Tree Fruits
Selected Readings and Content
UMaine Extension Bulletins
- Growing Peaches in Maine, Bulletin 2068
- Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees, Bulletin 2411
- Plum Production in Maine, Bulletin 2034
- Renovating Old Apple Trees, Bulletin 2409
- Storage Conditions: Fruits and Vegetables, Bulletin 4135
UMaine Extension Websites
- Growing Tree Fruits in Maine
- Types of Fruit Trees
- Rootstocks and Dwarf Trees
- Spacing Trees in the Orchard
- Planting and Early Care
- Pollination Requirements
- Thinning Fruit
- Pruning
- Lack of Fruitfulness
- Fertilization
- Spraying
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
- Wildlife Damage
- Preparing Trees for Winter
UMaine Extension Videos
Presentation by Renae Moran
- Growing Fruit Trees in Maine (password protected; Maine Master Gardeners, please see your MGV contact for the password)
Additional Resources
Master Gardener Volunteer Training
Core Competencies
At the end of these sessions you will be able to articulate and explain:
- The critical components of a suitable site for growing fruit trees in the home landscape
- The different species of fruit trees commonly grown in Maine and a major weakness for each
- The selection process for appropriate varieties of fruit trees
- Why and when fruit trees are commonly grafted
- The difference between dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sized fruit trees
- Reasons why rootstocks are used in tree fruit production
- Basic principles and purposes for pruning different kinds of fruit trees
- Types of pruning cuts (heading and thinning) and how plants respond
- Disease, insect and wildlife prevention and control methods
- http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/wildlife-damage
Practical Skills Gained and Strengthened
- How to select appropriate rootstocks and varieties of fruit trees for specific locations and growing conditions
- How to plant, prune, and care for fruit trees
- Selecting, using, and caring for appropriate tools for pruning fruit trees
- Identify resources to help with wildlife control in orchards