February 2003 #2

The notes on my garden calendar remind me that now is the time to start pruning the fruit trees and brambles. Washington’s birthday is a traditional day to start pruning grape vines. And all the other fruits follow suit after that. All the fruit pruning should be finished by the end of March, weather permitting!
There has been resurgence in recent years of homeowners growing their own fruits. Most fruit trees and bushes have several qualities, besides bearing delicious fresh fruits that make them good choices for the landscape. All the fruit trees have nice flowers in the spring. Cherry trees and blueberry bushes also have excellent fall color. Most of the popular varieties of apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries are available in dwarf or semi-dwarf form making it possible to grow fruits even on a small property. Dwarf trees bear fruit in two to three years, are easier to maintain (prune, spray) and the fruit is easier to harvest.
Many of the modern varieties of fruits have been bred or selected for their resistance to diseases. A plus for home gardeners, since the frequency of spraying is reduced.
When selecting fruit trees for the home garden you will need to know a little about pollination. Some varieties are self-pollinating while others will need another variety planted nearby to cross-pollinate in order to bear fruit. Peaches, nectarines, apricots and many of the plums are self-pollinators, meaning you only need one tree in order to get fruit. Apples and most pears require two different varieties with compatible pollen types that blossom close to the same time to get a good crop of fruit. Wherever you purchase your fruit trees this information should be supplied for you.
A fruit tree will need a sunny, well-drained location in fertile soil. Heavy clay soils can be amended with 1/3 peat or compost to improve the drainage. Plant the trees 12-14 feet apart. Do not fertilize at planting time. Wait at least 30 days before fertilizing with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Potted trees from nurseries and garden centers usually contain a time- release fertilizer in their soil mix. You can wait until the following season to begin fertilizing them. Mulching the area around the trees will help keep weeds down. Maintaining a weed free area around the trees will help with insect control.
Young trees are pruned to guide the tree to a desired shape. In later years they are pruned to help produce more fruiting. New trees are often already pruned at the time of purchase. Be sure to ask about pruning before you leave the nursery or garden center.
The best time for planting fruit trees is while they are dormant. In this area fruit trees can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. And that time is coming soon, usually mid-March through April.
Perhaps you would like to try growing fruit but aren’t quite ready to invest the time or space needed for a tree. Growing blueberries may be a good alternative. Blueberry bushes require less space (4 feet apart); they can even be used as a foundation planting. Their biggest requirement is an acidic soil, pH 4.5- 5.0. Our soil is naturally acidic so it is not difficult to maintain the proper pH. If you have the space try to grow at least three bushes. To ensure good pollination and a long harvest, select an early, mid and late season variety. Blueberries can be planted in the early spring. Add some peat moss to the planting area to improve drainage and add to the acidity of the soil. Just be prepared to cover the bushes with bird netting when the berries appear.
To grow good quality fruit a spray schedule needs to be followed to control pests and diseases. There are both chemical and organic controls available to the home grower. Good spray schedules for the various types of fruit are available from Rutgers Cooperative Extension. In Somerset Co. you can reach them weekdays during normal business hours at: 908-526-6293. You can also access information from the website: http://www.rce.rutgers.edu

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the Nursery Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op.  Questions and comments can be sent to bethtanical@rcn.com