fruit in the community garden:...

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Fruit in the Community Garden: Introduction

Patrick Byers Regional Horticulture Specialist University of Missouri Extension

Springfield, MO

Outline

• Why choose fruit for the community garden?

• Choosing a type of fruit

• Choosing among fruit cultivars

• Site considerations

• General care of fruit plants

Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?

• Interest in quality

• Highest quality

• Variety

Fruit May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Apple

Apricot

Cherry

Mulberry Pawpaw Persimmon Peach

Fruit tree harvest dates

Fruit May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Blackberry

Blueberry

Gooseberry

Elderberry Grape - Table

Grape - Wine

Flori Raspberry

Primo Raspberry

JB Strawberry

DN Strawberry

Berry harvest dates

• Highest quality

• Variety

• Money savings

• Highest quality

• Variety

• Money savings

• Healthful qualities of fruit – Vitamins and minerals

– Fiber

– Antioxidants

– Anticancer properties

– Ellagic acid

• Highest quality

• Variety

• Money savings

• Healthful qualities of fruit

• Good for the soul!

Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden

• Perennial plants – Long term commitment

– Successful plantings are planned!

– Fruits are often planted in a common area in the garden – who will tend the plants?

– Consider placement in the garden • Structures may be needed for grape, bramble,

espaliered trees

• Shading issues from trees

• Pest control concerns

Grand Acres Community Garden

New Haven, CT

(source: http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/grand_acres_entry-26272)

• Opportunities in the community garden

– Focus for festivals, garden gatherings, work parties

– Focus for learning experiences

– Community outreach opportunities

– Fruit plants can become part of the permanent fabric of a community garden

• Useful life of fruit plants in KS/MO – Apple, pear, mulberry, pawpaw, persimmon –

20-30 years

– Grape – 20-30 years

– Peach, plum, cherry – 15-20 years

– Blueberry – 15 years

– Blackberry, raspberry – 7-10 years

– June bearing strawberry – 3-5 years

– Day neutral strawberry – 1 year

• Hardiness issues

– Hardiest fruits – apple, pear, blueberry, pawpaw, persimmon, mulberry

– -15 to -20°F: damage to blackberry and raspberry, most stone fruit flower buds, most grapes

– -10 to -15°F: damage to most peach flower buds

– -5 to -10°F: damage to less hardy grapes

– 0 to -5°F: damage to unprotected strawberry plants

• Pest issues

– Serious pest issues – peach, plum, apricot, grape

– Moderate pest issues – apple, pear, tart cherry, raspberry

– Pest tolerant – blackberry, blueberry, persimmon, pawpaw, strawberry

Choosing a Type of Fruit

• Great topic for a garden discussion!

– Is there a place for fruit?

– Which fruits are of interest?

– What is the waiting period?

– Is the fruit difficult to grow?

– How often will there be a harvest?

– What about spraying?

Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar

• Adapted to the climate

– Winter cold

– Summer heat

– Frosts and freezes

• Attractive features

• Disease and insect resistance

• Harvest season

• Use of the crop

Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit

• Full sun

• Close to water source

– fruit plants need 1.5-2 inches of water/week

– Make it easy to water fruit plants

– soaker hose or trickle works good

– mulches are great

• Full sun

• Adequate space among plants

– avoid pockets of stagnant air

– Provide adequate spacing between fruit plants

– fewer disease problems

• Limited space

– Dwarf fruit trees and small statured plants

– Espaliered fruit

Source: http://www.examiner.comarticlegrow- fruit-trees-narrow-spaces

Source: httpwfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.comimages homesarticlesultra5rhf46ghfjctdxd9jg1s-41419.jpg http://www.logees.com/

• Full sun

• Good air movement

• Soil – well drained

– slightly acid, moderately fertile

– organic matter is important – work towards 5% OM

Site Modification

• Provisions for soil drainage – berms, raised beds

Containers and Raised Beds

• The growing media must be well drained, and high in organic matter

• Suggested mix:

– 33%: 1/4" bark compost

– 33%: peat moss

– 33%: good quality topsoil

Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden

• Planting – purchase good nursery stock

– plant in spring or fall

– handle properly upon arrival

– plant properly

– care of the young plants

• Planting fruit trees • Dig a hole 2x the

spread of the roots

• Plant with graft union 2” above the soil line

• Spread roots, backfill, firm soil Source: http://www.dorsetdesignbuild.co.uk/author/suzie/

• Planting berries and grapes

– Plant at the same depth as in the nursery

– Dig an adequate hole, and spread the roots

• Planting strawberries

– Dormant crowns

• Spread roots, and plant with soil half way up the crown

– Plug plants

• Plant as a bedding plant

• Pruning – pruning is an important

annual job • shaping plants • strong framework • correct problems

– use the proper tools – when to prune

• dormant – late February • growing season

Training and Pruning Equipment

• Pruner

• Lopper

• Saw

• Disinfectant

Pruning Tree Fruits

• Central leader

– Apple

– Pear

– Apricot

– European plum

– Cherry

• Open center

– Peach

– Japanese plum

• Managing pests – IPM for diseases, insects, animals – learn the potential problems

– Use “resistant” cultivars

– Purchase healthy planting stock

– Healthy plants are able to ward off pests

– Dispose of crop residue (leftovers)

– Destroy wild fruit plants that harbor pests

– Use limited chemicals if necessary

• Fertilizing – know the needs of your plants

• Weeds – Remove perennial weeds before planting – mistake to

plant fruit plants in grassy areas

– Don’t delay! Remove weeds when they are less than 1” tall and remove roots, too!

– Mulching is useful – weed barrier, straw, leaves, black polyethylene plastic, grass clippings, wood chips

– Chemicals (herbicides) - READ directions! BE careful!

• Irrigation • Drip or trickle

systems work well • Trees – gator bags,

buckets with holes • 1.5 to 2 inches of

water per week is usual

• Combine with mulch or weed barrier fabric for easy maintenance

Source: http://www.nelsonirrigation.com/products/application/apples

Source: http://robertkouriksgardenroots.blogspot.com/ 2010/06/on-right-road-to-drip-irrigation.html

Resources

• Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide - http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fruitpathology/Bulletins/Home%20Fruit_B591_All%20S.pdf

• Kansas State University Extension Publications • Guides on many aspects of fruit production – http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/Category.aspx?id=528&catId=534&P

– University of Missouri Extension Guides – Guides on many aspects of fruit production – http://extension.missouri.edu/main/DisplayCategory.aspx?C=63

– MO State Fruit Experiment Station (MSU) – Guides on blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, general fruit – http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/Publications/index.htm#CommercialFrui

– Cornell Berry and Small Fruit Nursery Listing - http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/nurseries/nurseries.html

Conclusion

• Any questions?

Contact information: Patrick Byers 417-881-8909 byerspl@missouri.edu

fruit in the community garden:...

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