Fruits of their labor

Food gardening is more popular than ever. From harvesting edibles with incredible flavor to just simply knowing where your food comes from, the joys of “growing your own” are undeniable. But it’s also true that growing your own food is more challenging than just about any other type of gardening, especially when it comes to growing your own fruit.

To produce a quality harvest, fruit trees need some special care, particularly when it comes to controlling diseases. And that’s where you can help your customers. Fruit diseases like brown rot, scab and fire blight can turn the best-laid plans into a totally “fruitless” experience. By telling customers which problems they can expect and how to avoid them, you ensure their success, sell additional products and reaffirm your position as the knowledgeable local gardening experts.
 

Know the local problems

Fruit diseases can be extremely regional, and chances are you have heard which ones are most troubling for your customers. Still, it always pays to stay in touch with what’s happening with the local cooperative extension. They can provide you with the latest information on disease outbreaks, variety adaptation and proper timing of control measures. Many states publish fruit tree maintenance calendars that are tremendously useful and make for great customer giveaways.
 

Promote well-adapted varieties

As most of us are well aware, fruit tree adaptation is also very regional. Varieties and types that are well-adapted to your area will produce the best quality fruit but, if possible, should also resist the most common diseases. Take advantage of these qualities as marketing opportunities. Apples like ‘Liberty,’ ‘Redfree’ and ‘Enterprise’ resist scab, mildew, cedar apple rust and fire blight. ‘Honeysweet’ and ‘Kieffer’ are two of several pears that resist fire blight. Many Asian pears also resist fire blight. Although they might not have the quality of some of the best peaches, ‘Q 1-8’ and ‘Frost’ are resistant to peach leaf curl. And there are many more disease-resistant fruit varieties. Because dwarf fruit trees are easier to maintain and spray, they are also good options where diseases are challenging. Some rootstocks provide resistance to soilborne diseases.
 

Choose proper growing conditions

Most fruit trees need full sun for at least six hours a day, well-drained soil, regular water and proper fertilization to produce quality crops. Too much shade, overwatering, poorly drained soils and too much nitrogen can promote disease. Make sure your customers know that choosing the proper planting site and providing the right care will go a long way to ensure a successful harvest.
 

Prune correctly and at the right time

Proper pruning opens trees to air circulation, drying and light, which can help prevent many diseases. It also removes diseased branches preventing further infection.

When you prune can be as important as how you prune. Most pruning is done during the dormant season, but summer pruning helps control tree size, encourages air circulation and it’s a good time to remove diseased plant parts. Pruning during dry weather can also prevent the spread of disease. In California, for example, apricots are pruned in summer to prevent Eutypa dieback, which can be spread through pruning cuts by winter rains.

Fruit thinning is necessary to obtain acceptable fruit size in most tree fruit. It’s also a good chance to remove infected fruit that may spread disease. Make sure to remind customers that with some diseases, including fire blight, it’s important to sterilize shears with a 10 percent bleach solution after each cut (this is also a good chance for you to sell new pruning equipment).
 

Keep it clean

Raking up and discarding dropped leaves and prunings, and removing mummies (unpicked fruit) from trees goes a long way in disrupting disease cycles from year to year.
 

Control vectors

Not many fruit tree diseases are transmitted by insects, but there is one very important exception: the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening (known as Huanglongbing or HLB).

Controlling the psyllid is critical in controlling this devastating citrus disease, which has no cure. The disease is established in Florida, where it has killed millions of trees. The insect threatens citrus in all citrus growing regions. Contact your local cooperative extension for control options.
 

Pick the best time to spray

Controlling fruit tree diseases usually takes multiple approaches, including fungicidal or bacterial sprays. Proper timing of these sprays is critically important and presents educational and sales opportunities several times a year. Dormant sprays can help control insects and disease in winter. During the growing season, customers may want to start with natural products. Whether using natural or synthetic products, customers will need help with proper application techniques and appropriate equipment. And as always, they will need to read and follow label instructions.

Lance Walheim is a Bayer Advanced lawn and garden expert, author of Lawn Care for Dummies and co-author of Landscaping for Dummies.