Why Grow Fruit or Berries in Your Backyard? Beautiful bloom in spring & fruit at harvest Grow unique varieties Tree-ripened fruit Perennial crop that requires annual care Backyard Fruit Trees and Small Fruits Master Gardener Training February 19, 2012 Gardening is a rewarding, relaxing hobby!
Which Can Be Grown in Your Area? Biggest constraint- Climate Average minimal winter O F-Bud or limb dieback 6b 6a 5a 5b USDA Zones based on Mean min. winter O F Apple & tart cherry will tolerate o F as low as -30 o F Pear, plum, may tolerate as low as (-15 to -20 o F Apricot min o F = -10 to -15 (Zone 6 = no) Peach & Nectarine do not survive -5 to -8 o F (zones < 7 = no)
Another Climatic Consideration Season length Springtime frosts Fall freezes
Overcoming Climatic Limitations Species/ Variety Selection Avoid frost pockets, low spots in yard Allow for good air drainage. Take advantage of Microclimates Use Season Extension
Espalier Trellising of Fruit Trees High Tunnel Tree Fruit Production at O Brien Plantation, Nikiski, AK
Fruit Tree Irrigation Trees need a good root soaking every 7-15 days. Remember tree root zone is 12-24 inches deep More frequent watering's Transplants, young trees Summer months Unfortunately, over- & underwatered trees show similar wilt symptoms.
Fruit Tree Selection Nursery fruit trees are not self-rooted but are two plants grafted together Top portion = Scion Fruiting plant Bottom portion = Rootstock Root & collar plant Soil disease resistance Soil moisture tolerance.
Fruit Tree Selection By far, most important function of fruit rootstocks dwarfing 25 ft 8-10 ft Apples: Anatonovka, Ranetka Pears: Old Home x Farmdale 333 Cherries: Mazzard Plums: various Prunus
Fruit Variety Selection Considerations: Fruit & flavor preferences Fruit maturity timing (harvest time) Apples- Lodi, Yellow Transparent, Gravenstein, Pears- Harrow Delight, Ure, Golden Spice, Summercrisp Sour Cherry- Montmorency, Northstar Italian Plum
Fruit Tree Pollination Some are self-fruitful sour cherry & plum varieties Most are self unfruitful Apple, pear,
Fruit Tree Pollination Solutions to self unfruitful varieties Plant two compatible varieties Graft multiple varieties on one tree Get your neighbor to plant a compatible variety
Fruit Tree Training & Pruning Maximize light interception & penetration Remove dead, diseased & damaged wood Limb angles. Red= pruned out branches/limbs
Fruit Tree Training & Pruning Young trees require little pruning Mature trees require moderate pruning every year Prune during dormant season; avoid pruning when canopy is wet Increase light and air penetration.
Fruit Tree Training & Pruning Fruit on spurs Apple, pear, plum Fruit on shoots on 1 st yr wood Fruit on spurs & shoots Apple, pear, Fruit Thinning Most fruit trees set too much fruit Thin flowers Thin fruit Apples- Thin within 40 days after petal fall Thinning will improve fruit size and quality.
Cultural Control Weed Management Critical for young non-bearing trees Poor air circulation & increased disease infections Weeds host other pests. Baby your non-bearing tree! Mature trees can fend for themselves.
Disease Control- Site Selection Site selection critical to reducing plant diseases Avoid frost pockets, low spots in yard Allow for good air drainage Plant disease resistant species.
Managing Tree Fruit Aphids Rosy Apple Aphid Green Apple Aphid In most years, you can tolerate aphids on a mature, healthy fruit tree.
Tactics of IPM: Biological Control Why can we tolerate apple aphids in most seasons? Because beneficial insects will move in and control them for you!
Key Management Tactic: Horticultural Oil Sprays Problem last year with aphids? Dormant to delayed dormant Targets egg stage Mind weather forecast & do not spray when freezing temperatures are predicted.
Other Fruit and Berry Crops for SC AK Haskap/Honeyberry/Siberian Honeysuckle Strawberry Raspberries Dwarf Sour Cherry Currants/Gooseberry Saskatoon Choke Cherry Seabuckthorn
UAF CES Publications Catalog www.uaf.edu/ces/pubs/catalog/
Resources Pioneer Fruit Growers http://apfga.org/
University of Saskatchewan Dr. Bob Bors, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, www.fruit.usask.ca