Most people grow fruit trees simply for their fruit. There are few things more rewarding than growing and harvesting your own produce. Freshness, flavor and frugality are compelling reasons to cultivate fruit trees.
All fruit tree species need to be pollinated if they are to set fruit; pollen must be transferred from the stamen, the male part of the flower, to the stigma, the female part of the flower. While there are certain varieties of apples, cherries and peach which are self-fruiting, pollination often requires two separate varieties within the species to achieve good results. Catalogs, internet searches or your local nursery are good sources of information about pollination needs, as well as general fruit characteristics (dessert or cooking apples, sweet or pie cherries, cling or freestone peaches, etc.). Apple varieties, like plums, pears and other fruit, are grouped into designations A through D according to when they flower, with group A flowering first and group D flowering last. Obviously, varieties should be chosen from the same group if pollination requires multiple varieties, to ensure that they will flower at the same time. Growing two or more fruit trees shouldn’t pose a problem even in the smallest of gardens, given modern dwarfing root stocks. Peaches and plums can be difficult to grow in areas where late frosts occur, so if growing these species, try to select varieties that bloom as late as possible in the spring.
A Few Pointers…
Insects and diseases LOVE fruit trees! For best fruiting results, consider an insecticide/fungicide spray program, taking care to stop spraying at least three weeks before harvest. Birds also enjoy small fruits, especially cherries, and can strip a tree completely in just a couple hours. Install bird netting over trees to protect the cherry crop.
Most fruits are harvested when ripe, except pears. Pears DO NOT ripen on the tree. They must be picked while hard, then ripened on, preferably in a dark place. They will ripen in a few days if placed in a brown paper bag. After harvesting, soak all fruit in a solution of cool water and white vinegar for at least 20 minutes, rinse in clear water, dry completely and store.
Fruit in the Landscape
Edible landscaping has been practiced for more than 2000 years. The Persians grew nectarines on fan-trained trees planted against walls. The Greeks and Romans trained grapes to grow along and over colonnaded walks. The French and English aristocracy trained apples as espaliers and cordons, which require very little space. Such trained plants accent the landscape throughout the growing season, providing an extraordinary show of flowers in spring, an architectural focal point displaying form and symmetry in the summer, with a final flourish of luscious fruit at harvest. These techniques require some knowledge, labor, time and most of all, patience, but can deliver the double benefit of horticultural beauty as well as agricultural yield – the best of both disciplines.
