BACKYARD FRUIT PRODUCTION George Driever Horticulture Educator Pottawatomie County, OCES

Basics Variety selection - select adapted varieties, size Site selection - know fruit’s soil, light and moisture requirements Planting area - < 10% slope Soil fertility - know fruit’s nutrient requirements Understand the basics of soil fertility Pest control - plan for control of pest problems 3 3

Pre-purchase Planning Rootstocks/Varieties Number of trees Sources of trees Planting plan Training plan Spraying plan

Rootstocks & Varieties Rootstocks determine tree size and pest resistance Varieties determine fruit characteristics and pest resistance Both should be carefully selected

Number of Trees Two each of apples, pears and plums for cross pollination Some trees are self pollinating Example: One peach tree yields four bushels of fruit…..how much do we want to have on hand to process????

Planting Plan Choose north or east slope Plant peaches on highest ground Plant like fruits together for spray and pollination compatability Allow 20 x 20 feet for each tree or train on a trellis Mulch and maintain 5 feet diameter weed- and grass-free zone

Training Plan Begin the first year All trees: wide crotch angles Pome Fruits: central leader Stone Fruits: vase shape…keep center open

Cultural Practices for Disease Control Properly space plants Properly prune and trellis when practical Avoid excessive soil moisture Plant on raised beds Improve drainage Avoid overhead watering Fertilize properly 40 38

Air Movement Pest considerations Damage to seedlings and transplants Drift from adjacent properties Adjustments Barriers Fencing 13 13

Pests of Fruit Weeds Insects Diseases 30 30

BENEFICIALS Parasitic wasp Lady beetle Minute pirate bug

Proper Identification Essential for successful disease control 1st - Disease vs. Insect 2nd - Abiotic vs. Biotic 3rd - ID pathogen 34 34

Spraying Plan Regularly scout for pests Follow spray schedule Plan to spray from dormant season until within two weeks of harvest First three sprays after bloom are the most critical

Modified Spray Programs Extended Interval Spraying Petal Fall + 3 - 4 Cover sprays @ 21 day intervals Strip Spraying Include outsides and ends Reduced Dosage Spraying Spray on schedule using lower rates Spray As Needed Requires scouting/monitoring

Tree Fruits Ranked on Ease of Growing Pears Easy Apples Plums Cherries Peaches Nectarines Apricots Difficult

Pome vs. Stone Tolerate clay soils Fewer disease and insect problems Less likely to suffer frost damage Will not grow on clay or wet soils Several major disease and insect problems Bloom early in spring: susceptible to frost damage

Pome Fruits Apples and pears easiest to grow Choose disease-resistant varieties Train to central leader Bears after 3 to 5 years Fruit stores well

Apple Rootstocks and Varieties MM-111 semi-dwarf rootstock Select varieties for: heat and cold tolerance (zones 6 & 7) disease resistance Flavor M-9 Fully dwarf rootstock requires trellis or stake 6 to 8 ft at maturity

Training Apples Central leader 5 - 7 scaffold limbs Encourage fruit spurs Prune away crown suckers and water sprouts

Growing Good Apples Thin dime size fruit: 6 to 8 inches apart Spray regularly starting fungicides at “Green Tip”; insecticides at 75% petal fall (tank-mix) Fertilize in late winter and late spring Harvest with slight upward twist and avoid bruising

Pears The easiest no-spray fruit Asian pears….crisp, juicy European pears…. more flavor, softer texture All store very well

Pear Rootstocks and Varieties Rootstock: ‘Old Home’ x ‘Farmingdale’ a.k.a.: (OHXF) Selected varieties must be fire blight resistant Select for freedom from grit cells for softer texture

Apple and Pear Insects Codling moth Up to 3 generations/year Larvae Adult Damage Cover sprays

Apple and Pear Insects Plum Curculio Adult Larva Egg Scars Petal fall Seldom form in fruit Egg Scars Petal fall Cover sprays Pick up fallen fruit

Site Selection - Stone Fruits Peach and nectarine - do not tolerate wet soil Avoid site where water stands more than one week after heavy rains Avoid soils with high water tables Dig holes 2 feet deep, fill with water If water stands 24 hours = bad site Sandy soils - support peach trees May require supplemental irrigation 102 97

Peach and Nectarine Rootstocks ‘Halford’ or ‘Lovell’ rootstocks survive in hot, humid Oklahoma soils.

Peach and Nectarine Varieties Resistance to bacterial spot Winter hardy and late blooming Cling vs. Freestone White flesh vs. Yellow flesh Span the season…..flowering time does not coincide with date of ripening. Choose early, mid- and late-season types.

Training Peaches and Nectarines At planting…..cut 18 to 30 inches high Remove branches lower than 12 inches Train to open-center “vase” shape Select 3 to 4 main scaffold limbs Prune heavily each year

Pruning Stone Fruit Trees Peach and Nectarine Pruning Maintain open center pruning Light penetration critical Remove up to 1/3 of live wood/year Remove suckers and water sprouts Remove dead and diseased limbs

Growing Peaches and Nectarines Adhere to spray schedule Stay ahead of peach tree borer Apply N twice - spring and summer Thin fruit: one every 8 inches before pit hardening Provide plenty of water

Cherries Sweet Cherries ‘Bing’ types….grow well Sour Cherries Need a 2nd variety for pollination Choose crack-resistant varieties Sour Cherries Pie cherries. Easy to grow, dwarf varieties available Both types have fewer pests than peaches

Growing Good Cherries Select for disease and crack resistance Select dwarf types so bird netting can be applied Be diligent about peach tree borer Train to vase shape…..little other pruning needed

Plums Japanese or dessert-type Juicier, best for fresh eating European or Prune-type Good for drying, canning and preserves

Plum Varieties and Pollination Rootstocks: Not as critical Select Varieties: Disease resistant Winter hardy Pollination: European will not cross pollinate Japanese Select two of same type to insure fruit set

Plum Training and Care Train to vase shape Avoid knicking limbs when pruning….makes entry point for disease Thin fruit to one every 3 to 4 inches Avoid over-watering near harvest Be diligent about peach tree borer

Apricots Choose cold hardy, late bloomers Select dwarf types Grow in container = mobile tree = frost protection Thin fruit to one every 3 to 4 inches Protect from birds Be diligent about peach tree borer

Diseases of Stone Fruits Apricots Cherries Nectarines Peaches Plums

Peach Leaf Curl Taphrina deformans Peach and Nectarine Leaves severely deformed Color varies from light green to purple Infection requires free moisture, active leaf buds, temperature between 50° and 70° F Control requires dormant season fungicide application 125 120

Brown rot Monilinia fructicola Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Cherry, Plum Infects immature or mature fruit Soft dry rot Rapidly spreading on fruit (48 hrs) Infected fruit sporulate profusely, shrivel = mummies 128 123

Control of Stone Fruit Diseases Plant peach varieties tolerant to bacterial spot (Redskin, Redhaven, Candor, Dixired, Sunhaven) Apply fungicides: Dormant season: Peach leaf curl & Bacterial spot, Black knot Shuck split: Brown rot, Scab, Black knot Cover sprays: Brown rot, Scab, Black knot Apply cover sprays at 10 to 14 day intervals 129 125

Insects of Stone Fruits Oriental Fruit Moth 3 generations/year Adult and pupa Larva Damaged shoot Infested peaches Petal fall Shuck split Cover sprays

Insects of Stone Fruits Plum Curculio Shuck injury Larva develop well Adult Petal fall Shuck split First and second cover sprays “Wormy peaches”

Insects of Stone Fruits Catfacing insects Plantbugs Stinkbugs Damage Pre-bloom Petal fall Shuck-split Cover sprays

Insects of Stone Fruits Lesser Peach Tree Borer Adult Infested limb Damage scaffold limbs and branches Gum mixed with wood borings or sawdust-like frass Prebloom and cover sprays

Insects of Stone Fruits Peach Tree Borer Most serious threat Adult female Larval instars Borer in trunk Lorsban - late May Thiodan - postharvest

Insects of Stone Fruits Beetles Green June beetles Japanese beetles Cover Preharvest Foliage feeders Ripe fruit

Pest Free Fruit Trees Oriental Persimmon Jujube Paw Paw Crab apples Figs Mulberry

Small Fruits 44 128

Blueberry 88 178

Site Selection Blueberry pH 4.0 to 5.5 - get soil test 1 to 4 lbs sulfur/ 100 ft2 Full sun and well drained Sandy loam with added organic matter - ideal Avoid frost-prone areas Control weeds bermudagrass wild blackberries 89 179

Blueberry Types Highbush Rabbiteye Southern Highbush Photo: Steven Clemants, Westchester Co., NY. Southern Highbush

Highbush Blueberry 5 to 25 feet tall Ripens in May Requires 800 hours chilling Performs best in northern Oklahoma

Rabbiteye Blueberry 5 to 20 feet tall Ripen in May and early June Requires 150 to 600 hours chilling Performs best in central and southern Oklahoma More heat tolerant

Southern Highbush Blueberry Intermediate between highbush and rabbiteye Ripen about 3 weeks earlier than rabbiteye Should perform well throughout Oklahoma

Planting and Culture Blueberry Plant mid-January to late March Plant 2 year old container-grown plants - 12 to 16 inches in height Plant two or more varieties Set plants approximately 5 feet apart Set plants without washing soil from roots

Fertilizing Established Blueberries Ammonium N better than nitrate N Apply N in small applications once before bloom once after bloom once in fall Apply P and K according to soil test Apply fertilizer uniformly within dripline Avoid the base of the plant

Mummy Berry Disease Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi Blueberry Berries shrivel and turn pinkish Fall to ground and turn brown Favored by cold wet weather Infects very young tissue Source of inoculum Infected fruit mummies on ground

Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora cinnamomi Blueberry Early symptoms: Yellowing of leaves Small terminal leaves Lack of new growth Excessive defoliation 95 192

Stem Cankers Blueberry Pathogens: Botryosphaeria, Gloeosporium, Phomopsis Occur periodically in Oklahoma Symptoms: Discolored lesions on stems Infected stems eventually wilt and die 96 194

Bramble Fruits Blackberries and Raspberries Perennial root Biennial canes Good longevity Annual pruning Easy to grow Variety selection most important

Cane Growth Primocanes Floricanes First year growth Second year growth Fruit bearing canes

Blackberries Hardy plants - few pests Most productive bramble Grow well on wide range of soils Well-drained sandy soil preferred Enriched with humus Prune to prevent rambling Two forms: erect and trailing

Blackberry Varieties Erect Blackberries Recommended varieties (listed in order of ripening) Choctaw (thorned) Cheyenne (thorned) Cherokee (thorned) Arapaho (thornless) Shawnee (thorned) Navaho (thornless)

Raspberries New varieties better suited for south Pulls free from core when picked Red, yellow, purple, and black varieties Red and yellow - more cold tolerant

Anthracnose Elsinoe veneta Blackberry and Raspberry Reduces size and quality of fruit on infected canes Symptoms on canes: Early - light grayish spots about 1/8 inch diameter Late - Spots enlarge and develop purple borders and ash-gray centers

Fruit rot Botrytis cinerea Blackberry and Raspberry Infects blossoms and fruit Symptoms on fruit appear near maturity Watery rot develops on few drupelets Infected drupelets turn tan Moist weather = visual fungal growth 73 158

Insects of Bramble Fruit Raspberry Crown Borer Adult is moth, grub in cane Damages crown area Reduced vigor and breakage Galls below soil line Eggs laid in late summer Larvae bore into canes 2 year life cycle Dig and burn infested canes Treat @ pre-bloom

Insects of Bramble Fruits Cane Borers 2 species Raspberry cane borer Red-necked cane borer Adult stage is beetle Tip girdling and wilting Enlargement or galls Prune and burn infested canes

Grapes 45 129

Grape Types American Bunch Muscadine 46 130

American Bunch Grape Derived from native grape species + some mixture of European species Popular home grown fruit Utilized as fresh fruit, wine, juice, jams and jellies Some problems with disease and insects 47 131

Bunch Grape Varieties Produce about 8 pounds per vine Table, wine, juice, or jelly Red, white, or blue Seed or seedless Harvest date

Varieties of American Bunch Mars** Early Blue Table Reliance*** Early Red Table Saturn* Middle Red Table Venus* Very Early Blue Table Concord - NOT RECOMMENDED FOR OKLAHOMA Winter Hardiness: * = Fair; ** = Medium; *** = Good Varieties - OSU Extension Facts #6222 48 132

Muscadine Grape Native to S.E. USA Adapted to moderate climate (10 ° F) Insect and disease tolerant Popular for wine, pies, and jellies Average vine = 35 pounds of grapes 49 133

Muscadine Grapes Improved Varieties Carlos - bronze Cowart - blue Doreen - bronze Dixie Red - red Magnolia - bronze Nesbitt - black Noble - black Regale - black Triumph - bronze Scuppernong and Thomas - old standards, not as good as improved varieties 50 134

Training and Pruning Young Grapes 1st year: Allow cane to develop Keep tied to stake or trellis wire Tip at top wire (4 to 5 feet) Prune all lateral branches

Training and Pruning Young Grapes 2nd year Allow free growth of shoots from trunk and spurs Remove suckers below bottom wire of trellis Remove flower cluster before bloom Winter - Begin training to the Kniffin system Select four canes and cut to five to eight buds

Black Rot Guignardia bidwellii Grape Foliar symptoms: Appear in late spring Early - Small reddish spots Later - Spots turn brown with black margins Fruit symptoms: Appear after fruit half grown Small whitish areas on green fruit 61 144

Grape Insect Pests Grape Berry Moth Attacks leaves Attacks fruit Tangled webs After petal fall 2 weeks later Later if present Clean up and burn leaf debris Petal fall and 7-10 days later

Grape Insect Pests Flea Beetles Early season pest Two leaf stage Prior to bloom Adults and larvae damage plants Destroy future canes 1 generation/year

Backyard Fruit Production Program developed by: Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University Susan Gray, County Extension Educator, Horticulture Phil Pratt, Area Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology Jim Shrefler, Area Extension Specialist, Horticulture Bill Stacey, Area Extension Specialist, Entomology