Fruit Trees for Master Gardeners;

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1 Fruit Trees for Master Gardeners; Onward to Success 2016 Elizabeth Gardner Sandoval County Master Gardener ISA Certified Arborist RM-7252A

2 Fruit Tree Growing Is Regional The Goal Today To arm you with enough insight into growing fruit in our area, that you may go forth with confidence to assist others (and spread joy throughout the county) Where Can You Get Good Info on Growing Fruit Trees Here? Extension Service Publications Look at the date and the target audience Internet: Look for entries from near-by Extension Services (i.e., southern Colorado often okay) Identify and cultivate locally trained professionals Books Are Written Elsewhere Read them with Your Filter On Diseases/Insect Incursion here might be quite different from there Recommended varieties may/may not work in NM An excellent book written in New England: The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruit and Berries the Biologic Way by Michael Phillips

Beware of Disproved Information That Just Won t Die May come from: - Print - Internet - Nurseries and other gardening outlets - Old-timers Example - Pruning paint?

3 Beware of Disproved Information That Just Won t Die May come from: - Print - Internet - Nurseries and other gardening outlets - Old-timers Example - Pruning paint? Cultural Practices for Fruit Trees are much the same as most everywhere and the same as those for Landscape Trees Let s start with the #1 Cultural Practice that s different

4 Starting with the #1 Fruit Tree Specific Problem Why Doesn t My Fruit Tree Produce Fruit? You Got It Late Frosts! Where It Is Sited on the Property Is Also a Major Influence on Bloom Time Chill hours are THE determinant of when fruit trees bloom We need > 600 chill hours I prefer > 800 A code word is late blooming East and North usually good South and West typically bad ( Hardiness zone of 6 or less is prudent ) The Number One Reason in NM?

5 In General, Plant on the North or East Side Frigid air pooling in a low spot with a barrier wall not good Sun heating and reflecting off of a west wall not good Other Possible Reasons for Crop Failure Tree pruned too heavily Tree hasn t been pruned at all for several years A major stress was put on the tree in the previous year Drought Root death Huge crop Biennial variety Where and How to Get Fruit Trees Bareroot trees from catalogs Lots of variety Easy to handle Two years old Root structure is apparent Order early to arrive in spring Containerized Trees From Local nurseries

height/diameter and container size Disease, injury, and insect free stock Good

6 What to Look for in Containerized Trees From the Nursery Circling Roots Circling Root Removed Had Already Impacted Trunk Good proportion between tree height/diameter and container size Disease, injury, and insect free stock Good crown form and branching No circling roots when you take it out of container

A Local Grower Tooley s Trees of Truchas 2015 was a banner year; most of stock sold Won t have bareroot until spring of 2017 Has very limited container stock now Should have more late summer/fall of

7 A Local Grower Tooley s Trees of Truchas 2015 was a banner year; most of stock sold Won t have bareroot until spring of 2017 Has very limited container stock now Should have more late summer/fall of 2016 Get on their list TooleysTrees.com, if interested There Are also Container-Grown Trees from Tooley s Trees Thick, healthy root mass Grown in root air-pruning grow bags Older, often in bloom Made in New Mexico Heavy (hard to handle) Gordon Loading Trees

8 Field of Trees at Tooley s Don t Leave Your Door Open at Tooley s Dot Prefers to Drive

Rootstocks Most (not all) fruit trees are grafted onto rootstock Rootstocks bred for many reasons Anchorage Disease resistance Cold hardiness etc.

9 Rootstocks Most (not all) fruit trees are grafted onto rootstock Rootstocks bred for many reasons Anchorage Disease resistance Cold hardiness etc. Rootstocks are also used to reduce tree size Standard (not grafted) trees can reach 30 ft. tall (apples) Semi-dwarf is most frequently used; cuts height by ~50-75% Dwarf can reduce height by 45% BUT not all dwarf rootstocks work in NM! Hard to Get Data on Rootstocks One Place Raintree Nursery Catalog Most Problems in Fruit Trees Arise from Plain Old Cultural Practices Which / how / where tree was planted How watered When and with what fertilized Pruning events

An Example of What Makes Arborists Crazy

10 How the Tree Is Planted is Crucial At planting: Root flare must be at or slightly above the soil line Tree at left is planted too deep What happened here? An Example of What Makes Arborists Crazy From Grow a Little Fruit Tree by Ann Ralph 30 10

Tree Planting Specs #2 No soil amendments in planting hole - really: Tree Planting Specs #3 Tree Planting Specs #4 An apricot planted 7 months prior in big trouble Mulch, mulch, mulch!

11 Tree Planting Specs #2 No soil amendments in planting hole - really: Tree Planting Specs #3 Tree Planting Specs #4 An apricot planted 7 months prior in big trouble Mulch, mulch, mulch! Organic mulch for fruit trees Keep mulch away from trunk No weed cloth of any sort Take every tag, etc. off the tree and out of the hole IF staking is needed Stake for one year only Use soft, loose ties Let the tree sway

12 How Trees Are Watered Is Crucial Quick and Approximate Watering Guidelines Dependent upon your soil, temperature, wind Fertilizer Is Not Food Seldom done well Often constrained by other plantings (lawn) or conditions Water needs to be at the dripline or beyond Needs to go deep (2-3 feet) Standing water kills trees quicker than drought Newly Planted Trees 1 st 2 wks ~ every other day next 2 wks Through hot weather (>85º) at monsoons ~ every 3 rd day ~ twice a week ~ once a week ~ mid Sept every other week at frost once a month starting April by Jun thru hot weather(>85º) at monsoons Labor day by 1 Oct at frost through winter Established Trees ~ every other week ~ every week ~ every week to 10 days ~ 10 days to 2 weeks ~ every 2 weeks once a month Fruit trees need very little fertilization Low level nitrogen only Only after you see a crop has set in spring Thin layer on top of soil at water absorbing roots Best choices compost or cottonseed + Low nitrogen + Slow release + Improves soil 34 Water deeply (> 2 ft); Water where the roots are (~ the dripline) Beware standing water!

13 Do You Need to Plant Two? It is dependent on the type/cultivar of tree Many Trees are self fruitful Some apple trees are triploid (have sterile pollen) Homeowners need to check However, bees range is five miles; they probably can get by without a pollenizer tree. Unless it s an obscure fruit or Unless they live in an isolated area ON TO THE FRUITS The Stone Fruits to Begin Some hints on each Apricots Cherries (pie and sweet) Peaches Plums Some common problems you may encounter here Apricots Bloom First and freeze frequently, regardless of what we do Selecting Size Semi-dwarf ; no known viable dwarf rootstock for apricots Pollenizer Self-fruitful Harvesting 3 nanoseconds before it drops Other Harcot holds fruit on tree. The Harrows Harglow, Harlayne, Harogem, Harcot; also Goldcot and Scout all high chill hours (late bloom)

k.a., Giessen ) 40 Both hardy (to Zone 2) and tolerant of varying conditions Reported to have small, sweet, juicy, freestone fruit (not

14 Apricot Picking The one genetic dwarf apricot Small, beautiful tree Manchurian Apricot Sweet Cherries Selecting Sweet cherries on Gisela rootstock recommended for NM (a.k.a., Giessen ) 40 Both hardy (to Zone 2) and tolerant of varying conditions Reported to have small, sweet, juicy, freestone fruit (not yet for me at 7200 ) 41 Gisela 5 produces trees ft. ( can be easily maintained at 10 ft. ) Gisela 3 produces trees 8-10 ft. ( easily maintained at 6 ft ) New, apparently Only Raintree Nursery seems to have it for retail customers 42 14

Sweet Cherries on Gisela 3 from Raintree (as well as Gisela 5) Black Gold and White Gold highly recommended for NM Self-fertile Late bloom Disease resistant Other self-fertile Gisela 3 cherries from

15 Sweet Cherries on Gisela 3 from Raintree (as well as Gisela 5) Black Gold and White Gold highly recommended for NM Self-fertile Late bloom Disease resistant Other self-fertile Gisela 3 cherries from Raintree: Lapins Stella Vandaley Sweetheart Tehranives Two combo cherries from Raintree on Gisela 5 Pie Cherry Selecting Size Pie cherry trees naturally small; (otherwise, on Gisela) Varieties North Star, Danube, Balaton, Meteor, English Morello Pollenizer Pie cherries are all self-fruitful Other Usually birds leave them alone Montmorency subject to bacterial canker in higher elevations NOT recommended Prunas emarginata

16 Peach (If dwarf, genetic dwarf only) Selecting Size Peaches naturally small; otherwise, semi-dwarf. If dwarf, only genetic dwarf Varieties See next Pollenizer Self-fruitful Pruning Delayed vase; prune yearly Peaches produce on new wood only Other No peach leaf curl in New Mexico; Peach trees last ~10 years Genetic dwarfs sometimes found locally; have lower chill hours, but easier to protect Peaches Semi-Dwarf Varieties Contender Highly recommended in NM 1050 chill hours (late bloom) Reliance Very bud hardy High chill hours ( ) Yellow Raritan Rose White peach 950 chill hours (late bloom) Was at Tooley s White Lady Another white Available at Raintree Sweet Bagel Flat and sweet Likes hot summers Available at Raintree

17 From Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower, and The Holistic Orchard: One of the rarest experiences is a tree-ripened Euro plum. Seriously. What s picked green and hard in the commercial trade is little better than a winter tomato. You get to experience plum finery only by growing these Old World varieties yourself. European Plum (Euro and Japanese plums don t mix) Selecting Size Semi-dwarf Varieties See next Pollenizer Most varieties need pollenizer; but must be 2 Europeans Harvesting Plums are tart until they are done Other Japanese plums not recommended for here (have low chill hours) European Plum Varieties Too numerous to list! (get smart via catalogs) A few self-fruitful varieties: Mount Royal (blue) Widely available Victoria (pink) Raintree Jubileum (pink/purple) - Raintree Stanley (blue) Widely available Greer Gage (yellow/green) widely available Look for freestone if hoping to can

Placitas Purple Plums Speaking of Fruit Tree Problems Be They Stone or Pomme Fruits Common Stone Fruit Problems / Treatments A stressed tree is a susceptible, vulnerable tree A lush tree is a

18 Placitas Purple Plums Speaking of Fruit Tree Problems Be They Stone or Pomme Fruits Common Stone Fruit Problems / Treatments A stressed tree is a susceptible, vulnerable tree A lush tree is a susceptible, vulnerable tree Aphids Most pronounced in peaches Can kill twigs Spray Neem or insecticidal soap Peach Tree Borers (never seen it) ONLY in 1 st 8 inches of trunk and/or in roots Pitch tubes with sawdust frass is a sign Prevent by maintaining a healthy tree No real treatment except skewering larvae in trunk and perhaps beneficial nematodes

Valley and Corrales in 2014 Globs of resin throughout tree Susceptibility varies Montmorency cherry >

19 Stone Fruit Problems II Bacterial Canker Another Look at Bacterial Canker Bacterial Canker Previously only seen in higher elevations, but it was in N. Valley and Corrales in 2014 Globs of resin throughout tree Susceptibility varies Montmorency cherry > 5500 seems very susceptible No treatment except removal SANITIZE TOOLS BETWEEN TREES This time, a result of stress from extreme drought; resin has crystallized

Stone Fruit Problems III Stone Fruit Problems - IV Stone Fruit Problems - IV Peach Twig Borers Two generations. First bores into twig tips; produces brown flags at the branch tip.

Cytospora cont d Removing canker-ridden wood recommended (dispose of properly) Sanitation at ground level around trunk. First gen snip off flagged (beige) tip ~1 below flag and dispose of immediately.

20 Stone Fruit Problems III Stone Fruit Problems - IV Stone Fruit Problems - IV Peach Twig Borers Two generations. First bores into twig tips; produces brown flags at the branch tip. Second Enter fruit, heads for the pit; causes fruit to drop Treatment Cytospora (leucostoma) Fungal disease, typically of stressed trees and trees with poor structure Attacks woody parts of trees Cytospora cont d Removing canker-ridden wood recommended (dispose of properly) Sanitation at ground level around trunk. First gen snip off flagged (beige) tip ~1 below flag and dispose of immediately. Dormant oil spray all bark PTBs over-winter in silk cocoons on bark 58 Cytospora while active Eventually collapses inner bark tissues 59 End stage what we more often see Sanitize tools I am not aware of any fungicide which treats this 60 20

ON TO THE POMMES European Pear Selecting Size Semi-dwarf, dwarf rootstocks for pears fail in NM Varieties Summer and Winter (storage) see next Pollenizer Needs other European pollenizer (few

21 ON TO THE POMMES European Pear Selecting Size Semi-dwarf, dwarf rootstocks for pears fail in NM Varieties Summer and Winter (storage) see next Pollenizer Needs other European pollenizer (few exceptions) Pruning Pears just want to be vertical; prune every year to keep height in check Harvesting When fruit stems yield to upward pressure. When the hard green just starts to turn light green Other Asian pears not recommended for here (have low chill hours) Avoid Quince rootstock (fireblight and compatibility problems) Losing the pears just want to be vertical fight A Few European Pear Varieties Fireblight resistant and low-or no-grit SUMMER PEARS Warren; no grit, 700 chill hrs. Harrow Delight; 800 chill hrs., slightly smaller than, but similar to Bartlett Ubileen; from Bulgaria. Top rated in Europe, disease resistant Blakes Pride; 800 chill hrs. Seckel; small, connoisseur s pair, self fertile, naturally semi-dwarf WINTER PEARS Summer Crisp; texture like Asian pears, sweet/crisp, keep 2 mos. Atlantic Queen; fruit up to 1.5 lbs., juicy/sweet, ripens in storage Winter Nelis; ugly but delicious, partially self-fertile, stores til late winter

22 NOW THE APPLES Any/all dwarf rootstocks just fine for apples! Selecting Size Semi-dwarf AND dwarf on any rootstock Varieties 3,076 listed in Seed Savers; choose late bloomers or > 600 chill hrs Pollenizer Yes, with a few exceptions Pruning Modified central leader Harvesting At release Other Despite being last to bloom, frost gets them from time to time. Columnar apples for small spaces, an option for some homeowners, also combo trees. 64 Besides Dwarf Apple Trees, There Are Columnar Apples, Naturally Narrow, 7-9 ft. tall can be planted 2 ft. apart. A Columnar Apple But I only find 3 varieties: North Pole TM (Mac-type) Golden Sentinel TM (yellow) Scarlet Sentinel TM (blushed with red). 65 Most Frequent Pomme Fruit Problems Fireblight Pear, reputedly in apples Coddling Moth Apple and pear, less so Bagworms - Apple and pear Southwest Freeze Injury Especially apple 2013 s cupping leaves in apple they were just trying to conserve moisture

Fireblight in Pear, Less so, Apple Sign Scorched leaves at end of branch, blackened branches Bacterial (no cure ) but spread can be stopped if caught early More prevalent in young trees Conditions

23 Fireblight in Pear, Less so, Apple Sign Scorched leaves at end of branch, blackened branches Bacterial (no cure ) but spread can be stopped if caught early More prevalent in young trees Conditions favorable to fireblight: Warm rains in spring (May) A lush pear tree (overwatered and fertilized) Treatment - Trim off 6 12 below blight Dispose immediately in a sealed plastic bag Immediately disinfect tools with isopropyl alcohol Select fireblight resistant varieties Ornamental Pear Scorched by Fireblight Coddling Moth (Apples, and, to lesser extent Pears) Two (to three) generations Spray with Spinosad (active ingredient); - 10 days after petal fall - 19 days later - 19 days after that (for 3 rd generation) Timing of spray is everything, regardless of the spray used Spinosad has a shelf life of 2 years Thin touching fruit

24 Bagworms Southwest Freeze Injury (or sunscald) Almost shaded Bags encase worm Remove and destroy bags before spring Cut silk attachment string on twig If bags were left on, spray in spring (~May/June) with: - Spinosad - Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis v. kurstaki) Repeated freeze/thaw of trunk or limbs on SW side of tree, killing bark and cambium layer Prune to shade SW side of tree In the meantime, paint SW side with ½ water, ½ white latex paint Mostly seen on apples

(sapsuckers not borers) Sunscald A Few Exotics Clients often ask about Figs and Pomegranates - Both self fertile - Both have chill hours of 150-200 - Must be grown in protected area Jujube; also

25 (sapsuckers not borers) Sunscald A Few Exotics Clients often ask about Figs and Pomegranates - Both self fertile - Both have chill hours of Must be grown in protected area Jujube; also known as Chinese Date, - Tolerates almost everything - saline soil, alkalinity, drought - No serious pests or diseases - 1-1/2 sweet, reddish-brown fruit, glossy green leaves - Usually needs a pollinizer (Lang and Li) - See Extension Publication H330, Jujube: Chinese Date in New Mexico Deficiencies Sometimes Seen in All Fruit Trees, As well as Landscape Trees Iron deficiency Intervenal yellowing Spray leaves with chelated iron for quick-fix Zinc deficiency Little leaf, frequently whorled Intervenal yellowing Spray leaves with chelated zinc for quick-fix, typically included with the chelated iron Both can be helped by vertical composting compost (NOT fertilizer) in drilled holes in root zone

Some Other Major Tree Problems, Including Fruit Mowers and weed eaters - trunk injury

oxygen; water can t penetrate Herbicides overspray and/or weed and feed Rabbits, gophers,

You Gotta Eliminate Them I use Victor Black Box Traps Gophers dig tunnels, 750 ft.

26 Some Other Major Tree Problems, Including Fruit Mowers and weed eaters - trunk injury Trenching and construction nearby cuts or buries roots Soil Compaction starves soil of oxygen; water can t penetrate Herbicides overspray and/or weed and feed Rabbits, gophers, birds Neighbors the hardest to control For Our Country Clients, GOPHERS! You Gotta Eliminate Them I use Victor Black Box Traps Gophers dig tunnels, 750 ft. long with multiple chambers and exits Poisons rarely work; gophers have lots of roots they prefer to eat. Gophers!

27 That s the Dash Through Fruit Thanks for Listening! 79 27

Backyard Tree Fruit. Chuck Hoysa Retired Extension Agent Fruit Tree Hobbiest

Backyard Tree Fruit. Chuck Hoysa Retired Extension Agent Fruit Tree Hobbiest Backyard Tree Fruit Chuck Hoysa Retired Extension Agent Fruit Tree Hobbiest Fruit Trees are easy to grow Producing useable fruit is another story! Tree Fruit Primer Purchasing trees Site Selection Types/Varieties