Growing Fruit for Home Use

MS-18 revised 2003 Growing Fruit for Home Use John Avery, Patrick Byers, Martin Kaps, Laszlo Kovacs, and Marilyn Odneal Edited by Marilyn Odneal State Fruit Experiment Station Missouri State University Mountain Grove State Fruit Experiment Station MS-18 revised 2003 Growing Fruit for Home Use John Avery, Patrick Byers, Martin Kaps, Laszlo Kovacs, and Marilyn Odneal Edited by Marilyn Odneal Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Calendar of Events in the Home Fruit Planting ............................................................... 10 Glossary of Fruit Production Terms ................................................................................ 11 Apples .................................................................................................................. 13 Pears .................................................................................................................. 18 Stone Fruits .................................................................................................................. 20 Strawberries ................................................................................................................. 24 Grapes .................................................................................................................. 29 Raspberries and Blackberries....................................................................................... 34 Highbush Blueberries .................................................................................................... 40 Common Fruit Insect Pests ........................................................................................... 43 For More Information ..................................................................................................... 45 Sources of Fruit Plants and Horticultural Supplies .......................................................... 48 The authors wish to acknowledge Joyce Hill, former Research Associate in Plant Pathology, for her contribution to the earlier edition of this publication. Cultivar and fertilizer recommendations and nursery list have been revised from the 1993 edition of this publication. Published by the State Fruit Experiment Station of Southwest Missouri State University Department of Fruit Science 9740 Red Spring Road Mountain Grove, Missouri 65711-2999 phone: 417-547-7500 fax: 417-547-7540 web: http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu INTRODUCTION Selecting a Fruit Crop Why Grow Fruit? Missouri fruit growers are fortunate Having fresh, home grown fruit on the that many fruit crops are adapted to table is an enticing idea that prompts the state. One type or another of fresh many people to consider growing fruit fruit can be harvested from mid-May to for their own use. Creating a beautiful October (see Figure 1). However, if you "edible" landscape is also a worthwhile have no experience growing fruit goal. Growing fruit can be a crops, it is a good idea to start small rewarding hobby if it is understood with 1 or 2 fruits that are relatively that a certain amount of work and easy to grow and that you and your dedication are required. family enjoy. Home fruit production is not a matter of simply planting a crop In general, home grown fruit and waiting for bountiful harvests. harvested at the peak of quality is Proper planning and care are required much better than fruit harvested at a at all stages. By starting small, you can distant growing area and shipped see if growing fruit is your cup of tea hundreds of miles before sale. A without a large investment of time and limited group of fruit cultivars money. dominates the produce section at the supermarket. The apple lover can Even though a fruit crop may be usually purchase only 5 or 6 cultivars adapted to Missouri's climate, (good though they may be) at the occasionally extreme conditions can grocery store but is missing out on the reduce or eliminate a crop or kill unique flavors of hundreds of other plants. Cold injury is common and can cultivars. If you want to enjoy the "out result from sudden freezes in the fall, of the ordinary", grow it yourself! midwinter cold, and spring frosts. Plants that are not winter hardy While it is difficult to calculate the throughout Missouri and do better in monetary value of fruit produced at the southern part of the state include home, some savings over the price at peaches, nectarines, Japanese plums, the grocery store can be expected. This most blackberries, most French- is especially true if excess fruit is American hybrid grapes, and most canned, frozen, or dried. seedless table grapes. Plants that are damaged by late frosts during blossom Fruits and vegetables are an important are peaches and, to a lesser extent, part of a healthy diet. Fruit is a good, strawberries. Sweet cherries and low calorie source of vitamins, apricots very seldom escape spring minerals, and carbohydrates. In frost injury and are not recommended addition, research suggests that certain for that reason. Fruits that generally fruits contain materials that may have survive both the winter cold and additional health benefits. The home spring frosts include apples, pears, fruit grower is "harvesting health". sour cherries, European-type plums, American and French-American Finally, for many people fruit growing hybrid grapes, strawberries (with has value beyond the value of the winter mulch), blueberries, and raspberries. harvested product. A home fruit garden can be a restful and relaxing Fruits such as European (vinifera) and place to "unwind" after a hectic day at muscadine grapes, citrus, and figs are the office. Home fruit production is as not hardy in Missouri without special good for the soul as for the body. protection during the winter. In addition to climate extremes, insects, What size should the home diseases, and weeds can reduce the fruit planting be? amount of fruit harvested by the home fruit producer. At least one pest The size of the home fruit planting is attacks each of the fruit crops adapted primarily limited by two factors, the to Missouri. Certain fruit crops, space available and the amount of time however, are much easier to manage and energy that the home fruit than others. In some cases, disease producer is willing to devote to the resistant cultivars of fruit crops are planting. The planting should never available (see cultivar descriptions), be greater than the grower can and these cultivars should be given properly care for. Poorly maintained consideration. fruit plantings become eyesores and sources of problems for neighboring In the overall picture, crops fruit plantings. In most cases the considered relatively easy to grow in planting should be large enough to Missouri with proper care include provide fruit for the family, with some apples, grapes, some blackberries, and left over to give away. Equipment, strawberries. Plants that are difficult labor and time become a problem if the to establish include peaches, other planting becomes too large. Table 1 stone fruits, and highbush blueberries. will be helpful in planning the size of Raspberries are more difficult to grow the home fruit planting. on shallow Ozark soils. Pears are limited by the disease fire blight. Currants and gooseberries are better adapted to the northern part of the Selecting a Site state, but can be grown in the south if they are mulched and afforded partial Urban home fruit growers often do not shade. have the space for a fruit garden as such. However, fruit plants can be Once a crop is chosen, the next step is part of an attractive landscape. Such to chose among the many cultivars "edib1e 1andscaping" might inc1ude available. Whenever possible consider hedges of dwarf apples, brambles, disease resistant cultivars. Some grapes, and blueberries. Individual cultivars are better adapted to fruit trees can furnish beauty and Missouri's climate than other cultivars. shade as well as fruit. Grapes can Check with state organizations such as cover an arbor, and strawberries make the SMSU Fruit Experiment Station for attractive borders and ground covers. recommended cultivars for Missouri. Even apartment dwellers can grow The experience of other fruit growers strawberries and blueberries in in your area is also valuable in containers. selecting adapted cultivars. The following sections of this publication If a choice of sites is available, several include lists of adapted cultivars. points should be considered. Once the Season of harvest is another orchard is planted, mistakes cannot be consideration. By selecting several corrected later. The site should be cultivars that ripen at different times close to the house and a source of the home fruit grower can have fresh water. Most fruit plants require full fruit for a longer period. Use of the sun. Adequate air drainage is crop is also important. Certain important for all fruit crops, but cultivars lend themselves to eating especially for crops sensitive to spring fresh, while others are excellent for frosts and cold injury, such as peaches processing. and other stone fruits, winter tender grapes, blackberries, and strawberries. To insure adequate air drainage, plant 2 Table 1. Bearing age, planting longevity, and estimated annual yield of fruit crops in Missouri. Fruit Crop Interval from Life of Estimated annual planting to plants yield per plant or fruiting (years) (years) row Apple (standard) 4- 6 35-45 10-15 bu/tree Apple (semidwarf) 3-5 20-30 6-10 bu/tree Apple

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