2/23/2018. Fruit Trees. Choosing Varieties. Deciding on Fruit Trees. Choosing Varieties Cont d. The Backyard Orchard

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The Backyard Orchard Grant McCarty University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Fruit Trees Getting Started Deciding on Types Planting Day First Day/Year Pruning Subsequent

root stocks Very few modifications to soil needed Peaches/Plums/Cherries Depends on the season and the winter Having wind protection (buffers) can be crucial Asian Pears May do well in high tunnel

May need more than one tree and more than one variety Can be finicky Peaches/plums..hope for best. Honeycrisp may take 6-8 yrs Know how it will be used Fresh eaten? Preserved?

1 The Backyard Orchard Grant McCarty University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Fruit Trees Getting Started Deciding on Types Planting Day First Day/Year Pruning Subsequent Year Pruning/Management Pest Management- Insects/Diseases/Animals Seasonal Management 2 Deciding on Fruit Trees Apples and Pears Grow well in Northern Illinois Many different varieties with different root stocks Very few modifications to soil needed Peaches/Plums/Cherries Depends on the season and the winter Having wind protection (buffers) can be crucial Asian Pears May do well in high tunnel production/covering Choosing Varieties Know it s growth features Dwarf, semi-dwarf, standard Heirloom varieties Imperfect fruit, disease problems, finicky Know it s susceptibilities Disease problems May need more than one tree and more than one variety Can be finicky Peaches/plums..hope for best. Honeycrisp may take 6-8 yrs Know how it will be used Fresh eaten? Preserved? Choosing Varieties Cont d Start planning now Spacing on standard trees (20-25 ft), semi-dwarf trees (12-15 ft), and dwarf trees (6-8 ft) Order from a reputable nursery or greenhouse Shop around Similar varieties and rootstocks available Many may be out of stock by next spring Plan for season long harvest Those yielding in summer then fall Club Apple Variety that you pay a fee to grow 1

Choosing Apple Varieties Choosing Other Varieties Summer eating & cooking: 'Stark Earliest,' 'Viking Transparent', 'Redfree', 'Pristine' Early fall eating & cooking: 'Prima' (scab immune), 'Gala,'

'Liberty', 'Jonagold' Winter eating & cooking: 'Winesap,' 'Turley,' 'Fuji,' 'Rome', 'Enterprise', 'Braeburn', 'Mutsu', 'Cameo', 'Goldrush' Plant any two except 'Winesap' and 'Turley' (both have

' 'Maxine' and 'Starking Delicious' do not pollinate each other. 'Seckel' and 'Bartlett' will not pollinate each other. Peaches Reliance only Northern Il recommended one.

2 Choosing Apple Varieties Choosing Other Varieties Summer eating & cooking: 'Stark Earliest,' 'Viking Transparent', 'Redfree', 'Pristine' Early fall eating & cooking: 'Prima' (scab immune), 'Gala,' 'Empire,' 'Ginger Gold', 'Mollies Delicious', 'Ozark Gold', 'Sansa', 'Williams Pride' Fall eating & cooking: 'Jonathan,' 'Golden Delicious', 'Red Delicious,' 'McIntosh', 'Honeycrisp', 'Cortland', 'Liberty', 'Jonagold' Winter eating & cooking: 'Winesap,' 'Turley,' 'Fuji,' 'Rome', 'Enterprise', 'Braeburn', 'Mutsu', 'Cameo', 'Goldrush' Plant any two except 'Winesap' and 'Turley' (both have sterile pollen) for crosspollination. Pears 'Maxine' or 'Starking Delicious,' 'Seckel,' 'Harrow Delight', 'Anjou,' 'Bosc,' 'Duchess Stark,' 'Moonglow.' 'Maxine' and 'Starking Delicious' do not pollinate each other. 'Seckel' and 'Bartlett' will not pollinate each other. Peaches Reliance only Northern Il recommended one. Contender could also grow well. Tart Cherry Montmorency,' 'Meteor,' 'Suda Hardy,' 'Mesabi', 'North Star.' All are selffruitful, so cross-pollination is not needed. Disease Resistance Helps you control disease if know what is or isn t a problem Reduce your spray schedule Still treat trees as if they may get disease Scab, fireblight, and others Inherited Trees, Unknown Variety? Apple maturity (or within that window) Color of the apple Age of the tree Reaching out to Universities Local growers Contacting libraries or historical preservation groups Online resources Rootstock Pick variety then your rootstock Rootstock: different variety below ground then above ground Fruit and quality are the same no matter rootstock Graft union must be planted above soil line or else rootstock will take over Rootstock Dwarf Tree: may produce 2-3 bushels of apples per tree per season and in 3-4 years, needs support Standard: more tolerant of wetter and drier soils and can be better anchored than dwarf trees. Most common: M7, M9 (dwarf), Bud 9, and M26 EMLA 27 is good for containers, 4-6 ft 2

More than one variety? Some fruit trees need another variety in order to get their pollination requirements.

Pollinated by wind Apples, pears, sweet cherries are selfunfruitful. Pollinated by pollinators Poor pollination on current trees?

bearing by 1 year Feathered Yields one year earlier Less training required Harder to get sometimes May not always find a feathered General Soil Needs Full sunlight

(standard), 12-15 ft (semi-dwarf), and 6-8 ft (dwarf) Soak roots in water and cut any damaged roots Place tree in center of hole and fill hole with top soil Graft

3 More than one variety? Some fruit trees need another variety in order to get their pollination requirements. Different varieties blooming at the same time Peaches are self fruitful and no other variety needed. Pollinated by wind Apples, pears, sweet cherries are selfunfruitful. Pollinated by pollinators Poor pollination on current trees? Mismatched varieties, pollinator strips, bringing in bees Other decisions Whip/Bare Root Readily available and easy to find Needs more training/pruning Delayed bearing by 1 year Feathered Yields one year earlier Less training required Harder to get sometimes May not always find a feathered General Soil Needs Full sunlight Good weed control Good water and air drainage (avoid frost pockets) Fertile soil Soil ph (6-7) Windbreak Water supply nearby Planting By Hand Spacing: ft (standard), ft (semi-dwarf), and 6-8 ft (dwarf) Soak roots in water and cut any damaged roots Place tree in center of hole and fill hole with top soil Graft union must be 2-3 inches above the soil surface The higher the graft union above the soil surface, the smaller the tree will be. Day 1 Tasks Pruning coming up Mammal Control Weed free area around tree Deer Guard Soap around neck of tree (Irish Spring and others) Staking May be needed Bamboo, wood, metal, and others Provide very loose 3

Why Prune Proper growth of the tree Better yields Easier to do now then years from now Many types but mostly Central

Scaffolds should not shade Peach Fruit Bowl Shape Single trunk 18-30 high 2-5 scaffold branches close together vertically

and direct the tree growth toward three or four strong scaffolds.

4 Why Prune Proper growth of the tree Better yields Easier to do now then years from now Many types but mostly Central Leader (apple and pears) and open center (peach) Apple and Pear Central Leader (Apples and Pears) Christmas Tree Shape One main trunk (green) is 5-8 ft tall. Lowest branch is from the ground 4-7 scaffold branches (blue), 4-8 apart vertically degree crotch angles Scaffolds should not shade Peach Fruit Bowl Shape Single trunk high 2-5 scaffold branches close together vertically No branches facing southwest Crotch angles degrees Peach-Planting and Year 1 At one year, remove the central leader and direct the tree growth toward three or four strong scaffolds. Scaffold branches should be evenly distributed (compass) Maintain about 6 inches of height between the scaffold branches, lowest branch at least 18 inches from the ground. Prune back scaffold branches to onethird of their length. Source: MSU-Perry Pruning/Training on Day 1 4

5 Established Tree Very old and neglected tree? Have a plan in place 30-40% cuts each year Remove damaged wood Suckers One Big Cut a year Prune out competing leader (a big cut) Prune out competing scaffolds (a big cut) To top or not? Usually not. Established Tree Youngish tree? Still follow principles Try to find that central branch Remove competing leaders Focus on sucker removal Prune to find replacement limbs Other Pruning Basics Clean between cuts Know your central leader and open center early on Keep in mind long term focus What direction is this scaffold going to go? Remediate if damage during season Thinning Helps to increase fruit size Obtain annual production Improve fruit quality Avoid tree breakage. Thinning can be done by hand, chemical (apple), or mechanical). Sevin is common chemical thinning but has negative effects on pollinators. Seasonal Issues No crop that year? Peaches/Cherries highly susceptible to late frost Lots of fruit one year, none the next year? Biennal Fruiting occurring, need to thin better All fruits fell from tree? Environmental seasonal issue Natural fruit fall (around July)..but not all fruits should Fruit is small/misshapen? Pollinator Issue/Thinning Needs Apple Scab Disease is expected annually, only question is how severe Plant resistant varieties Remove fallen leaves Fungicides effective, but require multiple applications on a preventative basis 5

Fire Blight Plant resistant varieties When trees are dormant, remove cankered wood, pruning 6-12 below

area Disinfect pruners Avoid using high rates of nitrogen fertilizer OMRI-Copper as preventative Cedar

5 miles of the orchard will provide complete control) Fungicides can be sprayed starting at blossom

OMRI-Sulfur will suppress Peach Diseases Brown Rot Disease begins at bloom Spread during long wet

season, Scab Not always serious, still edible with removal of skin Very common first year of growth

Leaf Curl Leaves, flowers, and fruit infection Overwinters on bark and buds of peach tree Control

fallen apples Bagging Wrap apples in plastic Trappings Red sticky spheres hung by July 1 Insecticide

just before bloom Sanitation Important but adults can fly as far as a mile Pick up and remove fallen

6 Fire Blight Plant resistant varieties When trees are dormant, remove cankered wood, pruning 6-12 below last visible sign of canker During growing season, remove 6-12 of healthy tissue along the cankered area Disinfect pruners Avoid using high rates of nitrogen fertilizer OMRI-Copper as preventative Cedar Apple Rust-Symptoms Buy resistant plants Remove all galls from juniper (Removing all cedars within 4 to 5 miles of the orchard will provide complete control) Fungicides can be sprayed starting at blossom time and continuing at sevenday intervals until the cedar galls have stopped spreading spores OMRI-Sulfur will suppress Peach Diseases Brown Rot Disease begins at bloom Spread during long wet periods Control: collect and remove infected fruit during the season, remove dead mummies at end of season, Scab Not always serious, still edible with removal of skin Very common first year of growth Control: good pruning practices, air flow, some preventative fungicides available Peach Diseases Peach Leaf Curl Leaves, flowers, and fruit infection Overwinters on bark and buds of peach tree Control impossible once symptoms have shown up Chemical control: copper, chlorothalonil. Fall application after leaf drop. Apple Maggot-Life Cycle Overwinters in pupae in soil Emerges as small fly in July Management Pick up fallen apples Bagging Wrap apples in plastic Trappings Red sticky spheres hung by July 1 Insecticide Properly timed before flies lay eggs Codling Moth Life Cycle First generation adults emerge in spring, just before bloom Sanitation Important but adults can fly as far as a mile Pick up and remove fallen apples Insecticides Best timing for spray is at petal fall Mix with apple scab fungicide spray Trapping Can trap males to determine if moths are present $10-15 for traps Hang at eye level in early May Check weekly starting in mid-may 6

Plum Curculio-Life Cycle Weevil that lays eggs into apple fruit Damage shows in small crescentshaped scars Management Regular

Malathion at petal fall Peach and Cherry Insects Peach Tree Borer Larvae overwinter in whichever stage they are in As temperatures

Cherry Fruit Fly Turn flesh brown color Infestation with brown discoloration leads to inedible fruit Females pierces yellowing

Insecticides: some insecticides available Japanese Beetles Control solutions: Hand picking Early morning, soapy water Traps

Spinosyns-Organic Other Pests Birds Netting Chemical repellants Grape Kool-Aid Deterrent Sugar water Scare devices Combination Deer

trees will need spraying for good yields Includes OMRI/Conventional sprays Spray schedule should follow from dormant pruning into

spray Understanding Spray Schedules Don t want to spray?

7 Plum Curculio-Life Cycle Weevil that lays eggs into apple fruit Damage shows in small crescentshaped scars Management Regular monitoring when day/evening temps are 60 F Pick up and destroy early drops in June Pick/beat females off the trees Insecticides: Malathion at petal fall Peach and Cherry Insects Peach Tree Borer Larvae overwinter in whichever stage they are in As temperatures increase, seeks rough cracks to lay eggs in tree bark. The damage is caused by the feeding of the larvae on the growing inner bark. Cherry Fruit Fly Turn flesh brown color Infestation with brown discoloration leads to inedible fruit Females pierces yellowing cherry skin to lay eggs Control: monitor with yellow sticky card near bloom time, remove infested fruit to keep from overwintering, Insecticides: some insecticides available Japanese Beetles Control solutions: Hand picking Early morning, soapy water Traps Attracts more than are captured Chemical Control Some available but have high toxicity to bees Neem Oil, Kaolin Clay, and Spinosyns-Organic Other Pests Birds Netting Chemical repellants Grape Kool-Aid Deterrent Sugar water Scare devices Combination Deer 8 ft tall fencing Chemical repellants (hot pepper sprays, ammonium soaps) Understanding Spray Schedules Accept that most apple trees will need spraying for good yields Includes OMRI/Conventional sprays Spray schedule should follow from dormant pruning into summer Match sprays with time of tree development and insect/disease Look in spray guides to better understand when and how to spray Understanding Spray Schedules Don t want to spray? Utilize traps and lures for insect control Have in place guards/repellants for mammal control Follow good pruning practices Provide trellising support for trees Thin out fruit Clean up leaves/debris at end of season away from trees (apple scab) 7

Half Inch Green (4) Tight Cluster (5) Understanding Spray Schedules Dormant Sprays Before bud swell Green tip to half-inch green

5 inch long Pre-bloom or pink sprays Blossom buds are evident but not open Bloom 25% of blossoms are opened Petal-fall Most of blossom

test (know whether sweet or tart) Apples and Pears Picked during a certain month/week by week Color/Taste Pears: snap cleanly off the

Summer Insect/Pest Control Apply aged manure/compost Keep area weed free Summer Thin fruit Utilize traps Clean up bad fruit Fall

8 Half Inch Green (4) Tight Cluster (5) Understanding Spray Schedules Dormant Sprays Before bud swell Green tip to half-inch green sprays (4) Green leaves are inch long Pre-bloom or pink sprays Blossom buds are evident but not open Bloom 25% of blossoms are opened Petal-fall Most of blossom petals have fallen Harvest Peach No green color Should have a bit of firmness but not too much Softball like in feel Cherries Taste test (know whether sweet or tart) Apples and Pears Picked during a certain month/week by week Color/Taste Pears: snap cleanly off the branch when at 90 degree angle Seasonal Management Winter Prune with long term focus Train branches for better structure Spring and Summer Insect/Pest Control Apply aged manure/compost Keep area weed free Summer Thin fruit Utilize traps Clean up bad fruit Fall Rake/remove leaves as far away as possible (apple scab) Resources University of Minnesota Extension- Home Orchard Guide University of Illinois-Growing Apples and More Cornell-Growing Fruit at Home University of Missouri-Home Fruit Production: Apples 47 8

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