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University of Cooperative Extension Master The Backyard Orchard Fruit Cultivation Guide

Fruit/Varieties Water Fertilize Prune Harvest Problems Strawberries Bareroot and 6 Consistent Balanced organic Snip off runners for When fully Replace after 3 (Short day: packs in fall to moisture while while bearing. larger . colored, pinch years In new bed to ‘Chandler’; Day early spring. bearing. through stem. avoid disease. Mulch neutral: ‘Fern’) to keep fruit off the ground. Blueberries From early fall to Need consistent 3 – 4 times a year starting In winter remove 1/3 Pick when fruit Use bird netting to (Low chill: ‘O’Neal’, early spring from moisture. in spring every two months of the oldest tastes sweet. keep birds from ‘Misty’, ‘Sunshine 5 gallon with complete organic branches. Avoid eating fruit. Blue’) containers, fertilizer. cutting back shoots as spacing 6’ to 10’. most of the buds are Acid needed. near the ends. Plant in containers if soil is alkaline. Boysenberries From late Regular moisture In late fall/early winter Trane canes on trellis. Pick when fruit is Use bird netting to (‘Boysen’, ‘Olallie’) December to early throughout the with a complete organic Prune after the full size, dark in keep birds from January from 1 to growing season. fertilizer. harvest, removing all color and sweet. eating fruit. 5 gallon canes that bore fruit containers 8’ that year. To promote apart. larger fruit, head back canes in late Nov. Raspberries In spring or fall Consistent Late fall/early winter with Remove canes at Pull off fruit when Spray with lime sulfur (‘Bababerry’) from 1 to 5 gallon moisture at all a complete organic ground level after it separates easily during dormancy and containers spaced times. fertilizer. they bear a . from the plant. again as leaf buds 4’ to 6’ apart. Shorten remaining begin to open to canes to 6’. control fungal disease and some insects. University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners The Backyard Orchard Fruit Cultivation Guide

Fruit/Varieties Plant Water Fertilize Prune Harvest Problems Grapes Bareroot in Jan or Water established In January or February, See diagrams When fruit is in Control powdery (European: ‘Flame’, Feb. Cut off all plants deeply organic balanced fertilizer. following. full color and mildew by dusting ‘Perlette’: canes except the every 2 – 3 weeks. sweet. with sulfur. American: most vigorous ‘Concord’) one, prune it to two buds. Avocados On sloping ground Keep evenly moist. Twice a year in spring and Prune only to shape Does not ripen on Susceptible to (Type A : in early autumn or Let mulch of leaves summer with a complete and control height. . Begin Phytophthora root ‘Haas’; Type B spring (need build up. organic fertilizer. picking per rot. Add mulch and flower: ‘Fuerte’) perfect drainage). harvest time for gypsum to help Plant both A and B variety. suppress. Control type for best fruit chloroisis with iron production. and zinc chelates. Lemons In spring from 5 Deep soaking: 2X year in late winter/early If left alone, Fruit ripens only More frost sensitive (‘Improved Meyer’, to 15 gallon Young trees 1X per summer with become tall, rangy on the tree, judge than other citrus. ‘Eureka’, ‘Lisbon’) containers spaced week, older trees citrus/avocado organic and less productive. by taste. Does not Control snails and 15’ to 20’ apart. 2X per mo. fertilizer (high nitrogen). Prune in early spring. need high heat to ants. Treat chlorosis ripen. with chelated iron and zinc. Citrus leaf miner attacks new foliage, control with pheromone traps. Limes In spring from 5 to Deep soaking: 2X year in late winter/early Prune to shape and to When green to More frost sensitive (‘Bearss’, ‘Mexican’ 15 gallon Young trees 1X per summer with remove dead wood in yellow, but do not than other citrus. also known as Key containers spaced week, older trees citrus/avocado organic early spring. hold well on tree Control snails and Lime) 10’ to 15’ apart. 2X per mo. fertilizer (high nitrogen). once they are ants. Treat chlorosis yellow. with chelated iron and zinc. Citrus leaf miner attacks new foliage, control with pheromone traps. University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners The Backyard Orchard Fruit Cultivation Guide

Fruit/Varieties Plant Water Fertilize Prune Harvest Problems Oranges In spring from 5 to Deep soaking: 2X year in late winter/early Prune for shape in Fruit ripens only Sensitive to frost. (‘Valencia’, 15 gallon Young trees 1X per summer with early spring and to on the tree, judge Control snails and ‘’ navel, containers spaced week, older trees citrus/avocado organic remove dead wood as by taste. ants. Treat chlorosis ‘Cara Cara’ navel – 10’ to 15’ apart. 2X per mo. fertilizer (high nitrogen). needed. Remove all with chelated iron pink flesh) Plant a suckers. and zinc. Citrus leaf ‘Washington miner attacks new Navel’ and a foliage, control with ‘Valencia’ to have pheromone traps. fresh oranges 10 months a year. Grapefruit In spring from 5 to Deep soaking: 2X year in late winter/early Prune for shape in Fruit ripens only Control giant whitefly (‘Oroblanco’, 15 gallon Young trees 1X per summer with early spring and to on the tree, judge and mites with Neem ‘Melogold’) containers spaced week, older trees citrus/avocado organic remove dead wood as by taste, up to 18 oil. 15’ to 20’ apart. 2X per mo. fertilizer (high nitrogen). needed. Remove all mos. to ripen. suckers. Bareroot‐late Regular deep Balanced organic fertilizer Prune to remove When fully Few are self (less than 300 chill winter/early soakings when top at bud break in spring. suckers, water spouts, colored and pull pollinating so plant 2 hours and self spring; 3‐4” of soil dry out. Spread over entire root crossing branches; off easily with a varieties for a good fruitful: ‘Anna’, Containers‐ zone. thin to keep canopy twist. harvest. ‘Gordon’) anytime (avoid open. Thin fruit to hot days). Choose every 6”. low chill variety. Pears Bareroot‐late Regular deep Balanced organic fertilizer Prune to remove European Few are self (low chill European: winter/early soakings when top in winter. Spread over dead, injured, crossing varieties‐when pollinating so plant 2 ‘Moonglow’, Asian: spring; 3‐4” of soil dry out. entire root zone. branches; thin to keep green, ripen varieties for a good ‘Shinko’) Containers‐ canopy open. Thin inside. Asian harvest. anytime (avoid fruit to space every 6” varieties‐by taste, hot days). Choose along branch. ripen on the tree. low chill variety. Pomegranates Fall thru spring in Deep soak 2X a Young plants in spring. Prune to shape. Fruit ripens in fall. No significant pests. (‘Wonderful’, frost free areas, month when Mature plants not at all. Harvest when ‘Eversweet’) spring in colder young. Drought colored up but areas. tolerant when before it splits. mature. University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners The Backyard Orchard Fruit Cultivation Guide

Fruit/Varieties Plant Water Fertilize Prune Harvest Problems Apricots Bareroot‐late Regular deep Low nitrogen organic Older branches should When fully Apply fixed copper (less than 300 chill winter/early soakings when top fertilizer once in early be headed back so colored and (do not use sulfur) hours and self spring; 3‐4” of soil dry out. spring. Spread over entire that one‐fifth of the slightly softened. dormant spray in fruitful: ‘Goldkist’, Containers‐ root zone. bearing wood will be winter to control ‘Katy’) anytime (avoid replaced. Thin fruit to scale, aphid and mite hot days). Choose 2” to 4” spacing on eggs, and twig low chill variety. branch. borer. /Nectarines Bareroot‐late Regular deep Balanced organic fertilizer Severe annual When fully Peach Leaf Curl – (low chill peach: winter/early soakings when top at bud break in late March. renews fruiting wood colored and pull Apply fixed copper or ‘Babcock’, spring; 3‐4” of soil dry out. Spread over entire root and encourages off easily with a sulfur dormant sprays nectarine: Containers‐ zone. production twist. after autumn leaf ‘Panamint’ anytime (avoid throughout. Thin fruit drop and again as hot days). Choose to space every 4” buds swell. low chill variety. along branch. Plums Bareroot‐late Regular deep Balanced organic fertilizer Japanese varieties When fully Apply dormant sprays (less than 300 chill winter/early soakings when top before leaf out in early need severe pruning colored and combining hours and self spring; 3‐4” of soil dry out. spring. Spread over entire to control vigorous slightly softened. horticultural oil with fruitful: ‘Santa Containers‐ root zone. shoot growth. fixed copper or sulfur Rosa’) anytime (avoid European varieties in winter to control hot days). need little pruning. fungal diseases and European various insect pests. varieties more chill, Japanese varieties less chill.

This publication is provided as a community service in support of the University of California Division of and Natural Resources (ANR) Strategic Vision by University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County 1045 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 708‐1606 www.uccemg.com [email protected] The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://groups.ucanr.org/ANR_AA/files/54635.doc) Direct inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies to the

Affirmative Action Director, University of California, ANR, 1111 Franklin St., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 987‐0096.

GRAPE PRUNING

FIRST TWO YEARS:

YEARS 3 AND BEYOND:

Cane pruning – Thompson Seedless, Concord varieties Spur pruning – most grape varieties

Source: California Master Handbook, ANR Publication 3382

University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners The Backyard Orchard Resource List

Books:

The Home Orchard, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3485, 2007

California Master Gardener Handbook, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3382, 2004

Sunset Western Book of Edibles, Sunset Publishing Corporation, 2010

Bruce and Sharon Asakawa’s California Guide, Bruce and Sharon Asakawa, Cool Springs Press, 2000

Nurseries:

Armstrong Garden Centers

Batavia Garden Nursery 1730 North Batavia Street Orange, CA 92865 (714) 637‐2360

Green Thumb International 23782 Bridger Rd. El Toro, CA 92630 (949) 837‐3040

Rogers 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road Corona Dell Mar, CA 92625 (949) 640‐5800

Plant Depot 33413 San Juan Creek Road San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (949) 240‐2107

Websites: ipm.ucdavis.edu University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program Contains detailed information by plant on pests and diseases and their control, as well as cultivation information. www.davewilson.com Dave Wilson Nursery, a wholesale grower, website contains a home gardener section with how to videos, detailed information on plant varieties including photos, and a list of nurseries that stock their plants and what they ordered from Dave Wilson.