Techniques in producing tree fruits and small fruits. Utah Agricultural Education Plant Science I.

Techniques in producing tree fruits and small fruits.

Utah Agricultural EducationPlant Science I

Which fruit to grow

Climate Property Size Expected Maintenance

Sizes of fruit trees

Dwarf Semi-dwarf Standard

Important Considerations

Climate Chilling requirements summer heat, winter cold hardiness

Size Tree and property

Soil type and drainage Most critical for stone fruits

Light availability Dwarf trees near standard trees

Important Considerations

Maintenance time required Apples need most spraying

Slope and cold-air drainage

Temperature change from Brigham City to Mantua in Sardine Canyon on a typical fall or spring day. As the elevation increases, note the constant decrease in air temperature. Also notice the large dip in temperature and decrease in elevation at Mantua. Mantua is a low valley within the canyon and cold air accumulates there.

Landscape Uses

Fruit and nut trees can be used as ornamental landscape trees Nut trees are usually very large, so may

work well as shade trees Dwarf fruit trees used as screen trees,

or patio plants Espalier of some fruit trees

Selecting Trees

North vs. South varieties Maturity Period Disease resistance

Also related to rootstock What you want to use the tree for Pollination requirements

Apples and pears need pollinator Most apricot, peach, sour cherry are self

fruitful

Tree sizes and rootstocks

Fruit trees are grafted on rootstocks Rootstock adds beneficial qualities such as

insect or disease resistance, cold hardiness, soil tolerance, and growth control

Fruits are categorized by mature tree size Standard, semi-dwarf, dwarf Is a function of the rootstock

Dwarfing has several advantages Easier to harvest, spray, bear sooner, more

trees Nut trees are grown as standards

Rootstocks for apples:

M9 - 1/4 size tree M26 - 1/3 size tree M7 - 1/2 size tree M106 - 2/3 size tree

Planting Fruit Trees

Same planting techniques as any other woods plant – can be bare-root or in containers

1. Hole 2-3x as wide as rootball, same depth2. Do not crowd roots at planting3. Backfill hole with soil you took out4. Water-in thoroughly5. Keep graft above ground

1. Keep scion from rooting

6. Stake upright if necessary

Training Forms

Central Leader Most sweet cherries, some apples and

pears Modified Central leader

Apples, sour cherry, pear, plum

Training Forms

Vase or Open-center Peach and related

Espalier Training in a 2-Dimensional plane Apples and Pears Fruit production in very small space

Espalier

Thinning

Removal of a portion of fruits on a tree while they are still small Most fruit trees produce more fruit than

can fully mature Will be undersized and poorly colored

without Can also help prevent bearing in

alternate years Remove when ½” to ¾” in size

Pest Control

Chemicals will be required to keep most fruit pests under control

Very limited selection of organic pesticides

Wormy fruit is unacceptable Leaf diseases and sucking insects such as

aphids and mites can reduce carbohydrates moving into fruit, making fruit smaller

Apples are most intensive for spray needs

Failure to Bear

Sometimes trees don’t bear good fruit Age – under 3-4 years does not bear well Pollination problems

Lack of pollinator, rain on blossoms, diseased blossoms

Winter chilling not met Low light levels

Plants are crowded Other structures or plants give excessive shade

Frost on blossoms