Home Fruit Gardening
101
Charlotte Glen,
Horticulture Agent –
Pender County Cooperative
Extension
We will discuss:

Fruits that can realistically be
grown in SE NC
– Some are more challenging than others
– Which can be grown organically

Basics
– Things you need to know before
attempting to grow fruit

Specifics
– For different fruit types
What Are the Possibilities?
Tree Fruit







Figs (E)*
Asian Persimmon (E/M)*
Pears & Asian Pears (M)*
Plums (M)
Apples (M/D)
Peaches (D)
Nectarines (D)
Grapes and Berries




Blueberries (E)*
Blackberries (E)*
Muscadines (E/M)*
Strawberries (M)
E = Easy, M = Moderate, D = Difficult
* = Best choices for organic production
What Will Not Work?




Apricots
Cherries
Grapes - except muscadine
Citrus - except in containers
– Mandarin (Satsuma & Tangerines) and
Kumquats are hardiest but still need
winter protection here

Bananas
– Would have to protect stem through
winter to get fruit
Worth a try??


Raspberries - will be
short lived
Kiwifruit – often
experience cold damage
– Vigorous vines, need
male and female

Pomegranate
– set few fruit in SE
Fruit Growing Basics:
Site Selection
To do well all fruit bearing
plants need:



Good Drainage!!!
Full Sun!!!
Correct pH
– Blueberries – acid 4.5 - 5.8
– Strawberries – 5.5 – 6.5
– Others 6.0 – 6.5
Fruit Growing Basics:
Soil Testing



FREE service from NC Dept. of Agriculture
Boxes and forms available from any
Extension Office
Take samples from potential area
– To 8” deep, take multiple samples, mix together

Test at least 4-6 months before planting
– Add dolomitic lime to raise pH
– Add wettable sulphur to lower pH

Drop of at any Extension Office, results
posted online in 2-8 weeks
Fruit Growing Basics:
Varieties and Chilling Hours

Chilling Hours
– Number of hours of chilling (between 32
- 45 F) needed to develop flower buds
and leaf buds

SE Coastal NC: 600 – 800 hours

Choose varieties appropriately
– Choosing varieties adapted to our
area one of the most important
factors for success!
Fruit Growing Basics:
Varieties

For many fruits, plant more
than one named variety to
extend harvest season
– Blueberries, blackberries,
muscadines, peaches
– Early, mid, and late season
bearing varieties available
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pollination



Fruits are pollinated by
honeybees and other
pollinators
Many pollinators,
especially honeybees, are
very susceptible to most
insecticides
Never apply insecticides
when fruit trees are in full
bloom
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pollination
Need Cross Pollination*
 Apples and Pears
 Plums
 Muscadines
 Blueberries
Self Fruitful
 Peaches and
Nectarines
 Strawberries
 Blackberries
 Figs
 Asian Persimmon
* Some varieties may be self fruitful though higher yields result
from cross pollination
Fruit Growing Basics:
Nutrients and Water

Soil Test Before Planting!!!
– Incorporate lime, phosphorous,
potassium
– Test each year to monitor levels
– Add nitrogen according to crop needs


Follow recommendations for amount and
timing specific to each crop
Regular watering essential for high yield,
~ 1” per week during growing season
Fruit Growing Basics:
Training and Pruning




Essential for health and productivity
Training = establishment of initial
framework during first 3-5 years
Pruning = annual pruning to maintain
shape
Pruning needs vary with species
–
–
–
–
Strawberries = none!
Figs, blueberries, blackberries = little
Pears, plums = moderate
Apples, peaches,
muscadines = A lot!
Fruit Growing Basics:
Support Structures

Some fruits need support structures:
– Muscadines
– Blackberries
– Kiwifruit

Construct
adequate
structure before
planting
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pest Control




Choose disease resistant varieties whenever
available
Provide optimum growing conditions –
Water and nutrients, soil pH
Correct site selection (sun, good drainage) –
also want good air circulation
Control Weeds – harbor insects, compete
for water and nutrients
– Mulch
– Herbicides or hand weed
Apple-Cedar Rust
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pest Control


Prune for good light and air penetration
Sanitation!!!
– Collect and destroy diseases leaves, stems, fruit
– Always remove ‘mummies’
– Keep ripe fruit picked
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pest Control




Pesticide applications essential for most crops
for reliable production
Pests includes birds and mammals
Research what pests to expect and
when and how to treat
Most feasible for organic growing:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Figs
Blueberries (if correct soil)
Muscadine Grapes
Blackberries
Pears (fire blight resistant varieties)
Persimmon
Plum Curculio
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pest Control


Spray schedules usually
necessary for apples,
peaches/nectarines, and plums
Timing based on development
stage
– Most begin at petal fall (or earlier)
and continue every few weeks to
harvest

Follow all label directions when
applying any pesticide (organic
or synthetic)
Codling Moth
larvae – Adult
moths lay eggs
in small
developing
fruits
Fruit Growing Basics:
Pest Control

Pesticides available to homeowners to
manage fruit pests (*=organic)
– Insects: Malathion, Permethrin, Esfenvalerate,
Spinosid*, Horticultural Oil*, Carbaryl (Sevin),
Neem*, Pyrethrin*
– Diseases: Captan, Myclobutanil (Immunox),
Copper*, Sulfur*, Mancozeb, Thiophanate
methyl, Daconil, Bacillus subtillis (Serenade)*,
Kaolin Clay (Surround)*

Individual products vary greatly in their
effectiveness to control different problems