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Relevant, Reliable, Responsive…
Fruit in the Community Garden: Introduction
Patrick Byers Regional Horticulture Specialist University of Missouri Extension
Springfield, MO
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Outline
• Why choose fruit for the community garden?
• Choosing a type of fruit
• Choosing among fruit cultivars
• Site considerations
• General care of fruit plants
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
• Interest in quality
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
• Highest quality
• Variety
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
Fruit May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Apple
Apricot
Cherry
Mulberry Pawpaw Persimmon Peach
Pear
Plum
Fruit tree harvest dates
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
Fruit May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Blackberry
Blueberry
Gooseberry
Elderberry Grape - Table
Grape - Wine
Flori Raspberry
Primo Raspberry
JB Strawberry
DN Strawberry
Berry harvest dates
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
• Highest quality
• Variety
• Money savings
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
• Highest quality
• Variety
• Money savings
• Healthful qualities of fruit – Vitamins and minerals
– Fiber
– Antioxidants
– Anticancer properties
– Ellagic acid
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Why Grow Fruit in the Community Garden?
• Highest quality
• Variety
• Money savings
• Healthful qualities of fruit
• Good for the soul!
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Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden
• Perennial plants – Long term commitment
– Successful plantings are planned!
– Fruits are often planted in a common area in the garden – who will tend the plants?
– Consider placement in the garden • Structures may be needed for grape, bramble,
espaliered trees
• Shading issues from trees
• Pest control concerns
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Grand Acres Community Garden
New Haven, CT
(source: http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/grand_acres_entry-26272)
N
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Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden
• Opportunities in the community garden
– Focus for festivals, garden gatherings, work parties
– Focus for learning experiences
– Community outreach opportunities
– Fruit plants can become part of the permanent fabric of a community garden
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Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden
• Useful life of fruit plants in KS/MO – Apple, pear, mulberry, pawpaw, persimmon –
20-30 years
– Grape – 20-30 years
– Peach, plum, cherry – 15-20 years
– Blueberry – 15 years
– Blackberry, raspberry – 7-10 years
– June bearing strawberry – 3-5 years
– Day neutral strawberry – 1 year
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Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden
• Hardiness issues
– Hardiest fruits – apple, pear, blueberry, pawpaw, persimmon, mulberry
– -15 to -20°F: damage to blackberry and raspberry, most stone fruit flower buds, most grapes
– -10 to -15°F: damage to most peach flower buds
– -5 to -10°F: damage to less hardy grapes
– 0 to -5°F: damage to unprotected strawberry plants
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Realities of Fruit in the Community Garden
• Pest issues
– Serious pest issues – peach, plum, apricot, grape
– Moderate pest issues – apple, pear, tart cherry, raspberry
– Pest tolerant – blackberry, blueberry, persimmon, pawpaw, strawberry
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Choosing a Type of Fruit
• Great topic for a garden discussion!
– Is there a place for fruit?
– Which fruits are of interest?
– What is the waiting period?
– Is the fruit difficult to grow?
– How often will there be a harvest?
– What about spraying?
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Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar
• Adapted to the climate
– Winter cold
– Summer heat
– Frosts and freezes
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Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar
• Adapted to the climate
• Attractive features
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Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar
• Adapted to the climate
• Attractive features
• Disease and insect resistance
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Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar
• Adapted to the climate
• Attractive features
• Disease and insect resistance
• Harvest season
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Choosing the Proper Fruit Cultivar
• Adapted to the climate
• Attractive features
• Disease and insect resistance
• Harvest season
• Use of the crop
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Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit
• Full sun
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Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit
• Full sun
• Close to water source
– fruit plants need 1.5-2 inches of water/week
– Make it easy to water fruit plants
– soaker hose or trickle works good
– mulches are great
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Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit
• Full sun
• Close to water source
• Adequate space among plants
– avoid pockets of stagnant air
– Provide adequate spacing between fruit plants
– fewer disease problems
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Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit
• Limited space
– Dwarf fruit trees and small statured plants
– Espaliered fruit
Source: http://www.examiner.comarticlegrow- fruit-trees-narrow-spaces
Source: httpwfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.comimages homesarticlesultra5rhf46ghfjctdxd9jg1s-41419.jpg http://www.logees.com/
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Selecting a Place to Grow Fruit
• Full sun
• Close to water source
• Good air movement
• Soil – well drained
– slightly acid, moderately fertile
– organic matter is important – work towards 5% OM
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Site Modification
• Provisions for soil drainage – berms, raised beds
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Containers and Raised Beds
• The growing media must be well drained, and high in organic matter
• Suggested mix:
– 33%: 1/4" bark compost
– 33%: peat moss
– 33%: good quality topsoil
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Planting – purchase good nursery stock
– plant in spring or fall
– handle properly upon arrival
– plant properly
– care of the young plants
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Planting fruit trees • Dig a hole 2x the
spread of the roots
• Plant with graft union 2” above the soil line
• Spread roots, backfill, firm soil Source: http://www.dorsetdesignbuild.co.uk/author/suzie/
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Planting berries and grapes
– Plant at the same depth as in the nursery
– Dig an adequate hole, and spread the roots
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Planting strawberries
– Dormant crowns
• Spread roots, and plant with soil half way up the crown
– Plug plants
• Plant as a bedding plant
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Pruning – pruning is an important
annual job • shaping plants • strong framework • correct problems
– use the proper tools – when to prune
• dormant – late February • growing season
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Training and Pruning Equipment
• Pruner
• Lopper
• Saw
• Disinfectant
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Pruning Tree Fruits
• Central leader
– Apple
– Pear
– Apricot
– European plum
– Cherry
• Open center
– Peach
– Japanese plum
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Managing pests – IPM for diseases, insects, animals – learn the potential problems
– Use “resistant” cultivars
– Purchase healthy planting stock
– Healthy plants are able to ward off pests
– Dispose of crop residue (leftovers)
– Destroy wild fruit plants that harbor pests
– Use limited chemicals if necessary
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Fertilizing – know the needs of your plants
• Weeds – Remove perennial weeds before planting – mistake to
plant fruit plants in grassy areas
– Don’t delay! Remove weeds when they are less than 1” tall and remove roots, too!
– Mulching is useful – weed barrier, straw, leaves, black polyethylene plastic, grass clippings, wood chips
– Chemicals (herbicides) - READ directions! BE careful!
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Care of Fruit Plants in the Garden
• Irrigation • Drip or trickle
systems work well • Trees – gator bags,
buckets with holes • 1.5 to 2 inches of
water per week is usual
• Combine with mulch or weed barrier fabric for easy maintenance
Source: http://www.nelsonirrigation.com/products/application/apples
Source: http://robertkouriksgardenroots.blogspot.com/ 2010/06/on-right-road-to-drip-irrigation.html
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Resources
• Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide - http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fruitpathology/Bulletins/Home%20Fruit_B591_All%20S.pdf
• Kansas State University Extension Publications • Guides on many aspects of fruit production – http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/Category.aspx?id=528&catId=534&P
age=5
– University of Missouri Extension Guides – Guides on many aspects of fruit production – http://extension.missouri.edu/main/DisplayCategory.aspx?C=63
– MO State Fruit Experiment Station (MSU) – Guides on blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, general fruit – http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/Publications/index.htm#CommercialFrui
t
– Cornell Berry and Small Fruit Nursery Listing - http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/nurseries/nurseries.html
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Conclusion
• Any questions?
Contact information: Patrick Byers 417-881-8909 [email protected]