Fruit Trees for Beginners
September 2024: SMGC Program Notes on Fruit Trees
At our September 2024 meeting, Karen DiDonato, a NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer from Wake County, delivered an informative presentation titled “Fruit Trees for Beginners: How to Successfully Grow Your Own Healthy Snacks!”
View Presentation in Google Docs: Fruit Trees for Beginners - Google Docs
Meet Karen DiDonato
A lifelong gardening enthusiast, Karen hails from the Philadelphia suburbs and spent 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Triangle just before COVID. In California, she and her family owned a 65-acre farm in Sonoma, where she cultivated over 100 fruit trees and 60+ Italian olive trees.
Karen earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and spent 25 years in the biotech industry before becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer. Her interests include composting, native bee cultivation, fruit trees, and vegetable gardening.
Key Takeaways from Karen's Presentation
Advantages of Growing Your Own Fruit
Pollinator Support: Fruit trees provide vital pollen for bees and other pollinators.
Quality Control: You can control what fertilizers and pesticides are used.
Cost-Effective: Save money by growing your own fruit.
Flavor: Homegrown fruit is often more flavorful and nutrient-rich due to reduced time from tree to table.
Geographic Considerations North Carolina's diverse geography—coastal plain, piedmont, and mountains—presents unique challenges for fruit tree gardening:
Coastal Region (Hardiness Zone 8A): Faces nematodes and a short lifespan for peach trees; most rain falls during hurricane season.
Mountain Region (Hardiness Zone 5B-6A): Clay soils and a short growing season limit options for cold-sensitive plants.
Piedmont Region (Hardiness Zone 8A): Varying soil types and erratic weather can lead to drainage issues and fungal diseases.
Choosing the Right Tree Familiarize yourself with the labels on fruit trees at nurseries. These labels provide crucial information, including:
Chill Hours: Deciduous fruit trees need cold temperatures (32°F to 45°F) to set fruit. North Carolina typically receives 750-1000 chill hours annually, so choose trees accordingly to avoid early budding and potential frost damage.
Tree Categories:
Dwarf: 7-10 feet high and wide
Semi-dwarf: 12-15 feet high and wide
Standard: 20-35 feet high and wide
Site Selection Ensure your tree has:
Full Sunlight: At least 6 hours daily, away from shade.
Well-Drained Soil: Consider raised beds if necessary.
Pollinator Access: Many trees need another cultivar for pollination, so plant varieties within 100 feet of each other.
Proper Planting and Maintenance
Planting: Dig a hole the same depth as the pot and twice as wide. Avoid adding fertilizer to prevent root burn; top dress with compost instead.
Fertilizing: Consider using fish emulsion for its micronutrients if your soil lacks nutrients. Fertilizer is recommended only when there is less than 10 inches of new growth per season.
Mulching: Apply mulch in the fall, keeping it away from the tree trunk to prevent damage.
Year-Round Maintenance
Spring: Plant trees, mulch, and fertilize. You may want to trim non-fruiting spurs on apple and pear trees.
Summer: Monitor watering, check for pests, and harvest.
Autumn: Continue harvesting and prepare for winter.
Winter: Clean up fallen leaves, prune, and apply dormant sprays if needed.
Recommended Varieties for NC
Pears: Moonglow, Kieffer, Seckel, Orient, Warren and Fan-stil (which is self-fertile and does not need a pollinator).
Blueberries: Rabbit-eye varieties like Climax and Premier
Figs: Celeste, Chicago Hardy, Little Miss Figgy, Little Ruby, Olympic and Rhonde de Bordeau
Asian Pears: Shinko, Korean Giant
Blackberries: Thornless varieties like Natchez and Ouachita, Apache, Navajo and Prime Ark Freedom
Conclusion Karen emphasized the importance of choosing suitable varieties for the Piedmont and warned against relying on grocery store fruit types, as they may not thrive in our region. Stay informed about your tree’s specific needs, and don't hesitate to prune for better growth. Remember, if something isn’t thriving, it’s okay to pivot—every gardener faces challenges!
For anyone looking to dive into fruit tree gardening, Karen’s insights provide a solid foundation for success!