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Growing Fruit in Pender County

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Growing Fruit in Pender County Extension Gardener Class 4: Growing Fruits and Berries We will discuss: Fruits that can realistically be grown in central NC – Some are more challenging than others – Which can be grown organically Basics – Things you need to know before attempting to grow fruit Specifics – For different fruit types Fruits and Berries: Considerations Before Planting Do you have a good site? – Sun and well drained soil – Room to grow Have you soil tested? Can you water? Can you get quality plants??? Too shady? Fruits and Berries: Considerations Before Planting Do you know how to TRAIN and prune your fruit tree/plant? Are trellises/supports needed? Are you willing to spray? Do you have equipment, know what to spray? Assumption You are growing fruit trees, berries and grapes for fruit Codling moth in apple production You would like them to produce reliably (80% of time) You would prefer not to eat worms Plum curculio in peach What Are the Possibilities? Tree Fruit Grapes and Berries Figs (E)* Blueberries (E)* Asian Persimmon (E/M)* Blackberries (E)* Pears & Asian Pears (M)* Muscadines (E/M)* Plums (M) Strawberries (M) Apples (M/D) Peaches (D) Nectarines (D) E = Easy, M = Moderate, D = Difficult * = Best choices for organic production What Will Not Work? Apricots Cherries Grapes - except muscadine Citrus - except in containers – Mandarin (Satsuma & Tangerines) and Kumquats are hardiest but still need winter protection here Bananas – Would have to protect stem through winter to get fruit Worth a try?? Raspberries - will be short lived Hardy Kiwifruit – Vigorous vines – need male and female Pomegranate – set few fruit in SE – Hardy zone 7b Less Common Fruits Pawpaw, Asimina triloba – Rich, moist soil – Part sun – Deer resistant! Serviceberry, Amelanchier – Moist, well drained soil – Sun – pt. shade Both are native small trees Challenge: harvest fruit before wildlife gets it! Pawpaw Fruit Growing Basics: Site Selection Essential for Success: Good Drainage!!! Full Sun!!! Correct pH – soil test! – Blueberries – acid 4.5 - 5.8 – Strawberries – 5.5 – 6.5 – Others 6.0 – 6.5 Avoid areas where water stands after rainfall Sunlight The sugars stored in fruits are created in the leaf by the process of photosynthesis Sunlight is the energy source for photosynthesis Site Preparation Mounded bed, 6”- 12” high, 4’ wide or more Incorporate lime, phosphorus, organic matter with soil No weeds or grass in the bed Fruit Growing Basics: Varieties and Chilling Hours Chilling Hours Number of hours between 32° - 45 °F needed to develop flower buds and leaf buds Central NC averages 800-1000 Choose Adapted Varieties Low chill varieties (200-600) will break dormancy too early – blossoms likely frost killed High chill varieties (over 1200) will not receive adequate chilling most years to develop flower buds Fruit Growing Basics: Varieties Plant more than one named variety to extend harvest season – Blueberries, blackberries, muscadines, peaches – Early, mid, and late season bearing varieties available Some fruits require cross pollination Fruits result from flowers; Fruits contain seeds; Bees make it possible! Fruit Growing Basics: Pollination Flowers are pollinated by honeybees and native bees Many pollinators, especially honeybees, are very sensitive to most insecticides Never apply insecticides when fruit trees are in full bloom Orchard Mason Bees Fruit Growing Basics: Pollination Need Cross Pollination* Self Fruitful Apples and Pears Peaches and Plums Nectarines Muscadines Strawberries Blueberries Blackberries Figs Asian Persimmon * Some varieties may be self fruitful though higher yields result from cross pollination Fruit Growing Basics: Nutrients and Water Add lime, phosphorus and potassium based on soil test results Add nitrogen based on crop requirements Fruits = 80% water - Regular watering is essential for high yields – ~ 1” per week during growing season Fruit Growing Basics: Training and Pruning Essential for health and productivity Training = establishment of initial framework during first 3-5 years Pruning = annual pruning to maintain shape Pruning needs vary with species – Strawberries = none! – Figs, blueberries, blackberries = little – Pears, plums = moderate – Apples, peaches, muscadines = A lot! Fruit Growing Basics: Support Structures Some fruits need support structures: – Muscadines – Blackberries – Kiwifruit Construct adequate structure before planting Fruit Growing Basics: Pest Control Choose disease resistant varieties whenever available Provide optimum growing conditions – Water and nutrients, soil pH Correct site selection (sun, good drainage) Control Weeds – harbor insects, Cedar Apple Rust compete for water and nutrients Some varieties – Mulch resistant; Remove – Herbicides or hand weed all red cedar within ½ mile Apple Cedar Rust http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/apple/plantpath/CARfact.html Fruit Growing Basics: Pest Control Prune for good light and air penetration Sanitation!!! – Collect and destroy diseases leaves, stems, fruit – Always remove ‘mummies’ – Keep ripe fruit picked Fruit Growing Basics: Pest Control Pests includes birds and mammals – Netting/fencing Most feasible to grow organically: – Figs – Blueberries – Muscadine Grapes – Blackberries – Pears – Persimmon Netting to keep birds out of strawberries Fruit Growing Basics: Pest Control Spray schedules usually necessary for apples, peaches/nectarines, and plums Timing based on development stage – Begin at petal fall and continue every few weeks to harvest Follow all label directions when applying any pesticide (organic or Codling Moth larvae – Adult moths lay eggs in synthetic) small developing fruits Specific Requirements and Considerations for Commonly Cultivated Fruits Blueberries One of the easiest fruits to grow organically Native to SE USA Begin producing in 3 years, remain productive 20+ years Yield = 12 lbs per plant (rabbiteye varieties) Plant 2+ varieties for pollination Blueberries Very easy to grow IF you have the right conditions! – Acidic Soil: pH 4.0 – 5.5 Soil test before planting! Over 5.5 = add sulfur – Well drained, amend with ground pine bark – Not drought tolerant – drip irrigate – Mulch Blueberries Often grown on mounded bed Mix organic matter in 1’ deep Can tolerate more shade than other fruit crops, though yields will be reduced Blueberry Types Southern Highbush Rabbiteye 6’ – 8’ 12’ – 15’ Earlier yield – harvest Harvest June – July late May – June Tougher – more Smoother texture, drought tolerant smaller seeds Recommended for Need ideal conditions homeowners Pick every 5-7 days Pick every 10 days Rabbiteye Blueberry Varieties for NC ‘Climax’, ‘Premier’ – early season ‘Columbus’, ‘Ira’, ‘Yadkin’ – early to mid ‘Powderblue’, ‘Onslow’ – mid to late Plant more than one variety for cross pollination and extended yield! ‘Pink Lemonade’ Planting Blueberries Space 6’ apart in rows/bed, 12’ -15’ between rows Mulch 2” – 3” to conserve moisture and prevent weeds Prune hard at planting – leave only strongest 3 or 4 shoots, cut back all ½ Remove flower buds 1st and 2nd season for maximum root development Keep well watered but not wet Blueberries - Pruning Late Winter – Remove dead, diseased, weak shoots – Cut out 3-4 of oldest, tallest canes – Remove suckers Summer – Head back tall vigorous canes Blueberries are large bushes! Picking and Storing Blueberries Blueberries turn blue well before they are fully ripe! Berries ripen over time -- Each bush will need to be picked several times, every 10 days After picking (or purchasing) refrigerate ASAP in a container with air holes – Do not rinse until ready to eat Blackberries Easy to grow Full sun Well drained soil Later blooming – frost not an issue pH 5.8 – 6.8 ideal, tolerant of wider range Self fruitful Blackberries Produce fruit in 2 years, remain productive 5-15 years Average yield – Erect varieties: 12-15 lbs per plant – Semitrailing: 20 lbs/plant Remove wild blackberries growing within 600’ (harbor diseases) Blackberry Varieties Semitrailing Erect Need support Support not necessary but Thornless! sometimes provided Later ripening (late June) Earlier ripening (late May) Recommended Suckering roots – must varieties: Hull, Chester, dig out Triple Crown Recommended thornless varieties: Arapaho, Navaho, Apache, Natchez, Ouachita Training Blackberries Semi-trailing varieties = 2 wire support Erect varieties = 1 wire support Blackberries Bear fruit on 2 year old canes – 1st year new canes grow from crown, branch during first growing season – 2nd year canes develop flower buds on side branches (laterals) – Canes die after fruiting – Canes are cut out after fruiting Raspberries Grown similar to blackberries, but not as tough or heat tolerant Need well drained, rich soils; afternoon shade Short lived, 3-5 years Raspberries pH 6.3-6.5 Varieties: – Dormanred – Southland – ??? Heritage and Caroline???, fall bearing varieties – generally not recommended Muscadine Grapes Native to southern US! Muscadine (purple - black skin varieties) Scuppernong (bronze skin varieties) Easy if properly trained Sun, well drained soil, pH 6.5 Muscadine Grapes Produce fruit in 3 years, remain productive 15-20 years Yield = 25-50 lbs/plant Muscadine Varieties Some are perfect flowered (male and female parts) = self fruitful Others are female only = need perfect flowered variety for pollination Other characteristics: – Skin color (bronze/black) – Early, mid, late season cultivars – Fruit size
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