Chapter 9 Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts 1. If you have only a small yard, how can fruit and nut trees be included in the landscape to save room? 1. Substitute nut trees for deciduous shade trees . Because nut trees are large, they work well as substitutes for shade trees. 2. Use dwarf trees as a screen . Tree or more dwarf trees planted close together (about 6 to 8 feet) eventually will work to form a screen. Staggering the plants in tow rows will create the screen effect faster without crowding the trees. 3. Use dwarf fruit trees as a patio tree. Fruit trees are very ornamental. 4. Espalier fruit trees. The flat training method can fit several dwarf fruit trees into the smallest yard. 2. What are some of the qualities you should look for when selecting a fruit tree cultivar? Many acceptable answers for this one including pest & disease resistance, size, chill requirements, compatibility, etc Soil drainage : Water must drain away rapidly to allow air to penetrate to the roots. Stone fruits (single hard pit such as cherry, plum, peach, and nectarine) are the most susceptible to poor drainage. Amount of sunlight: Fruit trees should have as much sun as possible to bear ripen fruits. 6 hours of direct sun per day is a minimum. Land slope and exposure: The upper part of the slope is ideal because it partially protects against frost injury. Unless it is unavoidable, tree crops should not be planted in a low spot or at the bottom of the slope. Flat land is preferable to those areas. South facing slopes warm earlier in the spring, and trees will start growth sooner. Consequently, a north facing slope is suggested in climate areas with spring frost problems, but southern slopes are best in areas that are completely or nearly frost-free. Winter hardiness: Required fruit maturity period. A cultivar should be chosen that will mature and ripen within the limitations of the frost-free growing season. Cultivars of fruits bred for cold climates ripen more quickly than those bred for warm climates where the summer is longer. Fruits
Transcript
Chapter 9Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts
1. If you have only a small yard, how can fruit and nut trees be included in the landscape to save room?
1. Substitute nut trees for deciduous shade trees. Because nut trees are large, they work well as substitutes for shade trees.
2. Use dwarf trees as a screen. Tree or more dwarf trees planted close together (about 6 to 8 feet) eventually will work to form a screen. Staggering the plants in tow rows will create the screen effect faster without crowding the trees.
3. Use dwarf fruit trees as a patio tree. Fruit trees are very ornamental. 4. Espalier fruit trees. The flat training method can fit several dwarf fruit
trees into the smallest yard.
2. What are some of the qualities you should look for when selecting a fruit tree cultivar?Many acceptable answers for this one including pest & disease resistance, size, chill requirements, compatibility, etcSoil drainage: Water must drain away rapidly to allow air to penetrate to the roots. Stone fruits (single hard pit such as cherry, plum, peach, and nectarine) are the most susceptible to poor drainage. Amount of sunlight: Fruit trees should have as much sun as possible to bear ripen fruits. 6 hours of direct sun per day is a minimum. Land slope and exposure: The upper part of the slope is ideal because it partially protects against frost injury. Unless it is unavoidable, tree crops should not be planted in a low spot or at the bottom of the slope. Flat land is preferable to those areas. South facing slopes warm earlier in the spring, and trees will start growth sooner. Consequently, a north facing slope is suggested in climate areas with spring frost problems, but southern slopes are best in areas that are completely or nearly frost-free.
Winter hardiness: Required fruit maturity period. A cultivar should be chosen that will mature and ripen within the limitations of the frost-free growing season. Cultivars of fruits bred for cold climates ripen more quickly than those bred for warm climates where the summer is longer. Fruits advertised as maturing extremely early in the season will often be inferior in quality to later maturing cultivars. Disease resistance: It will eliminate the labor of spraying against fungus and bacteria diseases.Fruit use: Any fruit bred for processing can be eaten fresh, but its quality may be poorer. Fruit appearance: size, coloring, and shape. But appearance should not be allowed to our-weight the important factors of hardiness, disease resistance, maturity period, and yield.Pollination requirements: Many fruits and nuts require cross pollination with another cultivar, or with nuts, a tree of the opposite sex to bear a crop.
3. What is likely to happen if a fruit tree is planted so that the graft union is in contact with the soilThe placement of the graft union above ground at planting is important. This placement is necessary to retain the special qualities of the rootstock. If the scion (top portion) comes into contact with soil, it will send out roots of its own, and the desirable rootstock characteristics will be lost.
4. One way in which dwarf fruit trees are produced is by grafting onto a dwarfing rootstock. What is the other source of dwarfness?Genetic dwarfing, where the fruiting portion of the tree remains small due to its genetic makeup rather than because of a dwarfing rootstock.
5. What are some of the reasons why fruit trees might be “self-incompatible?Dioecious, temporal or spatial separation, pollen inviable, pollen to similar to female geneticallySome types of tree require pollen from a different variety of the same type of tree and are considered self-incompatible. Many flowering plants have developed self-incompatibility to avoid inbreeding and to promote diversity. Fruit trees that require cross pollination by another variety. Pollen from a different variety is needed for fertilization. Apples, pears, apricots.
6. By what methods are fruit and nut trees fertilized?Drill hole method. Is used when the area under the tree is covered with grass
or groundcover plants that would be injured by the fertilizer applications. Surface topdressing method. Specify applying granular types fertilizers in
spring before or just a new growth starts. A second application should be given in midsummer.
7. What is the purpose of thinning fruit?So remaining fruit will be bigger and healthier, reduce or evenly distribute weitgh load of fruit on branchesTo improve fruit size and quality. Color and flavor may be improved. Fruit thinning also reduces alternating bearing.It is the removal of a portion of the fruits on a tree while they are still small. More deciduous fruit trees (nut trees exclude) produce more fruit that can fully mature. If
unthinned, the fruit will be undersized and frequently poorly colored. In addition, the excessive fruit load may weaken the tree. Bearing in alternate years may result, with the fruitless year devoted to regaining the vigor of the tree. Because most gardeners want fruit every year, the advantages of thinning are obvious. Fruits should be thinned when they are 1/2 to 3/4 inch ( 13 to 20 millimeter) in diameter, and after the natural drop of young fruit has occurred. Twisting fruits will remove them quickly and easily.The number of fruits that should be left on a tree depends on the species. The largest, healthiest fruits should always be left on the tree, regardless of their relative spacing on a branch. Thinning no necessary: avocados, cherries, citrus, figs, mulberries, persimmons, plums, europeans. Apples: 6-8 in (15-20 cm)Peaches: 6-8 in (15-20 cm)for early varieties, 4-5 in (10-13 cm) for later onesPears: Thinning no necessary but can be thinned lightly to increase size. Plums, Japanese: 2-4 in (5-10 cm)http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8047.pdf
8. Why is the vase shape a suggested form for some fruit species?Open centers promote air flow, are easier to harvest, and allow sunlight to reach the center for better fruit ripening. The three main pruning styles are the central leader, modified central leader, and vase shape.
Central leader: used in most nut trees, on sweet cherries, and occasionally for apples and pears. The pruning start at planting, with the selection of the central leader and several scaffold branches spaced widely around and down the trunk. Pruning after the first several years should consist of removing rootstock suckers and competing branches arising from the trunk.
Vase form: Also called open center, allows two to five scaffold branches to grow from a short trunk (about 1 to 2 feet) the branches originate close together on the trunk, and the central leader is removed to a side branch. It is pruned to a final form directly after planting by selecting the lower, strongest branches on the tree. Vase pruning open the center of the tree to admit light and encourage fruiting and keeps the bearing branches of the tree low for easy peaking. Vase pruning is common on peach, apricot, and nectarine.
Modified central leader form. The tree is first trained to a central leader form for 2 or 3 years. The next year the leader is cut back to a strong side branch, leaving three of five scaffold branches on the tree. With the leader gone, the side branches grow stronger and longer, and the heigh of the tree is kept in check. It is suggested for apples, pears, plums and sour cherries.
9. What are some of the reason that fruit trees do not produce fruit when they appear healthy?
The failure of a tree to bear may be caused by one or a combination of the following:
Age: The age at which a tree can be expected to produce is first crop varies with the species. Most dwarf and semi-dwarf types bear by the third or fourth year after planting
Pollination problem: In most fruit and all nuts trees, there must be pollination and fertilization to set a crop. Exceptions are navel oranges, persimmons, and some figs and pears.
The remaining tree crops require pollination, either self or cross. Self-pollination is the rule on most nut trees, the majority of which bear separate male and female flowers on the same tree and are pollinated by wind. Self pollination is also found in a few fruit tree, but more often fruit trees are incapable of pollinating themselves are called self-sterile. Cross pollination with another compatible cultivar flowering at the same time is necessary if a crop is to be produced. The causes of self sterility:
1. Incompatibility of the pollen with the female flower parts.2. Nonviable pollen. Does not germinate3. Failure of the pollen and female flower parts to attain maturity at the same
time. 4. Dioecious plants: date, male and female flowers are produced on separate
plants.In summary, cross pollination witch a compatible cultivar flowering at the same time is a prerequisite for successful growing or many tree crops.
Insufficient winter chilling: Deciduous fruits and nut trees are most susceptibleInsufficient sunlight: A tree receiving insufficient sunlight will produce lush vegetative growth but few flowers and fruits. Frost or rain during the pollination period . These two weather conditions can damage flowers or restrict bee activity. Thus, no crop will set.
10. List five fruits and two nuts that can be grown in you area.Apples, pears, peach, plums, persimmons, pomegranateWalnuts, chestnuts, http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Food_Gardening_Specialists/Fruit_Tree_Care/North Coast: Apple, pear, prune, olive, English and black walnut. Wine.http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/varieties.pdf
11. Your new house has only a very small yard. What nut species can be grown there?Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) It is a small tree or shrub that grows 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meter) in height and equal that in width. It is hardy in zones 4 through 9.
Hazelnuts bear separate male and female flowers on the same plant and are pollinated by wind. A better crop can be expected with cross pollination.Little pruning is required except for removal or suckers and thinning to permit light to enter the center of the plant. They bear when 2 or 3 year old and harvest of 5 to 10 pounds. Live 10 to 15 years. The nuts are harvested after drop.
12. Are there any places in the United States or Canada where apples cannot be grown? Why?Apples are grown in zones 4 thought 9. Apples have a chilling requirement in order to set buds in spring. Most apples are self-fertile and are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard sizes. They should be pruned to a modified leader system. Dwarfs can be expected to bear the first or second year after planting.
13. What are the two types of cherries that can be grown?The sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is for fresh eating, whereas the tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) is most useful for pies and other cooking users. Both have a chilling requirement. All are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard sizes. Although tart cherries do not require cross-pollination to produce fruit, sweet cherry have very particular pollination requirements. Careful attention must be paid to selecting compatible cultivars from among the many sweet cherry cultivars available.Pruning of cherries should be modified leader for sweet types and modified leader or vase for sour cultivars.http://homeorchard.ucanr.edu/Fruits_&_Nuts/Cherries/http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/files/133341.pdfhttp://treefruit.wsu.edu/web-article/cherry-varieties/https://www.harmonyfarm.com/content/bareroot-catalog.pdf
14. What is the origin of nectarines?MUTATION of peach during the Roma EraOriginate in China over 2000 years ago and it were cultivated in ancient Persia, Greece and Rome.Nectarines (Prunus persica var nucipersica) are a mutation of peaches and not a hybrid between a peach and plum. The have being cultivated since the days of the Roman Empire.Culture of nectarines is the same as for peaches, except that they are more susceptible to fruit roots and may require more spraying. They do not require cross-pollination and should be trained to a vase shape. USda zones 5 through 10.
15. A new home that you move into contains a large walnut tree in the yard but no plants will grow under it. Why is this?Juglans regia and Juglans nigraHardy zones 5 through 10 and reach and average heights of 50 feet (15 meters). They are not pruned except to remove crossing and dead branches. They naturally grow in a vase or modified central leader shape. Cross pollination is not necessary,
and the nuts are harvested after they drop. Small crops can be expected starting 2 years after planting.The rain falling on the leaves leaches out a toxic chemical that is poisonous to many other plants.
1. Are the small fruits annual or perennial?Perennial.Strawberries, grapes, raspberries and blackberries (called brambles), and blueberries. Currants, gooseberries, and cranberries.
2. Are small fruits generally easier or harder to grow that tree fruits?Easier because cross pollination is not necessary most of the time, spraying for insects and diseases is not required often, many can grow in diverse habitats take less time to bear fruit. Can stage a continued harvest with overlapping cultivars.They are easier to grow than many tree crops. Cross pollination seldom is required, and spraying for disease and insects is uncommon. Only one or two species are limited regionally, and most bear within 1 or 2 years after planting. By carefully choosing cultivars to mature serially throughout the growing season, a harvest of small fruits can be ensured form early summer until frost
3. What fruits are included under the group called brambles?Strawberries, grapes, raspberries and blackberries
4. How can you tell the difference between a blackberry and a raspberry?
Blackberries (Rubus spp.) they look like raspberries except the fruit are larger, and when picked, the center core remains in the berry ( with a raspberry it pull out at picking. They wisthand more heat and drought but less cold than do raspberries.
5. What are loganberries, dewberries, and boysenberries? Dewberries is one of any species of cultivar of trailing blackberries. More like ground cover, short, came early in the spring. One stem one flower while blackberries have multiple flowers in one stem. Loganberries, the cultivar ‘logan’ is a cross between blackberries and raspberriesBoysenberries: hybrid between raspberries, blackberries and loganberries.Youngberries: blackberry raspberry cross cultivar, later crossed with a dewberry.Marionberries, oregon
They are cross between blackberries and raspberries.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJBdZ6Bq5w
6. What is the main soil requirement for successfully growing blueberries?Ph should be between 4.2 and 5.5They have a soil pH requirement of between 4.2 and 5.5. They will also grow best in soils with high in organic matter and with a lot of irrigation. The addition of organic matter such as compost or peat moss will satisfy this need and help to keep the soil pH low. Two cultivars of blueberries should be planted for cross-pollination, as some are nearly self-sterile, and both more and larger fruits will be produced if a pollenizer is provide.
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7. What species of blueberries can be grown in you area?Species:Evergreen blueberry or evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)Characteristics: Evergreen with ornamental foliage used by florist; grows to 15’ (4.6 m) tall; fruits are small, shiny, black, and strong-flavored. Range: Pacific Coast from central California to British Columbia
8. Can you grow currants and gooseberries in your area?Currants (Ribes sativum and R. Nigrum). The plants are small, attractive shurbs ranging in heigh from 3 to 5 feet ( 1 to 1.5 meters). Ribes sativum red varieties is the most popular, which produce large clusters of fruits and are easy to grow. White (Ribes sativum) and black (ribes nigrum) currants are relatively rare.
Currants yes: usda hardiness 5 to 9https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ribes+sativumhttp://sfp.ucdavis.edu/pubs/SFNews/Summer98/currants/https://alchetron.com/RedcurrantGooseberries: The growing requirements are similar to those of currants: moist soil and average-to-cool summers suchs as found in North Pacific States. They are very cool tolerant but will not thrive in a hot summer climate. In warm summer areas planting in partial shade will reduce summer heat and may allow the crop to be raised successfully.They are unknown to most home gardeners. They are shrubs about 3 feet high and densely covered with thorns. Thre fruits are the size of large grapes and are green to red when mature, depending of cultivar. They can be eaten fresh, as well as made into pies, jam or jelly. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-yMhFguptbwhttp://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/datastore/
9. Your neighbor gives you some raspberry and strawberry plants that he says are “everberaring” cultivars. What times of the year would you expect them to produce fruit?Raspberries (Rubus spp) Red (Rubus idaeus) and black (Rubus occidentalis) raspberry cultivars are the most common, with the red having a sligtly tarter taste than the black, more cold toleranc, less susceptibility to disease, and greater yield potential. Raspberry cultivars (along with strawberries) can be spring bearing or evergreen. Ever bearing plants produce two harvest per year: one in early summer and a second in fall.
10. What is the difference between and erect blackberry and a trailing blackberry?Trailing blackberries have fruit once a year, and require trellising. They have long canes. Erect blackberries get fruit twice a year, and require minimal trellising. They are more shrub like and shorted-lived than trailing cultivars.
Blackberries fall into two categories based on growth habit, height, and climate adaptation.Erect blackberries grow in the East, Southwest and Midwest and are the more cold hardy, surviving winter temperatures of down -20 F (-29 C)Trailing types are the traditional blackberries of the Pacific Coast states and southern estates.
11. Describe how raspberries grow and produce their fruit.Raspberry planting should fruit for at least five years and occasionally produce for more than ten years. They grow best on sunny sites with well drained soil. Soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. The red raspberry plant has one of two growth habits: summer bearing or everbearing.
Summer-bearing: are the most common type. The individual canes are biennial, while the root systems are perennial. In the first year of planting, vegetative canes are produced. The following year, these same canes flower and produce fruit. While they are flowering and fruiting, new vegetative canes are produced from buds on the roots and grow throughout the summer. These canes then bear the next year’s crop. Fruiting canes dies shortly after producing that year’s crop. Therefore, a mature raspberry planting has two types of canes: vegetative canes that originated during the current year (primocanes) and fruiting canes that originated during the previous year (floricanes). Fruit usually is harvested in mid-summer. Summer-bearing plants must be pruned by hand during the dormant season.
Everberaring raspberries produce primocanes that are capable of flowering and fruiting in-the same year that they are produce. Once the cane reaches its mature
lenght, it begins fruiting at the tip, with progressively lower flower buds breaking on the cane as the season proceeds. Because the canes don’t reach their mature length until mid-summer, fruiting is later than for summer-bearing raspberries. Fruiting usually begins in late august and continues until a har frost or freeze. The canes of primocane-bearing raspberry plants are usually mowed to the ground every winter because the next year’s crop does not require the previous season’s canes However, if the canes are not removed, they will produce a small summer crop from previously unbroken fruit buds low on the cane and, hence, are referred as “everbearears”
Planting: Red raspberries are planted 24 inches apart in rows that are 8 to 12 feet apart. Plant in May after the danger of hard frost has passed.
There are two fruiting growth habits for raspberry plants:Fall-bearing (primocane) and summer-bearing varieties (floricane)Fall bearing produce fruit in their first year starting in late August until the first strong frost. A small summer crop can be produce from fall-bearing varieties if the canes are not removed after winter. Summer-bearing varieties produce fruit in their second year of growth with most fruit ready to harvest around mid-summer.
Native american grape cultivars (vitis labrusca) are the easiest to raise and are very productive.The european grape (vitus vinifera) is grown in warmer areas and is use for vinemaking. Muscadine grapes (vitis rotundifolia) are less commun, being confined to southern states.
To train a vine : Four-Arm Kniffen System. Popular in US. It use two wire trellis in which the wires are strung between post in the grape row.
1. On the first winter after planting, the strongest new shoot of the vine should be tied to the bottom wire and the rest of the shoots prune.
2. The next summer the shoot should reach the top wire, where again it is tied and tipped to encourage side shoots.
3. The side shoots that will develop then are trained and tied out on the wire, whith one cane in each direction along each wire.
4. After this is done, annual pruning will be sufficient.
13. What would you do to and old grapevine that was neglected for several years?Grapevines bear their fruit only on canes that grew the previous summer. Heavy annua pruning should remove most of the wood. The canes chosen to remain for fruit bearing should be slighly larger than pencil thickness for best fruit production. Each should be cut to a length that allows for 15 buds. In addition to these four canes, four canes shortened to two or four buds should be left near the two wires. These short canes (called renewal spurs) will produce the fruiting canes for the following season. Neglected grapevines require severe pruning to produce quality fruit again. The plants should be cut back severely before growth stars, removing as much of the accumulated older wood as possible and following the specifications for annual pruning. Any old wood that cannot be removed at this pruning may be taken out with regular pruning the following year.
14. How would you train strawberries in the “hill system”Plants are set 1-1.5 ft apart in rows 1-1.5 ft apart. Pinch off runners
It is the best training method for everbearing strawberries and is also useful for spring bearers. The plants are set 1 to 1 1/2 feet ( 30 to 45 cm) apart in rows 1 to. 1 1/2 feet (30 to 45 cm) apart. All runners that appear during the planting year are pinched off, resulting in a strong mother plant that will bear profusely the following season. Yields from strawberries trained to a hill system sometimes can double that from a matted row. The system is used primarily in warm areas because plants are more likely to be damaged by cold.
Resources:http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/
https://crfg.org
http://www.smallfruits.org
http://learningstore.uwex.edu. Under lawn & garden click on fruit> berries
http://www.umass.edu. Type Fruit Advisor in the search box
