Mississippi
Gardens
Newsletter ArchivesChoosing the right fruit
tree for production
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - January 12, 2004
In last week's article we discussed the criteria for selecting fruit trees for the home garden. We focused on the selection of fruit trees that are disease resistant, adapted to our winters and perform well in our environment. With these ideas in mind, let's move a little further into the secrets of successful backyard fruit production.
To begin with, let's "branch out" so that we can include information on plants that produce fruit on vines, canes and bushes as well as trees. Gardeners should know how difficult it is to raise the particular fruit they are considering. For convenience sake, take a look at the list below regarding the relative difficulty of raising particular fruits.
Fruit considered easy to grow include blackberries, blueberries, figs, oriental persimmon and quince. Those that are moderately difficult include muscadine, pecan, strawberry, pear and citrus. The difficult list includes peach, apple and plum. Easy crops imply that there is very little to be done or just minimal effort. Moderate means that in most cases, pruning along with limited amounts of pest control must be done as well as winter protection for most citrus. Difficult crops take a lot of time and effort. They require pruning in addition to routine application of pesticide for insect and disease control.
By following this thought process, we are first going to consider disease resistance, adaptation to climate and performance of the particular fruit bearing plant before we ever make a purchase. Consideration of how much time and effort one has to expend to get the fruit (or nut) is important, too. For example, many gardeners find they can buy a lot of pecans for what it costs to grow them yourself. That's true for many fruits and nuts.
One last consideration is to find out if the fruit-bearing plant you are considering can pollinate itself or if it needs another to help it set fruit. Some plants, like peaches are self- fertile. Others are self-fertile but fare better if another plant provides additional pollen and still others must have another to pollinate them or they will not set fruit.
Equally important to choosing the best fruit bearing plants for your location is the planting site. Select a site that has full sun exposure. Avoid poorly drained or droughty locations. Adjust the soil pH to 6.5 (except for blueberries). Set the plants at the right distance from each other to prevent crowding in later years and to allow for good air movement.
Growing fruits and nuts in the home garden can be enjoyable or it can be a big disappointment. Know what you're getting into before the first plant is put in the ground. Happy gardening!
These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and retired Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.