Backyard fruit

By Eric Barrett

OSU Extension educator

Fruit is one of the most rewarding crops to grow in the home garden.

Before planting, think about the site and the soil.

All fruit crops despise wet feet (their roots sitting in water).

If you have clay soil like most of us here in the Mahoning Valley, you’ll need to amend the soil and deal with any drainage issues. Sometimes this involves mounding soil for a raised bed.

Blueberries may be your desire, but these plants take special care due to their low pH requirements (4.8-5.2).

When planted, peat moss and sulfur will be needed to lower the pH in order for these to grow to the proper size and produce fruit.

If you are thinking about early blooming fruit crops such as peaches, you’ll need a higher site out of the low-lying frost pockets in your yard.

If you have a small yard, you may need to consider alternative crops.

Review fact sheets about the crop as this might lead you to reconsider some varieties of thornless blackberries that do not survive most winters in our area.

When choosing cultivars, disease resistance is of utmost importance. For example, apple scab can defoliate a tree by August. If you plant a scab-resistant apple cultivar (think Gold Rush), then you’ll have a much healthier tree and better crop of apples.

Pollination is an important factor in growing fruit.

Some types of fruits are self-fruitful. This means the tree or plant can be pollinated from the same cultivar.

Other fruits such as apples need a different cultivar that blooms at the same time in order to produce fruit.

Apple, sweet cherry, plum and nut crops need this cross-pollination.

Planting is often thought of as a simple task after all of the pre-planning is complete and the plants or trees are purchased.

Most fruit crops are planted in early spring when soil moisture is adequate.

Special attention is required on grafted fruit trees to be sure the graft is above the soil line.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will help you grow the best fruit during the growing season.

This involves identifying the pest or disease and then reviewing control options before just going out and spraying something on the plant or tree.

Proper pruning will increase air flow through the tree to dry leaves in the morning before diseases have a chance to grow.

Sunlight penetration into the canopy will help dry leaves and will improve fruit production.

At the end of each season, rake the ground to remove leaves, twigs, canes and discarded fruit. This removes potential infection for many diseases during the next growing season.

Complete details of each type of fruit grown in Ohio (including pawpa and hardy kiwi) are available in the book “Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide.” This full-color, 148-page book is available for purchase at the OSU Extension Office. Call 330-533-5538.