by Jodi Levy, U. C. Master Gardener
The warm days of early fall bring tough decisions for Napa Valley gardeners. Which of my fresh fruits will I eat today? Should I eat them out of hand, make a fruit smoothie or bake a pie? Should I share some with friends and family?
During winter’s chilly days, I think ahead to harvest time, when juicy peaches, plums and pears, crisp apples, zesty oranges and lemons, smooth figs and persimmons dance before my eyes.
Fruit is my favorite food group, and few things are more satisfying than growing your own. The good news is that, in our glorious Mediterranean climate, nature rewards fruit gardeners with an abundant harvest.
If you are thinking of planting a fruit tree, first learn what it needs. Do you have an appropriate site with suitable soil and sufficient daily sunshine? Can you meet its irrigation needs? Do you want an early, mid-season or late-season producer? Do you have favorite varieties? Is the tree self pollinating, or do you need two? What pests is it subject to, and do you have a plan for managing them?
If this sounds like too much work, remember that there’s a reward for your efforts. Have you paid a dollar for an apple recently?
Perhaps you have a mature tree that offers a minimal harvest. Should you keep that tree? Sadly, our pets don’t live forever and neither do our trees. I had a white nectarine tree infested with scale, and the ants had a field day fending off beneficial insects that might have controlled the problem. Aphids feasted on it, and black sooty mold coated many of the leaves.
This poor tree, although weakened, still produced some fruit. Did I consider cutting it down? Of course not, but nature had the last word when the wind snapped off the entire canopy. I was forced to plant a better bare-root variety in the dormant season. In only its second year, this healthy tree was loaded with fruit. A lesson learned.
Mastering proper fruit tree care will insure that you reap the fruits of your labor. Some fruits and some varieties don’t thrive in the Napa Valley, so do your research before you commit.
Napa County Master Gardeners are offering a free public workshop to assist home gardeners with fruit tree care. Learn about site selection and soil requirements; tree selection and performance; planting techniques; care and maintenance of young and established trees; and espalier methods for small spaces. Seminar times are Saturday, October 16, at 9 a.m. at the University of California Cooperative Extension Office at 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa; and Saturday, October 23, at 9 a.m., at Central Valley Builders Supply and Nursery in St. Helena. Bring your fruit tree questions for the Master Gardener panel.