Tips & Information about General Fruit Care

Three potted lemon trees in front of a pink wall

The Best Small Fruit Trees For Home Gardens

By Amy Grant

Want to grow your own fruit but short on space? There are plenty of small fruit trees that can fit your garden.

Three apples growing on an apple sapling

Fast-Growing Fruit Trees For Home Gardens

By Teo Spengler

Some trees are in no hurry to grow fruit, but some do it much faster. Here are the trees that'll get you harvesting the soonest.

How To Protect Fruit Trees From Frost And Freeze

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

Choosing fruit trees appropriate for your growing zone is best, but you still may need to protect them from extreme cold. Read how.

Best Plants For Late Summer and Fall Fruit Harvest

By Teo Spengler

Even if you don’t have the optimal conditions for more common fruit trees, there are other end of summer fruits to enjoy.

Best Native Fruit Trees To Support Wildlife

By Teo Spengler

If you want trees that will attract and feed wildlife, learn the best kinds of edible fruit and nut trees to plant for inviting specific creatures.

Orange Fruit Varieties: Growing Fruits That Are Orange

By Amy Grant

Orange colored fruit isn’t limited to the citrus orange. There are plenty of other orange colored fruit varieties, each packing a healthful punch. Read on for more.

Everbearing Plants: Learn About Everbearing Varieties Of Fruit

By Laura Miller

What does everbearing mean? And more importantly, how do everbearing varieties differ from non-everbearing types? Read on for more.

Plant A Red Fruit Garden: Growing Fruits With Red Flesh

By Laura Miller

Planting a red fruit garden may seem a bit whimsical. That is, until you realize the health benefits of consuming fruits with red flesh.

Heat Tolerant Fruit Tree WIth Green Fruits

Heat Tolerant Fruits – Growing Fruit In Hot Weather

By Teo Spengler

Some fruit grows in extreme heat naturally. But there are also specially cultivated, heat-tolerant varieties. For more information on heat tolerant fruits, read on.

Yellow Fruit Varieties – Growing Fruit That Is Yellow

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

What fruit is yellow? There's more than the bananas at the supermarket. Try growing yellow fruit for a consistent supply of sunny food.

Post Harvest Cooling Guide – How To Cool Fruit Picked From The Garden

By Tonya Barnett, (Author of FRESHCUTKY)

Post-harvest cooling of fruit is used both commercially and by home gardeners. Cooling fruit is important for harvest quality. Click here to learn more.

Help, My Fruit Is Too High Up: Tips For Tall Tree Harvesting

By Teo Spengler

Harvesting fruit from tall trees can be difficult. Wondering how to reach high up fruit? Click this article for tips on tall tree harvesting.

Polyploid Plant Info – How Do We Get Seedless Fruit

By Laura Miller

Have you ever wondered how we get seedless fruit? To find out, you would need to think back to biology class or click this article for more info.

Fruit Salad Tree Thinning: How To Remove Fruit Salad Tree Fruit

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

Training a tree young is important for balancing fruit salad tree limbs. To learn more about fruit salad trees and thinning, click this article.

Different Sized And Colored Jars Of Jelly And Jams

Differences In Jelly, Jam, And Preserves: What Are Preserves, Jams, And Jellies

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

Distinguishing between jams, jellies, and preserves may confuse you. Click the following article to learn the differences between them.

How To Plant Fruit Seeds: Tips For Sowing Seeds From Fruit

By Laura Miller

Is it possible to grow fruit from fruit seeds? If you’ve ever wondered this, click here to learn more about planting fruit seeds.

Plant Chill Hours: Why Are Chill Hours Important

By Becca Badgett, Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden

If you want to grow some fruit trees and need some simple information about plant chill hours and why they’re important, click this article. We’ll attempt to break it down here in simple terms that are easy enough for anyone to understand.

What Is A Food Forest Hedge – How To Grow An Edible Hedge

By Susan Albert, Freelance Garden Writer

Are you planning to add a privacy screen or row of hedges to your home landscape? Why not throw tradition out the window? Instead of a row of clipped boxwoods or tall arborvitae, try a sustainable, edible hedge. Click this article for more information.

Stone Fruit Hand Pollination – Hand Pollinating Stone Fruit Trees

By Teo Spengler

Like anything else, stone fruit trees won’t produce fruit unless their flowers are pollinated. Usually, gardeners rely on insects, but if bees are hard to find in your neighborhood, you can take the matter into your own hands and pollinate stone fruits by hand. Learn more here.

Stone Fruit Varieties: Growing Stone Fruit In The Garden

By Amy Grant

It is very likely you’ve had stone fruit before and may not know it. You may even be growing stone fruit in your garden. Stone fruit comes from a stone fruit tree. Still not sure what a stone fruit is? Click the following article for more information on these types of fruit trees.

Orchard Microclimate Conditions: How To Use Microclimates In Orchards

By Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer

Although USDA hardiness zone maps are beneficial, experienced orchardists know they should not be considered final. Microclimates in orchards make a substantial difference and can even determine what trees you can grow or where trees will grow best. Learn more here.

Chemist In A Laboratory Holding An Apple

What Is Pomology – Information About Pomology In Horticulture

By Amy Grant

Have you ever wondered as you bite into a fresh crisp apple how different varieties are created? There are many steps involved in creating the perfect apple, which is why pomology is so very important. What is pomology and what does a pomologist do? Find out here.

Row Of Inground Planters Of Small Fruit Bearing Shrubs

Small Fruit Bearing Shrubs: Learn About Dwarf Fruit Bush Care

By Amy Grant

Many new berry cultivars have been developed into miniature fruit bushes. These mini fruiting bushes are perfect for container gardening, and yet the fruit they produce is full-sized. Click here to learn about growing small fruit-bearing shrubs and dwarf fruit bush care.

Pruning For Potted Fruit Trees – How To Prune A Potted Fruit Tree

By Teo Spengler

Pruning fruit trees in containers is generally a breeze when compared with pruning fruit trees in the orchard. If you are wondering how to prune a potted fruit tree, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s not difficult. Click here for tips on how and when to prune fruit trees in pots.

June Drop Information: What Causes June Fruit Drop

By Teo Spengler

If you are just getting started with a home orchard, you may be very upset to see miniature apples, plums or other fruits scattered beneath your healthy trees in May and June. This is actually a common phenomenon called June fruit drop. Click here to learn more.

Fruit Tree Lichen And Moss – Is Moss On A Fruit Tree Bad

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

It is not uncommon to find lichen and moss on fruit trees. They may both be in evidence or just one or the other, but is it a problem? Click on the following article to find out and see what you can do about fruit tree moss or lichen on your plants.

Prune Dwarf Virus Info: Tips On Controlling Prune Dwarf Disease

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer

Stone fruit grown in the home garden always seem to taste the sweetest because of the love and care we put into growing them. Unfortunately, these fruit trees can fall victim to several diseases like prune dwarf virus. Learn more about prune dwarf virus of stone fruit here.

Fruit Tree Powdery Mildew Control – Treating Fruit Tree Powdery Mildew

By Mary Ellen Ellis

Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that can affect a lot of different types of fruit trees and berry brambles. Be aware of this disease and know how to prevent and treat it before it ruins your fruit harvest. This article will provide additional information to help.

Moisture Loving Fruit Trees – Fruit Trees That Grow In Wet Conditions

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer

Some fruit trees are also more susceptible to crown or root rots than others. These plants may take on significant damage from just short periods of wet feet. Click on the following article to learn more about fruit trees that grow in wet conditions.

Pruning Fruit Trees – Learn About Different Fruit Tree Forms

By Teo Spengler

Many gardeners have trouble understanding fruit tree forms and how to achieve them, however. If you want to learn about the different forms for fruit trees, this article should help. We’ll also give you tips for pruning fruit trees.

Bagging Fruit Trees – Why Put Bags On Fruit While Growing

By Teo Spengler

What every gardener wants most from a fruit tree is fruit. But birds and insects and fruit tree diseases can ravage your crop. That's why many gardeners have started growing fruit in bags. Why put bags on fruit? Click here for all the reasons for bagging fruit trees.

Brambles And Orange Rust: How To Recognize Orange Rust In Brambles

By Liz Baessler

Orange rust is a very serious disease that can infect most types of brambles. If you see symptoms, you should take action right away, as the disease will stay for the rest of the plant?s life and spread to infect neighboring plants. Learn more in this article.

Raspberry Horntail Control: What Is A Raspberry Horntail

By Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

Raspberry horntail damage becomes most visible in early summer. What is a raspberry horntail? These wood wasps lay their eggs in caneberries, and the larvae burrow into the stem and eventually girdle it. Some tips on how to manage raspberry horntails follows.

Primocane Vs. Floricane – Distinguishing Between Primocanes And Floricanes

By Mary Ellen Ellis

Caneberries, or brambles, are fun and easy to grow and provide a great harvest of delicious summer fruit. But to manage your caneberries you need to know the difference between the primocanes and those that are called floricanes. This article will help with that.

What Are Brambles – Learn What Makes A Plant A Bramble

By Mary Ellen Ellis

Brambles are plants that belong to the same family as the rose, Rosaceae. The group is pretty diverse and the members are favorites of gardeners who enjoy growing and eating berries. But what are these plants exactly? Click here to learn more about bramble bushes.

What Is A Fruit Cage: Fruit Cage Uses And Benefits

By Amy Grant

Protecting your fruit from unwanted grazing usually becomes a priority, often by making a fruit cage. What's a fruit cage? Click on the article that follows to find out how to make a fruit cage and about fruit cage uses in the garden.

Fruit Bearing Shade Plants: Growing Fruiting Plants For Shade Gardens

By Amy Grant

Most fruits and vegetables need full sun for at least 8 hours per day in order to produce. How about fruits to grow in the shade? Are there fruiting plants for shade gardens? Surprisingly, yes. Learn about fruit bearing shade plants in this article.

Fruit Tree Hedge Spacing – Tips For Making A Hedge Out Of Fruit Trees

By Amy Grant

Can you imagine having a row of fruit bearing trees as a natural fence? Today's gardeners are incorporating more edibles into the landscape including making hedges out of fruit trees. Find out about making a hedge out of fruit trees and how close to plant fruit trees here.

Using Fruit Trees As Hedges – Learn How To Use Fruit Trees For Hedges

By Amy Grant

A great idea for incorporating edible plants into the landscape is by using fruit trees as hedges. Growing fruit trees hedges has the added bonus of not only the tasty fruit, but will act as a privacy screen as well. Learn more in this article.

Controlling Quince Rust – How To Get Rid Of Quince Tree Rust

By Teo Spengler

Quince tree leaf rust sounds like a disease that would create problems for quince trees in your garden. In fact, it is better known as a disease that attacks apples, pears and even hawthorn trees. If you want learn more about how to get rid of quince tree rust, click here.

Overhead view of dried orange, grapefruit, and kiwi slices

Drying Fruits And Vegetables: Drying Fruit For Long-Term Storage

By Amy Grant

So it you had a bumper crop of apples, peaches, pears, what have you. The question is what to do with all that surplus? Drying fruits and vegetables will allow you to extend the harvest. Find out how to dry fruit at home, as well as vegetables, here.

Fruit Themed Garden Ideas – Tips On Growing Fruit Salad Gardens

By Amy Grant

Have you ever thought how nice it would be to harvest fruit for a refreshing fruit salad? A fruit themed garden is possible. Learn more in this article.

Companions For Fruit – Learn About Compatible Plants For A Fruit Garden

By Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer

What grows well with fruit? Companion planting with fruit trees isn't about planting a lot of pretty blooming plants. Find good companions for fruit here.

What Is Brown Rot Blossom Blight: How To Treat Brown Rot Blossom Blight

By Teo Spengler

Controlling brown rot blossom blight begins with keeping the area clean and sanitary. This article provides information on brown rot blossom and twig blight and how to manage it. Click here to learn more.

Differences Between Cherry And Plum Tree

By Teo Spengler

Many gardeners wonder how to tell plum and cherry trees apart. While the blossoms do look somewhat similar, the differences between cherry and plum trees are easy to spot once you are familiar with them. This article will help with that.

Hands Holding A Dried Diseased Fruit Tree Branch

Preventing Fruit Tree Diseases – What Are Common Fruit Tree Diseases

By Liz Baessler

Fruit trees are a great asset to any garden or landscape. They provide shade, flowers, a yearly harvest, and a great talking point. But they can also be very vulnerable to disease. Learn more about common fruit tree diseases in this article.

What Is Leucostoma Canker – How To Treat Canker On Fruit Trees In The Garden

By Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer

Leucostoma canker is a destructive fungal disease that affects fruits such as peaches, cherries apricots, plums, nectarines, and apricot. It also affects several types of hardwood trees, including willow and aspen. Learn what to do about it here.

Fruit Tree Spacing: How Far Apart Do You Plant Fruit Trees In The Garden

By Amy Grant

How far apart do you plant fruit trees? Proper spacing for fruit trees is of paramount importance, allowing them to attain maximum potential and giving easy access when harvesting. The following article discusses space requirements for fruit trees.

Fruit Tree Grease Bands – Applying Fruit Tree Grease Or Gel Bands For Insects

By Teo Spengler

Did you know you can use fruit tree grease bands for insect control? If you want to know how to apply fruit tree grease bands or the ins and outs of using gel bands, simply click on the following article for additional information.

Reviving An Old Fruit Tree: How To Rejuvenate Old Fruit Trees

By Teo Spengler

If not properly pruned and maintained over the years, fruit trees become overgrown and messy. Restoring old fruit trees is often possible with a lot of patience and a little know-how. Find tips on how to rejuvenate old fruit trees in this article.

Fruit Tree Garden Ideas: Tips On Growing Backyard Fruit Trees

By Teo Spengler

Backyard fruit trees are a beautiful addition to the landscape. Think first about available space and the climate in your region. Click here for ideas.

Amber sap emerging from a tree trunk through the process of gummosis

What Is Gummosis: Tips On Gummosis Prevention And Treatment

By Teo Spengler

What is gummosis? If you have stone fruit trees, you'll need to learn what causes gummosis disease. You'll also want to learn about how to treat gummosis. Find out everything you need to know in this article.

What Is A Fruit Salad Tree: Tips On Fruit Salad Tree Care

By Amy Grant

You know how fruit salad has multiple types of fruit in it, right? If you don't like one type of fruit, you can eat only the fruit chunks you love. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a fruit salad tree? Well, there actually is. Learn more in this article.

Winterizing Fruit Trees: Tips On Fruit Tree Care In Winter

By Teo Spengler

For many fruit tree diseases, prevention is easier to accomplish and costs less than a cure. Just a few well-timed and well-chosen sprays can do a lot toward controlling fruit tree problems. Learn about winter treatment for fruit trees in this article.

What Is Fruiting Maturity – Understanding Maturation Of Fruit

By Amy Grant

If you have ever tried to eat a green banana, you probably noticed it was hard and not sweet. The producers of bananas pick them mature, but not yet ripe. This lengthens the shipping time. So what is fruiting maturity? Find out here.

Basket Filled and Surrounded With a Variety of Fruits

Understanding Different Fruit Types

By Amy Grant

We all know some of the most common types of fruit, but the actual botanical classification of fruits contain some surprises. So what are the different fruit types? What actually makes a fruit a fruit? This article will explain.

Multiple Potted Bush Vegetables Growing On Balcony

Bush Vegetable Plants: Using Bush Vegetables For Urban Gardens

By Amy Grant

Not everyone has a large veggie garden plot. For this reason, you will find miniature and dwarf plants for the urban gardener. Did you know there are many bush vegetables too? What are bush vegetables and which ones work for a small garden? Learn more here.