growing fruits

[...]... ripening fruits to blackbirds and thrushes in the summer Net the bushes in the winter and when the fruits begin to ripen For further information on netting against birds, see under separate headings (page 17) Thinning and harvesting the fruits For large dessert fruits start thinning the fruits in June, removing every other one, and use the thinnings for cooking For small or medium dessert fruits, do... soil Tree fruits Introduction Tree fruits (also sometimes referred to as top fruits) form a group comprising all the larger growing fruits which, in the natural state at least, attain tree form The exceptions to this are the fig, elderberry, mulberry and quince, which may have several main stems and be more shrub-like in appearance; they are, however, still generally classified as tree fruits Botanically,... (see pages 6-7) Unlike growing soft fruits, cultivating tree fruits in the garden is a long-term project Full fruiting capacity is reached by the tree only after several years, but with care it will then continue for a lifetime However, the fruit grower is compensated by the fact that the fruiting season for tree fruits is much longer than that of soft fruits Furthermore, if fruits such as peaches... the growing season Lift and replant, exposing more of the stem Pests and diseases The pests and diseases that plague the gooseberry are similar to those that attack the currants For example, aphids and anthracnose (see page 33) The established bush 6 When the fruits are large enough for cooking, thin the fruits by removing every other one Cover the bush with burlap or bird netting to protect the fruits. .. particular the skin of the fruits becomes more brightly colored Early varieties are best picked when slightly immature because they soon go mealy Pick those apples that have colored rather than clearing all the apples in one go Usually those apples in full sun are ready first and those in the middle of the tree last Handle the fruits very gently because bruised fruits do not keep Put the fruits carefully into... second year (or a two-year-old bush) In late winter, shorten the leaders by onehalf Select well-placed shoots to form further permanent branches and cut back by onehalf Remove any suckers or low -growing shoots growing from the stem The third year (or a three-year-old bush) The bush should have developed a main framework of about 6 - 8 branches with well-spaced leading shoots; it is at the start of its... Botanically, the most familiar' tree fruits are members of the rose family (Rosaceae), including the apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot and quince; the mulberry and fig are outsiders belonging to the mainly tropical family Moraceae Also included in the tree fruit section are some of the most popular nuts, such as almonds, chestnuts, filberts, hazelnuts and walnuts Tree fruits are not difficult to grow... currant (Ribes nigrum) is a native of central and eastern Europe from Scandinavia to Bulgaria, also northern and central Asia to the Himalayas It can be found growing wild, generally in damp woody places Selection in cultivation has given rise to stronger -growing and highly productive varieties Black currants are grown on a stool system—that is, many shoots spring from below the ground rather than from a... steel or metal alloy poles and netting, although 7 ft headroom is a minimum (see page 17) It is generally impracticable to protect larger tree fruits against bird damage Wall- and fence-trained trees If there is no room in the open garden for free-standing tree fruits, good use can be made of walls and fences if restricted tree forms such as fans, cordons or espaliers are grown North-facing walls can... than in the open, ripening well in the sheltered and warmer environment Figs are often best grown on a warm wall (see pages 8-9) Pollination Unlike most soft fruits which will produce an adequate crop even if only one plant is grown, many tree fruits are totally or partially self-incompatible, or self-unfruitful This means that some varieties cannot produce a good crop of fruit if their flowers are . the fruits For large dessert fruits start thinning the fruits in June, removing every other one, and use the thinnings for cooking. For small or medium dessert fruits, do not thin the fruits. about 2 in. 6 When the fruits are large enough for cooking, thin the fruits by removing every other one. Cover the bush with burlap or bird netting to protect the fruits from birds. 1 In. Boysenberries have very large reddish- black fruits with a dusty bloom. They are soft, tartly sweet and have a delicious aroma. Loganberries have light reddish fruits cov- ered with fine hairs. They