soil type

Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection

Intended UseIntended UseHome useHome use

Pick-Your-Own salesPick-Your-Own sales

Retail salesRetail sales

Wholesale sales Wholesale sales

(processing)(processing)