Backyard Fruit Production Joel A. Reich Horticulture Agent CSU Extension- Boulder
Fruit Groups Pome fruits- Apple, pear, quince Stone fruits (Drupes)- Peach, plum, apricot, cherry Cane berries- raspberries, blackberries, hybrids Vine fruits- Grapes, kiwis Shrub/bush fruits- Blueberries, currants, gooseberries
Tree Fruits
Planning an orchard Do a soil test at least one year prior and correct problems prior to plant Select certified (true to name, virus-free, and pathogen-free stock) Ideally, use one-year old stock Use dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock
Cultural practices Site location: Full Sun On a slope Late spring frosts are biggest problem with backyard tree fruit production on the Front Range Rigid frame?
Cultural practices continued Soils well drained, loam is best Light Full sun for at least 8 hours per day Terrain gently rolling to allow air moderation and circulation Fact Sheet # 7.003, 2.926 & 2.932
Wildlife considerations Rabbits Birds Deer Bears Trunk protection Fencing Netting
Pruning Objectives Develop desired tree shape Maintenance Ease of spraying Improved fruit quality Improved strength and induce branching Improved air circulation
Training and pruning systems Open Vase System Modified Central Leader Espalier Trellis Remember to remove weak and crossing wood. Shown is Modified Central Leader
20 Year old Standard Apple Open Vase System
Modified Central Leader Whip on arrival Yr. 1 & Yr. 2
Watch branch collar Fact Sheet 7.003
Flowering and thinning (7.002) Only need 7% of the available flowers to produce fruit Natural fruit drop first drop occurs 2 to 3 weeks after pollination; June drop Thinning agents cultivar specific; follow label instructions (bees & Sevin)
Propagation Terminology Cloning Mound layering Basket of Fruit Trench layering Grafting (Whip or T-bud)
Fruit Tree Nutrition P, K important in Fall (1:5:4) N important in Spring (5:1:1)
Tree Fruit Spurs
Apples Malus pumila or M. domestica Many uses including dessert, fresh and cooking Standard trees vs dwarf cultivars Usually a need for second cultivar
Apple cultivars (all are cloned) Acceptable: Gala Johnagold McIntosh Johnathan Winesap Rome Beauty Johnny Crisp Avoid: Yellow Delicious Delicious Granny Smith Mutsu Fuji And other cultivars with longer DTH
Apple pollination Fact sheet # 7.002
Coddling Moth Number 1 pest for backyard growers Proper thinning and pruning Pheromone trapping - 2 to 3 generations per year Utilize control measures as necessary never apply pesticides during bloom
Aphids Use dormant oils before leaf out, why? Utilized water spray to dislodge insects Utilize soap when appropriate Wooly apple aphid more difficult to control due to waxy honeydew Review Fact Sheets 5.547 & 5.569 do not use any systemic on edible products
Aphids Winged or wingless See Fact Sheet 5.511
Pears Pyrus communis European Pear P. serotina or P. pyrifolia Asian Pear Often bloom prior to apples 23 species of pears many long-lived in the environment
Pear cultivars Acceptable European: Bartlett Bosc d Anjou Acceptable Asian: Kieffer LeConte Garber Avoid: Hardy Comice Magness* Seckel* *Sterile needs pollinizer
Pear pollinators
Special needs for pears Use open vase, modified central leader or espalier Fruit is borne on previous years growth and spurs that are 2+ years old
Quince Cydonia oblonigata (Chinese quince) or Chaenomeles speciosa (Common Quince) Used as dwarfing rootstock for pears Maybe used in backyard production
Quince continued Common in Europe Graft incompatibility problems and other problems like apple and pear Use cutivars that are fireblight resistant Use as a landscape ornamental
Peaches and Apricots Relative hardiness Chilling requirement Intolerant of heavy soils and high ph Chlorosis Gumosis and Cystospora canker
Cherries Prunus cerasus Tart cherry Self-fruitful Use healthy one-year old whip, approx. 4 to 6 ft. tall, ½ caliper with good root system
Cherries continued Sweet cherries have similar hardiness problems as peaches Larimer County was #2 in USA in tart cherry production prior to 1951 Use open vase, modified central leader or central leader
Cherry cultivars (tart) Northstar Montmorency Meteor See Fact Sheet 7.002
Cultural care of cherries Self-fruitful Frost damage (may need protection) Avoid compaction and use mulch around cherries Watch for nitrogen deficiency
Biotic disorders of Cherries Powdery Mildew Cytospora / Gumosis often accompanies crown borer
Other diseases of Cherries Phytopthera Verticillium Wilt All usually accompany wounding and/or associated with wet soils.
Insects Peach crown borer Peach twig borer Aphid see previous notes Scales Dormant Oils prior to leaf-out Pear slug Use charcoal ash to dust the foliage Peach Twig Borer
Plums Prunus domestica European Plum P. salincina Oriental or Japanese Plum P. americana American or native plum
European / Oriental Cultivars Acceptable: Imperatrice (E) Green Gage (O) Yellow Egg (E) Lombard (E) Stanley (E) Avoid: Burbank Ozark Premier Explorer
Plums
Cultural care of plums Flowering characteristics thinning Prune in open vase (Oriental) or modified central leader (European) Fruits on spurs and previous years growth
Cultural care of plums Place in sheltered area within the landscape May require additional Nitrogen Clean and remove plant material, inc. fruit
Plum pollinators
Small Fruits
Strawberry Culture Fragaria x ananassa Cultivars are classed as June-bearing, everbearing, day neutral Have photoperiod response
Cultural Requirements Site selection: require at least 8 hours of sunlight and protection from wind Do not plant after solanaceous crops or raspberries Proper planting depth, mulch and rotation
Cultural Requirement: Irrigation: trickle or overhead Frost protection Row covers; weeds Harvest and post-harvest considerations
Junebearing cultivars Acceptable Honeoye Guardian Kent Gem Carskill Geneva Avoid Dunlap Fairfax Robinson Red Star
Everbearing Cultivars Acceptable Quinalt Ogallala* Ft. Laramie Avoid Ozark Beauty Rockhill
Day Neutrals Tribute Tristar Fern
Biotic Disorders Numerous Lygus (plant) bug is # 1 Aphids Slugs & Millipedes Diseases Follow good cultural control: remove debris, use certified pathogen-free stock & scout
Lygus bug Control weeds, alfalfa and legumes Utilize insecticidal soap avoid treating during bloom Use sweep nets Vacuum
Strawberry Nutrition N promotes excess growth and runners P and K are critical for good fruit set Fall fert. Is key to bud devel.
Planting Systems Matted row Hill system
Raspberry Culture Rubus ideaus or Red Raspberry R. occidentalis (Black Raspberry) R. neglectus (Purple Raspberry) Rubus odoratus Many other subspecies
Cultural Requirements Full sun Well-drained soil Support Proper pruning
Pruning and Training systems Floricane fruiting vs. Primocane fruiting Think of each cane as a biennial plant Any kind of trellis is better than laissez-faire heap
Red raspberry cultivars Acceptable Heritage Honey Queen September Red Fall Red Red Wing Fall Gold Pathfinder Trailblazer Avoid Latham Boyne
Ribes spp. Currants Gooseberries Jostaberries Woody perennial shrubs 3 to 6 Most are self-fruitful
Gooseberrries Thorny! Delicious! Self-fruitful Avoid growing white pine nearby
Gooseberry cultivars Acceptable Poorman Hinnomaki Yellow Welcome Hinnomaki Red Invicta Early Sulfur Red Jacket* Avoid Pixwell Downing Colossal Jostaberries Josta
Currants Red currants Red Lake Wilder Cherry Perfection Jhankeer Van Tets White Grape White Imperial Black currants Boskoop Giant Ben Nevis Brodtrop Consort Crusader Crandall*
Black Currant All Ribes do best in fertile, loamy soil with good drainage. Optimal ph of 6.2 to 6.5 is desired Plant on northern facing slopes & plant 1 to 2 LOWER than previously grown.
Red Currant
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry High in Vit.C; used in jellies & pies Plant 5 to 7 ft. on center pruning out wood after third year Landscape value for wildlife
Elderberry Tolerate most soil types and most drainage conditions Be careful tilling near roots!!! Partially self-fruitful
Elderberry Cultivars: Adams #1 Adams #2 Johns New York 21 Nova Scotia York
Grapes Vitis spp. Common problems include: Poor drainage Poor quality vine purchase Planting too late in the season Poor use of irrigation Inadequate control of weeds and diseases
Site preparation Remove all trees, stumps, rocks, wire, etc. Deep tillage maybe needed Soil test & space appropriately
Cultivars to consider Himrod Interlaken Lakemont Concord Niagara Stueben Golden Muscat Vanessa Reliance Canadice
Pruning Grapes
Pruning established grape vines
Grapes after pruning
Discuss Blackberries and Blueberries
Make Sure to have FUN!