Cristi asked:

As their name implies, fruit trees are simply trees that bear fruit. This may include apple, cherry, citrus (i.e., orange and lemon), durian, mango, morello cherry, pear, peach, nectarine and plum. In addition some nut bearing trees, such as walnuts, are also considered to be fruit trees. Virtually all trees of flowering plants will produce fruit which, in this case, is used to define trees that produce fruit that can be used as human food.

In order for fruit trees to remain healthy and continue producing quality fruits, they must be pruned for growth control purposes and also to remove dead or diseased wood. In addition, pruning fruit trees may also stimulate the growth of flowers and/or fruit buds. The best time for pruning, economic wise, is early in the season as the buds begin to break. At this point, the grower can simply pinch off the soft tissue with his/her finger. The problem that many growers face is neglecting to properly care for their fruit trees after planting. Careful attention to pruning will have the greatest impact on fruit trees and their productivity.

Did you know that formative pruning of apple and pear trees should occur during the dormant winter months ranging between November and March and should be done during the tree’s early years of life? This will help fruit trees to develop a strong frame that is capable of holding the weight of fruit as it begins to grow in later years. Other fruit trees, such as cherry, plum and gages should not be pruned during the winter.

From the age of five, fruit trees need to be pruned annually. The process of renewal pruning depends greatly on the tendency of most apple and pear trees to produce flower buds. Fruit trees that have strong laterals on the outer part of the tree, which also has room for growth, are best suited for this technique.

The regulatory pruning of fruit trees is performed on the tree as a whole and is done in an effort to keep both the tree and its environment healthy. Regulatory pruning entails keeping the center open so that air can circulate, removing dead or diseased wood and preventing branches from becoming crowded while also preventing the crossing of branches.

Fruit trees are popular among farmers who believe in growing their own food, but also for those who wish to resell fruits for profit. Whether fruit trees are your source of health food or extra cash, taking the time to care for them in such a way that will promote both their productivity and livelihood will be well worth the effort. For those who are truly creative and want to get the most use of their fruit trees, there is nothing better than creating a custom fruit basket to be given as gifts for holidays, birthdays and as your contribution to family gatherings.

Whatever the purpose for your fruit trees, nourish them with everything that they need in order to thrive and, when the time comes, they will produce a product capable of doing the same for you.

Colin D Price asked:

How thrilled would you be to take a walk down the garden and return to the kitchen with a basket of fruit? The choices of fruit in comparison to commercial grown fruit is endless, they are definitely tastier.

Peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums grown for the supermarkets are often picked so green then cooled and stored for so long that they do not ripen correctly and we are unable to enjoy their true taste. With the present economic climate tightening our purse strings, along with the guidelines on health issues being reported daily on how and what to eat, there is no better time than now to start growing your own delicious healthy fruit.

You don’t need a huge backyard to cultivate your favorite fruit, as containers can be used very successfully. However, it should be remembered that plums, pears, apples and cherries need another variety close by for pollination so you need to plan for a couple of trees of each variety. There are many dwarf stocks available to suit a small garden; although they will produce fruit of normal size in 3 to 5 years you won’t get the same quantity as from a standard sized tree.

Growing fruit trees in containers is a relatively easy exercise, and pruning and harvesting is also much easier. Containers are manufactured from plastic, clay, wood, metal etc; there is sure to be one that will be suitable for you. There are many varieties of fruit which can be grown successfully in containers in a small garden or placed on a balcony. This is very useful for people with small or even no garden. If you decide to use pots because of limited space issues, remember you need to have a pot about 6 inches bigger than the pot which holds the tree when you buy from the garden centre. Repot one size up every two years. Well drained sandy, fertile soil is generally suitable for dwarf fruit trees; your garden centre will advise on what is most suitable. As with all plants, suitable light conditions apply, so make sure they get the benefit that maximum sunlight will give. Your dwarf tree can even be moved inside in cold spells.

Regular pruning is necessary for proper care of most fruit trees. To maintain the shape of your miniature fruit tree light pruning to remove broken or diseased branches can be done any time of the year. Thinning out early summer time or alternatively in September after you’ve harvested the fruit is ideal to get the desired shape for your fruit tree and to restrict undesired growth. However, the main removal of branches is much easier to do in winter when they are dormant, as they are much more accessible without their leaves and you can see what you’re doing. Pruning needs to be completed while the tree is dormant and finished by spring when the new growth begins. During the growing season, fertilize every 4-6 weeks. When watering your dwarf fruit trees, let the surface dry out a little before adding more water.

Yet another way for the small garden owner to grow his own fruit is to use a form of pruning called “Espaliering” which allows you to train the trees branches laterally, or even to the shape of a fan, and so you can grow your fruit against a wall or garden fence. There are many different shapes that the espalier may take. Apples and pears adapt very well to this style of training, however other fruit trees such as plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, almonds, apricots and fruiting vines can also be espaliered with great success. The overall effects are stunning, the best reward from this type of pruning being when they are in flower. Also the fruit is a picture to behold, and sometimes it’s a shame to have to pick the fruit. An advantage of growing espaliers is that it is much easier to pick the fruit and its also easier using netting to protect your delicious fruit.

Espaliered trees have the same growing requirements as other fruit and deciduous trees; they need adequate watering in summer and fertile soil conditions are essential to maintaining a healthy tree. Initially you need to regularly prune and tie in the branches to create the flat shape. When the desired shape and size are reached, this must be maintained with regular pruning; again the best time to do this is in the winter. Make sure the lower branches get their fair of sunshine by pruning the excessive growth in early summer.

highposition asked:

The thought of one day owning my own house with a nice garden is a distant dream, much less thinking about growing my own fruit trees in my nice garden. For many people doing the gardening is either a chore or a relaxing light exercise to get involved with during the day. Growing a tree is a process that requires a lot of attention and patience. For those wanting to grow their own fruit tree for the first time will need to research more about the work involved with maintaining a healthy tree.

Choosing to grow fruit trees do take time to see them blossom and do require more attention. There are however, many different types of trees to choose from, which one is the right one is based purely on your own preferences to the kind of fruit tree you would like to grow. You will also have to consider the climate in this country, so if you are thinking of growing a fruit that requires plenty of sunlight and warmth then you are not going to be successful in growing this kind of fruit tree.

The best kinds of fruit trees to grow are things like apples, pears or any stoned fruits. Growing an apple tree would be a good start, as the British weather is perfect for growing good quality apples. To begin with, you will need to select the right sized apple to produce the taste that you desire. Consider what size tree will suit your garden, having a large tree grows and spread across a small garden will fill and cover the garden. The size of the tree is also dependent upon the rootstock.

The second most important thing to consider when growing an apple tree is the kind of apple you want to grow. Whether you prefer to grow dessert types or more acidic apples for cooking, these tend to be larger. This is all down to your own preference, there are different types of apples such as acidic, sweet, soft, hard, crisp and long lasting apples, and therefore it all depends on what you will be using the apples for.

You will need to make sure your garden has enough space to grow two trees, which means this will grow enough apples to feed a family of four. Apple trees are not self-contained and need another tree of a different variety to persuade it to bear fruits. Most apples need the pollen from other apples trees to grow so planting a crab apple tree will ensure that the pollination process will produce a good result for more apples.

You will also need to consider the drainage, as some apple trees grow better with specific soil types such as sandy loam rather than sandy clay. Apple trees also grow best with a lot of sunlight, but also develop during the winter periods, so you must make sure you have situated the apple tree in a bright spot where it will gain lots of sunlight.

With any fruit trees, you need to consider the maintenance and the length of time it will take to get the results you need. Purchasing disease resistant trees, this will make the maintenance of each tree relatively easy. You will also need to know the kind of soil you want to grow your tree on. If there is one thing that needs to be remembered is that you do not need a huge amount of space to grow and cultivate your own fruit tree. It is possible to grow one in the comfort of your own garden, as long as you have taken the right basic steps before beginning the planting process.

Jess Shaw asked:

If you live in a hot, humid sub-tropical zone like Florida or California, you have many options for growing fruit trees. You are lucky enough to be able to support almost any type of plant as long as you prevent pests from taking over. You should consider growing an orange tree, as these are usually easy to maintain and produce some of the most delicious fruits. The orange is one of the most popular fruits worldwide due to its sweetness, juiciness, and distinctive flavor. The orange tree can reach up to 50 feet in height towards its later years, so you should definitely take that into account when planning. Even if you’re starting with a very small tree, plan ahead and place it in an open area so that it will have plenty of room to expand. If you make the same mistake I did, you will end up having to renovate your yard to some extreme measures, such as taking out an entire shed. Just take the necessary precautions beforehand and avoid all of this trouble.

The ideal soil for growing an orange tree would be fine sand with great drainage. The soil should be deep enough to allow for extensive root development, since the trees are known for reaching monstrous sizes and requiring lots of support from down below. If you have shallow, easily saturated soil then you should either do something to remedy it or move onto a different type of tree. It is most likely that attempting to grow an orange tree in these conditions would be disastrous.

One of the more popular types of orange is the “Washington Navel”. It probably came about as a mutation of other oranges. It originated in Brazil around 1820, and had moved on to Florida within fifteen years. It is characterized by being one of the largest of all available oranges. The peel or rind is easily removed. Usually it is not as juicy as other oranges, but has an intense flavor. These are the most popular orange trees for commercial growing. If you decide on one of these trees, you probably won’t have to water as much.

Another type of orange is the “Trovita”. It was invented sometime in the early 1900s at a lab in California devoted to experimenting with new types of citruses. It started being publicly marketed around 1940. It doesn’t have a very strong flavor, and has more seeds than a Washington Navel. However, it was designed to be more adaptable to harsher, hot and dry environments that would not be acceptable for other types of orange. Some of the more popular oranges in Florida right now are mutations of this type. 

The ‘Valencia’ is one of the most juicy and flavorful oranges. It is most popular in South Africa and the southern USA states. Until about 20 years ago, Valencia oranges made up a strangely large portion of the orange market due to its popularity. It is thought to have been invented in China. It has almost no seeds. Another subgroup of Valencia oranges are the “Rhode Red Valencia” oranges. These were created around 1960, so they are slightly more recent than other types. Various mutations occurred and the trees that grew as a product of them were large and extremely hardy. The oranges themselves are more juicy and less acidic than the standard Valencia oranges.

Orange trees are a great thing to get planted, because with just a little effort in the planting process you will be able to enjoy hundreds of delicious fruits every year. Just pick whatever orange sounds the most delicious, and go with it! Before you purchase a tree, you should of course consult a local expert to make sure your desired type will flourish in your area. Usually this won’t be a problem, but it is always good to make sure before you spend the money and time.

Gregg Hall asked:

Because the main reason that fruit trees die is due to misunderstandings and common misconceptions, caring for a fruit tree not only requires responsibility, but also semi-extensive research.

Leaf/fruit/twig diseases may weaken the tree and reduce the overall fruit quality, but the tree usually survives these diseases. It is damage to the trunk, crown, and roots which generally causes the death of a fruit tree, and many of the reasons these damages would occur can be accommodated with a little bit of knowledge.

If the soil is not properly attended to, the roots will not develop and your plant will lack nutrition, which will result in poor fruit quality and give your tree a potential death sentence. Note your area, climate, and tree type, and explain these conditions to a nursery employee, and you will almost definitely receive a fertilizer which will nurse your tree into a long life, which will produce healthy fruits for years to come.

Healthy Branches

After the fertilizer is in use, your tree should begin to develop. Many people think things develop at the speed they are meant to, however, this is not always true: fruit trees sometimes begin to develop fruit before the branches are sturdy enough to support the weight. The result: snapping branches. The solution: putting boards under the branches to help support the weight, or tying the branches up to something higher up.

As your tree begins to grow, do not make the mistake that many people make, which is that it must need excessive amounts of water to continue to grow at a healthy rate. Why? Because it is not true: too much water can be worse than not enough! If you notice your tree is starting to wither, do not assume it is because it needs water. Rather, look online, or talk to a nursery employee, and go from there. If lack of water is not the problem, over-watering will only add to the real problem.

Branches

If you notice unhealthy branches or leaves in your tree, you should remove them. The reason: the tree is probably still sending nutrients to this sector, and therefore, taking away from the other, healthier branches. Chop off unhealthy looking branches at first signs of deterioration, so your plant can focus on the healthier parts and therefore continue to flourish.

As your tree begins to produce fruit, it also begins to open up an invitation for unwanted insects or disease, if you do not take care of your tree at this stage. You must pick the fruit from your tree (even ones you do not want), so it will not rot. Also, pick up fallen fruit from the ground.

The joy of watching your tree flourish into a healthy fruit-bearing asset will surely make you grateful for all the time, research, and care you put into helping it past its vulnerable stages.

Pat Malcolm asked:

The rise and fall of ancient empires has developed parallel also to the establishment and destruction of advanced fruit tree orchards. Ancient fruit trees such as olive tree orchards increased the wealth and health of nations by feeding the populations, providing nutritious olive oil to light lamps in ancient houses at night, as food and a cooking medium, and for the purpose of anointing Kings and Queens. Olive trees could not produce continuous crops unless the gardeners growing them could provide a secure, peaceful growing environment. The original plantings of olive trees were slow growing and could not produce a satisfactory crop of fruit, until the trees matured to bear crops in 10 to 15 years. It was well known by ancient warrior conquerors and Kings, that hostile nations could be neutralized for many years, if the fruit orchards were destroyed. The ancient Greek soldiers either confiscated the enemy orchards for their own future use, or they destroyed the trees, if they planned to move on to prevent the defeated nations from rebuilding agriculturally and to later return as a threat in the future. The Romans fought the citizens of Carthage in North Africa, defeating them many times, only to experience a resurgence of Carthage attacks and invasions. Finally the Romans destroyed every building in the city of Carthage, leaving no stone atop another and spread salt to poison the agricultural land to prevent any possible rebuilding, since food could not be produced on salt contaminated land.

Two centuries later, Israel destroyed 50,000 olive trees in Palestine, also located in North Africa like the city of Carthage, to prevent the Palestinian nation from enjoying the fruit and wealth of the olive orchards.

The Hebrew Bible, in the book of Genesis, records that the first fruits eaten by Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden; however, they were forbidden to eat the fruit from the tree in the center of the garden, that was growing on the tree of knowledge about good and evil, but they ate the fruit anyway. Many Bible translators suspect that this fruit was the apple, but other botanists say that the fruit of the apple was not known then—that the quince was the most likely forbidden fruit, the most ancient relative of the apple. After eating this controversial fruit, Adam and Eve were expelled from their paradise on Earth, and after realizing their nakedness, they covered their bodies with leaves from the fig tree. King Solomon of Israel spoke poetically and in songs about his gardens growing lushly with fruits of the Earth. Figs and fig trees are often mentioned in Hebrew Scriptures, most profoundly when Jesus cursed a barren fig tree that instantly became dead, when it didn’t provide figs to eat as he passed by.

Olive oil was used to anoint the Kings of Israel. Olive trees are often mentioned in the Scriptures—the most memorable story, the Mount Olive trees, underneath which Jesus prayed before his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane that led to his conviction by the Governor Pilate, and the resulting infamous crucifixion by the Romans. Pomegranates were well known and revered by the Israelites who carved images of the pomegranate fruit, that were used to decorate pillars at the Temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps the most famous fruit of the Bible was the grape that grew in vineyards and was highly prized to eat fresh, to dry as raisins and to ferment into wine and further into vinegar. Numerous references are made in the Bible to grapes, the products of grapes and the wealth provided them from the grape vineyards to the property owners. Many tropical fruit trees such as citrus trees, jujube trees, banana trees, and loquat trees probably originated from Oriental origins such as China and India. It is also probable that the stone-fruits, such as peach trees, cherry trees, apricot trees, nectarine trees (smooth skin peach), and plum trees containing a large seed in the center, originated in the Orient. Many botanists speculate that the fruits of mulberry trees, fig trees, pomegranate trees, and crabapples may have originated in the mid-East territories.

There is little doubt that Oriental persimmons originated in China and was spread to the Japanese mainland.

Several fruits are native to America and after the discovery of mayhaw trees, red mulberry trees, guava trees, pawpaw trees, Chickasaw plum trees, and Ogeechee lime trees, considerable efforts have been made to improve these fruits by the selection of superior cultivars and grafting them onto various cold hardy rootstocks.

To those interested in the natural history of fruit trees, it is clear that many fruits exist today, because those ancient gardeners selected the seed of favorable fruits and planted the seed gradually resulting in fruit improvements. Some of these fruit trees could be increased by vegetative rooting of twigs and branches or by increasing multiple trunked plants by division and replanting them in gardens for cultivation. Some fruit trees could not be increased by rooting or division and the planting of the seed gave unpredictable results. Some delicious sweet peaches with large juicy fruits might produce seed that when planted, the trees would produce a wide assortment of flavors, shapes, and sizes; some bitter or sour, some irregularly shaped, some large or small. This unpredictable outcome of planting seed of superior fruit trees was finally overcome by the art of grafting, which was well known and practiced as evidenced by the ancient Romans’ historical accounts.

By examining the historical record of fruit trees in the Hebrew Bible, we discover that fruit trees fed the first earthly man and woman in a fruitful garden of paradise at the site and birthplace of civilization—the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys near the modern nation of Iraq. For an extended period of history, man was expelled from his earthly paradise, but today a gardener can buy his own wish list of fruit trees, and experience his own man-made heaven beneath the ageless, ancient, delightful sky.

V.K. Melhado asked:

Tropical fruit trees make wonderful additions to any South Florida landscape. Combine plants with lush green foliage, brightly colored flowers of all shapes and sizes to create an low maintenance, attractive outdoor design. Get creative and intersperse your fruit trees with other native tropicals and add a water feature or secluded seating area. The choices are endless, but the best part comes with the harvesting of this edible landscape.

Here is a list of some of the tropical fruit trees you’re most likely to have success with in the South Florida climate. In an effort to inspire you, we’ve, also included some of the more exotic varieties you may never have heard of.

Avocado: Introduced to the area in 1833, the South Florida climate is ideal for growing this nutritious fruit. There are over 56 different varieties with summer, fall and winter growing seasons. The thick skin is green, and can be smooth or rough textured, and teardrop, round or football shape, depending on the species. Avocados have more fat than most fruits, but they are an excellent source of potassium and Vitamin A, and are used in salads, guacamole, and taste great scooped right out of the shell.

Trees are 40-60 feet in height and produce large quantities of fruit that do not ripen until they are picked or fall to the ground.

Growing Conditions: Sunny location with well-drained soil. Season: January-June.

Caimito – Star Apple: This is an ornamental evergreen tree with sweet purple or green fruit and shiny green leaves with a brown underside. The fruit is sweet and gelatinous.The trees range from 25 to 100 ft in height.

Growing Conditions: Well-drained soil with no chance of flooding.. Season: Late May-March.

Carambola – Star Fruit: Plant produces a large fleshy berry, 2-6 inches in length, with a waxy, yellow skin. A cross-section slices produces a perfect star shape – hence the name. The trees are considered small to medium in height (35 feet max), with dark green leaves and flowers.

Star fruit is great served in salads or as an iced juice drink, canned, dried or preserved. Not advised for people with kidney disease due to high concentration of oxalic acid.

Growing Conditions: Sunny location with protection from the wind. Season: July-September, November-February.

Mango: Native to Asia and India, mango trees have been growing in Florida for at least 100 years. These medium to large trees (up to 100 feet) have a number of varieties and produce a hearty crop of tasty fruit. When first picked, mangoes are light green, but are best eaten when the fruit softens slightly and and skin takes on a yellow, red, or orange color. The fruit is a good source of vitamins A and C and tastes great in salads, breads, or pureed.

Growing Conditions: These trees are tough and easy to grow. Season: May-October.

Passion Fruit: This vine produces purple, yellow or reddish colored fruit surrounded by an sweet, orange pulp. The juice makes a wonderful punch.

Growing Conditions: Passion Fruit vines should be planted in an area where they can be supported by a fence or trellis in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Season: June-December.

Tamarind: This is a large tree (up to 80 feet), with rough bark, twisting branches and evergreen foliage. Flowers are a pale yellow with red veins that appear in early summer. The fruit is hidden in brown pods and contain large seeds in a sticky, brown edible pulp. The “molasses like” pulp can be used to flavor sauces and steak sauce. Season: April-June.