potpourri of fruit tree questions answeredccag-eh.ucanr.edu/files/241482.pdf · topics to be...

Potpourri of Fruit Tree Questions Answered

Chuck Ingels

UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County

Master Gardener Monthly Meeting

Sacramento

Feb. 9, 2016

Topics to be Covered

• Chuck’s favorite fruits

• Pollination and fruitfulness

• Chilling requirement and climate change

• Fruit bearing habits

• Planting and pruning issues

• Water use and drought effects

• Pest issues and spraying needs

• Espalier considerations

Chux Favorite Fruits?

• Too many to name

•Peach/nectarine, pear, pluot, fig

blueberry, cherry, persimmon, orange

• Easiest to grow

•Persimmon, blueberry, fig, pluot,

peach/ nectarine, citrus

•Most challenging in many years

•Cherry, apricot, apple, pear

• BMSB love all but plum/pluot

• Indian Free

» Leaf curl resistant

» Taste test winner

» Hairy, can be mealy

• Suncrest

» Large, outstanding flavor

» Mostly red skin

» Ripens late July-early Aug.

Peaches

• Arctic Supreme

» Cling; white flesh, red/cream skin

• O’Henry

» Large; superb flavor

» Fully red skin

» Ripens early-mid Aug.

Peaches

• Heavenly White

» Large, firm

» White flesh, red/cream skin

• Arctic Jay

» Firm, rich flavor

» White flesh, red/cream skin

» Ripens early-mid July

Nectarines

• (Flavorosa)

» Deep purple skin, red flesh

» Ripens late May

• Flavor Supreme

» Outstanding flavor

» Greenish maroon skin, red flesh

» Ripens in June

Pluots

• Splash

» Red-orange skin, orange flesh

» Ripens mid July

» Fruit look like ornaments in tree

• Dapple Dandy

» Yellowish skin, cream/red flesh

» Consistently large crops

» Taste test winner!

» Ripens Aug.

Pluots

• Flavor King

» Outstanding flavor; taste winner

» Reddish purple skin, red flesh

» Ripens mid Aug.

» Problems with fruit set

• Flavor Grenade

» Delicious fruit

» Honorable mention for name

Pluots

• Chuck likes them all

• Use several varieties - extended ripening, pollination

• “Chill Hour” requirements:

Most “low chill” Southern Highbush varieties: 150-800 hrs.

Most “high chill” northern Highbush varieties: 800-1,000 hrs.

Blueberries

Pollination

• Polle(i)nize: To supply with pollen

• Pollinate: To convey pollen to a stigma and so

allow fertilization

• Polle(i)nizer: Another variety planted or

grafted nearby to provide pollen (and fruit)

• Pollinator: An insect that pollenizes

• Fertilization: The act of initiating biological

reproduction by pollination; union of male and

female gametes (cells) to form a zygote

Pollination and Fruitfulness

• Self-fruitful = The pollen from one flower will

pollinate the pistil of the same flower

» A nearby pollinizer may still enhance pollination

» Apricot, peach, nectarine, pomegranate

» Cherry: Lapins & Stella, Apple: several

• Partially self-fruitful = Will set some fruit, but set

far more with pollinizer

» Many pome fruit, plum, & plum hybrid varieties

• Self-unfruitful / Self-sterile: Use another variety

» Many pome fruit, cherry, plum (& hybrid) varieties

» The closer the better for pollinizer

» Bloom timing must overlap (they often don’t, so

more than one pollinizer variety is best)

» 50 ft. – Stark Bros., Chuck

» 75-100 ft. – The New Fruit Grower

» 100 ft. – UC Calif. Backyard Orchard, Amherst

Nurseries, sfgate.com, Lowes

» 100-200 ft. – Purdue Univ.

Pollination and Fruitfulness

What if You Have No Pollenizer Nearby? Plant, Graft, or:

Chilling Requirement

The number of hours below 45°F required by a

fruit species or variety between November 1

and February 15

Lack of chilling causes:

Death of buds, extended bloom, and poor fruit set

Extended bloom increases time pathogens may

enter flowers

Almond 250-500

Apple* 500-1000

Apple (low chill) 400-600

Apricot* 300-800

Cherry, sweet 700-800

Fig 100

Peach/nectarine 500-800

Pear* 700-800

Pear (Asian) 350-450

Pecan 250

Persimmon 100-200

Pistachio 800

Plum, European 600-800

Plum, Japanese 700-800

Pomegranate 100-150

Walnut 500-700

Chilling Hour Requirements (Newer varieties may have lower requirements)

Cumulative Chill Hours CIMIS Station – Fair Oaks, 2011-15

Cumulative Chill Portions CIMIS Station – Fair Oaks, 2011-15

Chill will be reduced in the future

Chill Portions Chill Hours

Luedeling et al., 2009 PLoSOne

33% reduction by 2050 16% reduction by 2050

Low chill winters occur periodically

1950-1951

1969-1970

1977-1978

1995-1996

2005-2006

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020

2013-2014

2014-2015

Yolo County Kings County

Mid-Century

End-of-Century

Mid-Century

End-of-Century

How Winters Could “Feel” With Continued Warming

***Chill as measured by Chill Portions

***Projections are based on average of different emissions scenarios and different climate models from

Luedeling et al (2011). So, this is neither most optimistic nor most pessimistic outlook. Middle of the road.

Species

Location of fruiting buds

Bearing spur/ branch life Long branches Short branches or spurs

Apple + +++ 8–10+

Apricot ++ +++ 3

Cherry - ++++ 10–12

Fig +++ + On 1-yr & shoots

Peach/Nect. +++ + 1–2

Pear, Asian + ++++ 6–8

Pear, European + +++ 8–10

Persimmon +++ On new shoots

+ 1–2

Plum ++ +++ 6–8

Fruiting Structures and Buds

Species

Apple + +++ 8–10+

Apricot ++ +++ 3

Cherry - ++++ 10–12

Fig +++ On 1-yr & shoots

Persimmon +++ Shoots – end buds

+ 1–2

Plum ++ +++ 6–8

Peach Fruiting Branches

Flower

Fig Growth & Bearing Habit

First crop

Second crop

Persimmon: Fruitful Shoots at Tips of 1-Year-Old Branches

Species

Apple + +++ 8–10+

Apricot ++ +++ 3

Cherry - ++++ 10–12

+ 1–2

Plum ++ +++ 6–8

Cherry

Asian pear

European pear

Apricot

Species

Apple + +++ 8–10+

Apricot ++ +++ 3

Cherry - ++++ 10–12

+ 1–2

Plum ++ +++ 6–8

Rootstock Scion

Almond Apple Apricot Cherry Peach Pear Plum

Almond S I I I P I P

Apple I S I I I I I

Apricot I I S I P I P

Cherry I I I S I I I

Peach/Nect. S I P I S I P

Pear I U I I I S I

Plum I I P I I I S

Simplified Graft Compatibility Table (S=Satisfactory, P=Partial, I=Incompatible)

Planting Fruit Trees

• Check roots, cut off dead or damaged

• Hole size: Wide, and deep if compacted

• Plant on mound to keep crown dry

• Plant high! – Reduces chances of crown

& root rot

Graft union well above soil

Previous soil line at or above soil level

Allow for soil settling

Planting a Bare Root Tree

Dig hole to fit roots

Lightly tamp soil

Emitters 1 ft. away

Undercutting the Trees

Trees in Pots Planted as Bare Root

• Roots cut further to fit in pot

• Soil will fall away

Trees & Grapes in Sleeves

Could be Root Bound

Planting a Containerized Tree

Pull out wound roots

Don’t cover soil in pot

Water in

Crown Gall A Major Problem

Crown Gall Best Control Method

Hole 1-2 ft. deep, 4-5’ wide

Soil from FOHC brought in

Clean tools!

Post-Planting Care

• Head tree at 18-24 in. (bare root only)

• Paint trunk white

Interior latex paint & water,

50:50 (75:25)

Entire trunk to 2 in. below soil

Prevents sunburn & borers

Paint Trunks White (Hot Climates, Afternoon Sun on Trunk)

To prevent this

Cutting Pluot Back Rejuvenation

2009 2016

Avoid Winter Pruning?

Cherries and apricots? Yes

Aprium? Yes

Pluot? No

Pluerry? No

Other fruit trees? Avoid large cuts at base

Apple Orchard – Walnut Grove Fungal canker – Large winter cut

Multi-Grafted Trees Uniform growth, adequate light

Fruit Tree Water Use Based on Tree Size

020406080

100120140

2 4 6 8 10 15 20 25

Canopy diameter (ft.)

Spring/Fall Summer

Water Use Based on Tree Size

Bigger tree

(Using more water)

Smaller tree – Espalier

(Using less water)

Bigger tree

(Using more water)

Smaller tree – Fruit bush

(Using less water)

Water Use Based on Tree Size

Drought Effects

• Drought probably reduced insects somewhat

» Fewer plants, dryer plants

» Somewhat fewer BMSB

• Many trees stunted, more sunburn, borers

• Fruit size likely smaller

• Root system effects

Late-Season Blooming

• Response to tree stress

» Lack of water

» Soil or root problems

» Insufficient winter chill

• Usually not serious – Only a few blooms

• Could be substantial – Reduced crop next

Soil Moisture Sensor Installation

Watermark

sensors

(Irrometer Co.)

Conduit, Wiring for Soil Moisture Sensor

In Ultra-WEL

Soil Moisture Sensor Wiring Trench to Blueberries

Soil Moisture Sensor Installing in Vineyard

Marking the Sensor Location

Tree Oozing Usually a Problem, But Not Always

Large pruning cut likely made

between Sept. & March

Deer Protection Fencing, High Pruning

Bird & Squirrel Netting AviGuard (Plantra)

Available by the foot (17’ wide) from Valley Vineyard & Orchard Supply,

Bird Damage to Buds

Deer Fencing

Don’t Water Around Trunk!

Nothing personal, Mike!

Dormant Spraying

• Peach leaf curl

» Never know if spring will be wet or dry

» Copper ammonium complex (e.g., Liqui-Cop)

» Copper soap / copper octanoate (e.g., Concern)

» Adding 1% spray oil improves efficacy

• Aphids, soft scale

» Delayed dormant oil smothers eggs & adults

» May require additional treatment in spring

» Spraying is often unnecessary

Eva’s Pride – Sprayed Jan. 20, 2016 All others sprayed Feb. 4 (copper)

Ripens

late May

In-Season Spraying

• Codling moth

» Multiple sprays, timed around generations and

peak flights

Aphids, scale

» If dormant spray was ineffective

Citrus leafminer

» Spinosad – Multiple sprays in spring

» Imidacloprid soil drench(??) – after bloom

Good coverage essential, difficult

Spraying Sources of Information

UC IPM

The Home Orchard book

EH Notes

UC crop production & pest

management manuals

BMSB Finds Sacramento County

Jan. 1, 2014 Jan. 1, 2015

BMSB Finds Sacramento County – Jan. 1, 2016

BMSB Damage 2014

Peach, 5/22

Nectarine, 6/3

Asian pear, 7/2 Plum – no damage

On Persimmons Sept. 2015

On Apples Sept. 2015

Trunk Feeding and Damage

Cherry

Sept. 2015

Orange

Sept. 2015

Shamel ash

Sept. 2015

Crape myrtle

Sept. 2015

Sunflower Most on tall sunflowers

Sept. 2015

First BMSB Damage at Fair Oaks Horticulture Center

Asian pear, July 11

Espalier

• Timeline for creating structure

Photo: KVDP

April June July

Peach Espalier 2013

Peach Espalier

March 2015

August 2015 (205 fruit)

Palmette Verrier (Menorah) Asian Pear: Planted Jan. 2001

Late April, 2002 Late May, 2002

Source:

EspalierService

Typical

Espalier

Patterns

Source:

EspalierService

Typical

Espalier

Patterns

¿Questions?

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