Growing Fruit Trees in Anchorage

Three Keys to Success Choose the Correct Location Use the Correct Cultural Practices Plant the Appropriate Varieties

Correct Location Full Sun – south and east exposure are the most important If possible the ground should slope to the south Protection from wind and moose Site should have good drainage Beware planting trees where they may be susceptible to mystery harvests

Cultural Practices Ensure rich soil by mixing with compost before planting trees Provide nutrients with fertilizers from early June to early August Protect bark from voles in winter Insects and diseases are usually not a problem in Anchorage – so pesticides are not required

Varieties of Tree Fruit Apples Pie Cherries Sweet Cherries Pears

Apples Nearly all apple trees are grafted

Grafting

Apples Only “summer” apples will ripen in our short season Pollination is not a concern It takes two to five years for a tree to bear My variety recommendations: Norland Breakey Westland

Apples Apples like most fruit are produced on fruit spurs – which develop as the tree matures:

Apples

Yellow Transparent

Breakey

Westland

Norland

Pie Cherries The site must be very well drained Rootstocks are critical Best are Gisela 5 and Amur Chokecherry Pie Cherries are self-fruitful – only need one Best Varieties are Evans (Bali), Montmorency and Northstar

Pie Cherries Example of a pie cherry fruit spur:

Montmorency

Evans

Evans Cherries

Sweet Cherries Challenging in Anchorage Most require two varieties for pollination Same rootstocks as for pie cherries Varieties to try: Lapin (self fruitful), Stella, and Kristin

Pears Rootstocks not a concern Must be summer ripening varieties Require two varieties for pollination Varieties to try: Summercrisp, Stacey, and Hudar

Summercrisp Pear

Summercrisp Pears

The End