Backyard Fruit Production Courtney DeKalb-Myers Cleveland County - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Backyard Fruit Production Courtney DeKalb-Myers Cleveland County Horticulture Educator September 12, 2020 Backyard Fruit Production Benefits: High quality fruits Satisfying hobby Aesthetic Assess your commitment level before
Courtney DeKalb-Myers Cleveland County Horticulture Educator September 12, 2020
Benefits:
Assess your commitment level before starting!
Image from MSU Extension
Are you willing to…
Images from Cornell Chronicle, Ohio State University, UMN Extension, University of Georgia
prune annually? fertilize annually? water regularly? manage pests?
Choosing varieties suited for Oklahoma is the best first step Also consider rootstock varieties – this can determine shape, cold hardiness, drought tolerance, and disease resistance Variety / Rootstock combination should be on label Check OSU Fact Sheets for recommended varieties
Image from NC State Extension
Spring is usually best Bare root or container grown plants Bare root – plant before buds break Hole as deep as the root system and twice as wide Keep graft union above soil level
Image from UMN Extension
Image from USDA National Phenology Network
Too little
Too much
breakage
bearing
Base pre-plant applications on soil test Apply fertilizer before bud break Use a fruit tree fertilizer and apply according to label instructions Leaf analysis can determine deficiencies after year 4
Benefits:
retention
Trees are in competition with turf for water and nutrients Greater grass free area means better growth
Image from UMN Extension
Prune to maintain
Prune to maintain structure of the tree Do not remove more than 1/3 of the wood Different shapes are recommended for different fruits
Image from Deep Green Permaculture
Trees can bear an excess
health and hardiness Thin fruit early in their development Peaches are sometimes thinned by late freezes Apples / Pears bear in clusters, remove all but
Image from University of Maine
Fruit trees are affected by several diseases and some insects If available, choose resistant varieties Familiarize yourself with the common diseases and know what to look out for Certain diseases are more prevalent at certain times; control can be more calculated Sanitation can help – clean up diseases fruit, prune
Image from Rutgers University Image from Michigan State University Image from Umass Extension Image from UMN Extension
From Fact Sheet EPP-7319 Home Tree Fruit Production and Pest Management
From Fact Sheet EPP-7319 Home Tree Fruit Production and Pest Management
Need two for pollination requirements Do not plant closer than 40 ft Many insects and diseases Must be thinned in early August Alternate bearing
Image from University of Georgia
Image from Noble Research Institute
Need two varieties for pollination Dwarf rootstocks available (require staking) General pruning shape is inverted cone Susceptible to scab, codling moth, and fire blight
Image from University of Maryland Extension
Three main types of pears:
MOST pears need another varieties Production is similar to apples but
Image from UMN Extension and Oregon State Extension
Can sometimes be damaged by late first frost Only need one variety Well-drained, open soil Open pruned center with three scaffold branches Peach borer control is a must
Image from University of Maryland Extension
Apricots – bloom earlier than peaches, usually killed by late spring frosts Nectarines – peach cultivars that do not have fuzz, do not perform as well as the recommended peach varieties
Images from Colorado State University Extension
Types:
Some plums are self- pollinating, some need a pollinator (check variety) Cultural requirements are similar to peaches Japanese bloom earlier than European
Image from UGA Extension
Tart cherries do better than sweet cherries in Oklahoma Prune to central leader Poorly drained soils can be an obstacle
Image from Iowa State University
Easier to grow in Oklahoma – few pests, grow in wide range
Thorned and thornless types Erect and trailing forms Prune out dead or diseased canes Summer tipping can increase production next year
Image from Clemson University
Require acidic soils (5.0 to 5.2), so considerable soil amendments must be made Protect them from hot, drying winds Rabbiteye types do best in central and southern Oklahoma
Image from Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Generally not productive because of fluctuating temperatures during winter and lack of heat tolerance Using a 50% shade cloth or planting next to a building for afternoon shade can help reduce heat stress
Image from UMN Extension
Planted as crowns and spread by runners June-bearing varieties are the most successful in Oklahoma Mulch in mid-December to increase winter hardiness Avoid low areas
Image from Oregon State University
Brown Turkey or Celeste are hardy in Oklahoma Choose a protected location and mulch heavily to make it through winter May dieback and come back from the base Few pests diseases
Image from Clemson Universtiy
Grocery store kiwis are no hardy for Oklahoma, but other species do well Must have a male and a female Vining plants, trellising required HLA-6249 Kiwifruit Production in Oklahoma
Image from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Types:
Require trellising and training Annual pruning to maintain healthy canopy and fruit load Black rot is a major disease
Image from University of Arkansas
Image from University of Missouri Extension
Image from Aggie Horticulture = Texas A&M University
Courtney DeKalb-Myers courtney.dekalb@okstate.edu 405-321-4774