University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Summer News
Article
SUMMER TIPS FOR THE FRUIT GARDEN
Charlie Nardozzi, Senior
Horticulturist
National
Gardening Association
If
you planted new fruit trees this spring, make sure they are well-watered the
first season, especially during the first few weeks after planting. The amount will vary with size of tree, but a
rule of thumb is five gallons around the base of each tree each week that there
is not an inch of rain.
Newly
planted trees should be staked as well, resulting in a straighter tree with
more growth and fruiting. This is
especially important if they are subject to much wind, and for dwarf fruit
trees. Make sure the stakes are sturdy,
and that wire or twine that will cut into the trunk is not used. Use old hose pieces on wire, old stockings,
or plastic staking cable for staking.
Begin
the early-morning or early-evening patrols for Japanese beetles and knock them
into a can of soapy water. You can also hold a bucket under a plant that's
hosting a beetle party and gently shake a branch and the beetles will fall into
the bucket. Forget trying to catch them midday because they move too fast in
the heat.
Apple
maggot adults are laying eggs on developing apple fruits. Place red, sticky
spheres (available from nurseries) in trees to
fool the adults into landing on these "fake apples" and dying. Place
four spheres per dwarf tree, and check them every few days to clean off the
moths.
Birds
love blueberries as much as we do, so protect bushes with netting. Rather than draping the netting over the bush (birds
will be able to reach the berries) use stakes to suspend the netting over the shrub.
Secure the netting to the ground to prevent birds from sneaking in. Similarly with strawberries, use wire arches
over the beds (like you can purchase for plastic tunnels) to support bird
netting.
Even
if you can't eat them all right now, take advantage of the abundance of fresh
fruits and berries. Freezer jams are
surprisingly easy to make, or at the very least freeze some berries for later
use. Simply spread them out on a cookie sheet and place it in the freezer; once
they've frozen, pour them into freezer bags and
seal.
Strawberry
plants are in very active growth in summer after fruiting, and new runners will
proliferate. Remove runners to keep plants spaced according to the method
you're using so plants will put their energy into producing future fruit
instead of new runners. Left alone, a bed will turn into a mass of foliage and
few berries.
Once
summer-fruiting red raspberries are harvested, prune out the canes at ground
level that have fruited. This allows
the plant energy to go into this year’s new canes, which will fruit next
year. Don’t prune these newer canes back
in order to make them more self-supporting, as the most fruitful buds are
produced nearer the tips.
Return to Perry's Perennial
Pages, Articles 