Home Fruit Gardening 101

Charlotte Glen,Horticulture Agent –Pender County Cooperative Extension

We will discuss:

Fruits that can realistically be grown in SE NC– Some are more challenging than others– Which can be grown organically

Basics– Things you need to know before

attempting to grow fruit

Specifics– For different fruit types

What Are the Possibilities?

Tree Fruit Figs (E)* Asian Persimmon (E/M)* Pears & Asian Pears (M)* Plums (M) Apples (M/D) Peaches (D) Nectarines (D)

Grapes and Berries Blueberries (E)* Blackberries (E)* Muscadines (E/M)* Strawberries (M)

E = Easy, M = Moderate, D = Difficult

* = Best choices for organic production

What Will Not Work?

Apricots Cherries Grapes - except muscadine Citrus - except in containers

– Mandarin (Satsuma & Tangerines) and Kumquats are hardiest but still need winter protection here

Bananas – Would have to protect stem through

winter to get fruit

Worth a try??

Raspberries - will be short lived

Kiwifruit – often experience cold damage– Vigorous vines, need

male and female

Pomegranate – set few fruit in SE

Fruit Growing Basics:Site Selection

To do well all fruit bearing plants need:

Good Drainage!!! Full Sun!!! Correct pH

– Blueberries – acid 4.5 - 5.8– Strawberries – 5.5 – 6.5– Others 6.0 – 6.5

Fruit Growing Basics:Soil Testing

FREE service from NC Dept. of Agriculture Boxes and forms available from any

Extension Office Take samples from potential area

– To 8” deep, take multiple samples, mix together

Test at least 4-6 months before planting– Add dolomitic lime to raise pH– Add wettable sulphur to lower pH

Drop of at any Extension Office, results posted online in 2-8 weeks

Fruit Growing Basics:Varieties and Chilling Hours

Chilling Hours– Number of hours of chilling (between 32

- 45 F) needed to develop flower buds and leaf buds

SE Coastal NC: 600 – 800 hours

Choose varieties appropriately– Choosing varieties adapted to our

area one of the most important factors for success!

Fruit Growing Basics:Varieties For many fruits, plant more

than one named variety to extend harvest season– Blueberries, blackberries,

muscadines, peaches– Early, mid, and late season

bearing varieties available

Fruits are pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators

Many pollinators, especially honeybees, are very susceptible to most insecticides

Never apply insecticides when fruit trees are in full bloom

Fruit Growing Basics:Pollination

Fruit Growing Basics:Pollination

Need Cross Pollination* Apples and Pears Plums Muscadines Blueberries

Self Fruitful Peaches and

Nectarines Strawberries Blackberries Figs Asian Persimmon

* Some varieties may be self fruitful though higher yields result from cross pollination

Fruit Growing Basics:Nutrients and Water Soil Test Before Planting!!!

– Incorporate lime, phosphorous, potassium

– Test each year to monitor levels– Add nitrogen according to crop needs

Follow recommendations for amount and timing specific to each crop

Regular watering essential for high yield, ~ 1” per week during growing season

Fruit Growing Basics:Training and Pruning Essential for health and productivity Training = establishment of initial

framework during first 3-5 years Pruning = annual pruning to maintain

shape Pruning needs vary with species

– Strawberries = none!– Figs, blueberries, blackberries = little– Pears, plums = moderate– Apples, peaches,

muscadines = A lot!

Fruit Growing Basics:Support Structures Some fruits need support structures:

– Muscadines– Blackberries– Kiwifruit

Construct adequate structure before planting

Fruit Growing Basics:Pest Control

Choose disease resistant varieties whenever available

Provide optimum growing conditions –Water and nutrients, soil pH

Correct site selection (sun, good drainage) –also want good air circulation

Control Weeds – harbor insects, compete for water and nutrients– Mulch– Herbicides or hand weed

Apple-Cedar Rust

Fruit Growing Basics:Pest Control Prune for good light and air penetration Sanitation!!!

– Collect and destroy diseases leaves, stems, fruit– Always remove ‘mummies’– Keep ripe fruit picked

Fruit Growing Basics:Pest Control

Pesticide applications essential for most crops for reliable production

Pests includes birds and mammals Research what pests to expect and

when and how to treat Most feasible for organic growing:

– Figs– Blueberries (if correct soil)– Muscadine Grapes– Blackberries– Pears (fire blight resistant varieties)– Persimmon

Plum Curculio

Fruit Growing Basics:Pest Control

Spray schedules usually necessary for apples, peaches/nectarines, and plums

Timing based on development stage– Most begin at petal fall (or earlier)

and continue every few weeks to harvest

Follow all label directions when applying any pesticide (organic or synthetic)

Codling Moth larvae – Adult moths lay eggs in small developing fruits

Fruit Growing Basics:Pest Control Pesticides available to homeowners to

manage fruit pests (*=organic)– Insects: Malathion, Permethrin, Esfenvalerate,

Spinosid*, Horticultural Oil*, Carbaryl (Sevin), Neem*, Pyrethrin*

– Diseases: Captan, Myclobutanil (Immunox), Copper*, Sulfur*, Mancozeb, Thiophanatemethyl, Daconil, Bacillus subtillis (Serenade)*, Kaolin Clay (Surround)*

Individual products vary greatly in their effectiveness to control different problems