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Growing stone fruit reaps bountiful and delicious results
Utah is famous for its summertime stone fruit, including juicy peaches, plums and cherries. Sure, you can pick them up at the local grocery store, farmer’s market or roadside stand, but there is still another source you may want to consider. How about your own backyard?
For many people, having a home orchard is the stuff of dreams—the idea of sweet juice dripping down your chin after biting into a fresh, ripe peach picked from your very own tree can be intoxicating. Of course, making it a reality takes more than wishful thinking. Patience, commitment and a fair share of work all contribute to successfully developing and maintaining a home orchard of any size.
Experts will tell you that overwatering is the most common reason backyard orchards fail, and selecting the wrong variety of fruit is not far behind. Another common mistake people make is planting fruit trees too deep—they should be planted so that the top of the container’s soil level is even with the ground.
Is your yard too small to host an assortment of fruit trees? A multiple grafted tree may be the solution to your spatially challenged garden. Just think, you could pick a peach, apricot and plum from the very same tree. Not only do multi-grafted trees produce assorted fruits but, as a result, offer longer harvests. Multiple grafted fruit trees can also solve any cross-pollination issues. Order multi-grafts from your local nursery.
Ultimately, your own hard work and careful attention will lead to the success of your orchard. To get you started, here are some tips on growing three of Utah’s favorite stone fruit trees.
Peaches
FUNDAMENTALS: “Peaches are the most popular fruit grown in Utah,” says LaRane Bautner of Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake City. They are a summer favorite, but you should consider what you want to do with the fruit before selecting and planting a tree. Different varieties are better for canning versus just plucking from the branch and eating—your nurseryman can help you select the best variety for you. Unlike most fruit trees, peach trees are self-pollinating, so you won’t need more than one tree to get fruit.
GROWING CONDITIONS: Peach trees do best in deep, well-drained soils. Bautner recommends amending the soil to improve texture and drainage. She recommends the Doughnut Peach, a sweet, white-fleshed fruit with a sunken middle and mild flavor.
PRUNING: Prune peach trees on a regular basis. Don’t be shy about keeping the deadwood cut out—peaches only form on new growth. It’s also important to cut out cross branches, and you want branches to grow out rather than grow up. This helps the fruit receive more sunlight; plus it makes the fruit easier to reach.
PESTS AND DISEASES: The most common peach tree pest is the peach borer. This insect bores in to the trunk of the tree and will kill it if left unchecked. External evidence of this pest is a wet spot on the bark or oozing sap. The most effective control is to kill eggs and larvae with a protective insecticide treatment. Fungal diseases that show up as leaf curl or the rotting of the peach’s stone inside the fruit are also common. Both are controlled with a copper-based fungicide.
Cherries
FUNDAMENTALS: The Utah State Fruit, cherries are available in many varieties, but they generally fall into one of two categories: sweet or sour. Sour cherries self-pollinate and are much easier to grow. Sweet cherries have to be pollinated by another variety and are very picky about what variety they “produce” with. Consult with your nursery for the perfect pairing.
GROWING CONDITIONS: Cherry trees are also very particular about their climate. Because they flower earlier than most fruit trees, they are susceptible to frost damage. When planting a cherry tree, choose a location that receives full sun.
Dig the hole wider than it is deep, but make sure the roots
fit easily into the depth of the hole. Cherry trees are the most challenging when it comes to water. The soil should remain moist—not wet—all the way down to the roots. The Utah Giant, a large sweet cherry, is a local favorite.
PRUNING: Aside from the annual removal of old and weak branches, tart cherries need little pruning. You should, however, shape your cherry tree lightly during its first few years. Sweet cherries should be lightly pruned to encourage a horizontal growth on angled branches.
PESTS AND DISEASES: Spray during the early season with dormant oil. It will coat overwintering insects and cut insect problems by about 90 percent. Birds will most likely be your main problem during the summer months. Keep your fruit protected by netting the trees—depending on the size of the tree, it can be a difficult task, but well worth it in the end.
Plums
FUNDAMENTALS: Very popular for home orchards, plums are a hardy tree requiring little maintenance once they have established their roots. Plums can be divided into four groups: European, Damson, Japanese and American. Some varieties self-pollinate and can be grown as a single isolated plant, but others require cross-pollination for fruit set and development. As with most fruit trees, deep watering is a must—how often depends on the type of soil.
GROWING CONDITIONS: Different varieties do best in certain climates. Utah’s most popular and successfully grown varieties include the Italian Prune, Green Gage and a tangy-tasting Utah favorite, the Santa Rosa. Most plums require plenty of sunshine, moisture and warmth.
PRUNING: Plum trees tend to bear more fruit than the tree can adequately support, so it’s vital that the young fruit be thinned in order to yield larger fruit. Be sure to thin older wood so more light reaches the young fruiting spurs on the inside of the tree. Any diseased fruit should be removed immediately, as it will attract diseases and wasps.
PESTS AND DISEASES: Typically, pests and diseases are not a big problem for plum trees. They’re hardy and thrive in most conditions.
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