Home Fruit Gardening 101

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Giles Benson
6 years ago
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1 Home Fruit Gardening 101 Charlotte Glen, Horticulture Agent Pender County Cooperative Extension

2 We will discuss: Fruits that can realistically be grown in SE NC Some are more challenging than others Which can be grown organically Basics Things you need to know before attempting to grow fruit Specifics For different fruit types

3 What Are the Possibilities? Tree Fruit Figs (E)* Asian Persimmon (E/M)* Pears & Asian Pears (M)* Plums (M) Apples (M/D) Peaches (D) Nectarines (D) Grapes and Berries Blueberries (E)* Blackberries (E)* Muscadines (E/M)* Strawberries (M) E = Easy, M = Moderate, D = Difficult * = Best choices for organic production

4 What Will Not Work? Apricots Cherries Grapes - except muscadine Citrus - except in containers Mandarin (Satsuma & Tangerines) and Kumquats are hardiest but still need winter protection here Bananas Would have to protect stem through winter to get fruit

5 Worth a try?? Raspberries - will be short lived Kiwifruit often experience cold damage Vigorous vines, need male and female Pomegranate set few fruit in SE

6 Site Selection To do well all fruit bearing plants need: Good Drainage!!! Full Sun!!! Correct ph Blueberries acid Strawberries Others

potential area To 8 deep, take multiple samples, mix together Test at least 4-6 months

7 Soil Testing FREE service from NC Dept. of Agriculture Boxes and forms available from any Extension Office Take samples from potential area To 8 deep, take multiple samples, mix together Test at least 4-6 months before planting Add dolomitic lime to raise ph Add wettable sulphur to lower ph Drop of at any Extension Office, results posted online in 2-8 weeks

Varieties and Chilling Hours Chilling Hours

appropriately Choosing varieties adapted to

8 Varieties and Chilling Hours Chilling Hours Number of hours of chilling (between F) needed to develop flower buds and leaf buds SE Coastal NC: hours Choose varieties appropriately Choosing varieties adapted to our area one of the most important factors for success!

9 Varieties For many fruits, plant more than one named variety to extend harvest season Blueberries, blackberries, muscadines, peaches Early, mid, and late season bearing varieties available

10 Pollination Fruits are pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators Many pollinators, especially honeybees, are very susceptible to most insecticides Never apply insecticides when fruit trees are in full bloom

11 Pollination Need Cross Pollination* Apples and Pears Plums Muscadines Blueberries Self Fruitful Peaches and Nectarines Strawberries Blackberries Figs Asian Persimmon * Some varieties may be self fruitful though higher yields result from cross pollination

12 Nutrients and Water Soil Test Before Planting!!! Incorporate lime, phosphorous, potassium Test each year to monitor levels Add nitrogen according to crop needs Follow recommendations for amount and timing specific to each crop Regular watering essential for high yield, ~ 1 per week during growing season

Training and Pruning Essential for health and productivity Training = establishment of initial framework during first 3-5 years Pruning = annual pruning to

13 Training and Pruning Essential for health and productivity Training = establishment of initial framework during first 3-5 years Pruning = annual pruning to maintain shape Pruning needs vary with species Strawberries = none! Figs, blueberries, blackberries = little Pears, plums = moderate Apples, peaches, muscadines = A lot!

14 Support Structures Some fruits need support structures: Muscadines Blackberries Kiwifruit Construct adequate structure before planting

Pest Control Choose disease resistant varieties whenever available Provide optimum growing conditions Water and nutrients, soil ph Correct site selection

15 Pest Control Choose disease resistant varieties whenever available Provide optimum growing conditions Water and nutrients, soil ph Correct site selection (sun, good drainage) also want good air circulation Control Weeds harbor insects, compete for water and nutrients Mulch Herbicides or hand weed Apple-Cedar Rust

16 Pest Control Prune for good light and air penetration Sanitation!!! Collect and destroy diseases leaves, stems, fruit Always remove mummies Keep ripe fruit picked

Pest Control Pesticide applications essential for most crops for reliable production Pests includes birds and mammals Research what pests to expect and when and how to

17 Pest Control Pesticide applications essential for most crops for reliable production Pests includes birds and mammals Research what pests to expect and when and how to treat Most feasible for organic growing: Figs Blueberries (if correct soil) Muscadine Grapes Blackberries Pears (fire blight resistant varieties) Persimmon Plum Curculio

Pest Control Spray schedules usually necessary for apples, peaches/nectarines, and plums Timing based on development stage Most begin at petal fall (or earlier) and continue

18 Pest Control Spray schedules usually necessary for apples, peaches/nectarines, and plums Timing based on development stage Most begin at petal fall (or earlier) and continue every few weeks to harvest Follow all label directions when applying any pesticide (organic or synthetic) Codling Moth larvae Adult moths lay eggs in small developing fruits

19 Pest Control Pesticides available to homeowners to manage fruit pests (*=organic) Insects: Malathion, Permethrin, Esfenvalerate, Spinosid*, Horticultural Oil*, Carbaryl (Sevin), Neem*, Pyrethrin* Diseases: Captan, Myclobutanil (Immunox), Copper*, Sulfur*, Mancozeb, Thiophanate methyl, Daconil, Bacillus subtillis (Serenade)*, Kaolin Clay (Surround)* Individual products vary greatly in their effectiveness to control different problems

OSU Home Fruit Tree Pest Management Guide for the Hood River Area APPLE

OSU Home Fruit Tree Pest Management Guide for the Hood River Area APPLE 1-2 horticultural mineral oil and mites, scale, leafroller (delayed dormant) or lime sulfur* 3-4 scab, or lime sulfur* (prepink)