Nectarine Trees

Nectarines were grown in China 2000 years ago and made their way to the United States via the Spanish in the 17th century. Nectarine trees produce sweet fruit that is not only delicious but it is a nutritious source of antioxidant vitamins such as A and C, and they are a good source for potassium. Nectarines can be used in the same way as peaches. Genetically, the only difference between peaches and nectarines is the lack of fuzz on the skin of nectarines. Nectarines are usually a littler smaller than peaches, have more aroma, and have more red color on the skin.

 Nectarines are mostly self-pollinating trees, which mean that a single nectarine tree can pollinate itself. Nectarine trees are fast growing and most will begin to produce fruit in 3 to 5 years after planting. The leaves and buds of nectarine trees look similar to peaches. The leaves are long, glossy, and bright green in color. The leaves reach a length of 4 to 9 inches and are lightly serrated. The trees are pretty enough to be very decorative in the landscape. The colorful spring flowers, the dangling fruits in the summer, and the red yellow foliage in the autumn are very pleasing to the eye.

 There are more than 100 varieties of nectarines, in freestone and clingstone varieties. Freestone describes the ease of pit separation from the fruit, while clingstone types cling to the fruit and are more difficult to separate. Nectarines will keep for 5 days if stored in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Nectarines do not have to be peeled because they do not have the fuzz on the skin. Leave the skin on when making pies, cobblers and fruit salads.

Multi-Budded Fruit Trees

Multi-budded trees are the answer for space limitations. Multi-budded trees offer fruit variety of tree ripened fruit from a single fruit tree. Enjoy fruit combinations such as Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, and Mutsu all from one tree. Multi-budded trees are created by grafting several species of fruits on a single stem or rootstock. Some special considerations should be taken into account when planting. Multi-budded trees are grown close together in nursery rows and thus some of the budded selections do not get equal amounts of sunlight so always plant the smallest limb to the south/southwest to insure that it gests plenty of sun.

Pruning multi-budded trees is best done by following these instructions. Cut back the strongest growing varieties by 2/3rds. Cut back the smallest variety by ½ or not at all. During the summer, watch the growth-rate of the smaller limbs to determine if pruning is needed. If the smallest variety is ½ the size of the others, do not prune. Take care to not let one variety take over or some of the smaller varieties may fail. Prune back the more aggressive limbs. Equal amounts of sunlight needs to be received by all varieties in order to develop fruiting. After the third season, maintain the multi-budded tree so that each fruit type grows in balance with the others.

Lemon Tree

Lemon trees are the most acidic of all the citrus fruits. One of the lyrics of the lemon tree song refers to the acidic fruit. Peter, Paul, and Mary sang, “Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower so sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon, is impossible to eat.” Those lyrics about the lemon citrus tree may not conjure up any memories except for folks over fifty years of age. Lemon trees were being grown in the world garden since at least 200 A. D. according to ancient sources mentioned the lemon plants.

The Spaniards are credited with introducing the lemon to the United States. Because lemons are evergreens and seem to be in a constant state of growth in the garden and lemon tree orchard, they are quite sensitive to cold. A warm climate garden may easily support lemon fruits, but the Midwest and northern winter confines this lovely, sweet smelling citrus tree to a container. The contianer needs to be moved inside in winter and freezing conditions. An excellent candidate for an indoor lemon trees is the juicy, popular Meyer lemon tree. The Meyer lemon is compact enough for urban balconies and limited garden spaces. The Meyer lemon will begin bearing large, juicy, thick peel fruits at an early age.

 Garden grown lemon tree fruits are so very versatile. The lemon is used in restaurants as a garnish and placed on water glass and tea glasses for flavor. It is used in pies, fillings for pastries, and of course the cool flavored lemonade drink. Lemons are utilized daily, regardless of season, winter through summer. Squeeze a garden grown Meyer lemon, and enjoy the tangy taste of lemonade all year round.

Lemon juice is valued as a stain remover in the household. Lemon peel oil is used in furniture polish, soaps, and shampoos, and is a major ingredient for perfumes and colognes. Put lemon peels in the garbage disposal to deodorize the sink and drain area. The lemony smell will delight the olfactory senses.

The juicy lemon also is a reservoir for health benefits. The high vitamin C content of the lemon was used by sailors to prevent scurvy. Winter time travel in the Christopher Columbus era was very likely to have included the juicy lemon as part of the daily rations. Lemons also contain significant amounts of vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and carbohydrates. Lemon oil, derived in part from the lemon peel, is purported to contain properties that are stimulating, anti-infection, astringent, antiseptic, disinfectant and anti-fungal.

 Caring for lemon trees is very similar to other citrus trees. Pruning is required every year or every other year to keep them looking good. Citrus plants, other than lemon, can be pruned every other year and should be fine. Lemon trees, such as the Meyer lemon, grow fast and need to be pruned more frequently. Citrus trees should be inspected yearly for diseased and dead branches. Remove dead and diseased branches when they appear.

Growing a lemon tree is also similar to other citrus trees. If planted in the garden, place the tree in a warm, sunny, location with well drained soil. Water the tree deeply once every 7 to 10 days during the summer. Water the lemon tree less frequently during cooler weather or rainy weather. Fertilize every four to six weeks from early spring to late summer.
Lemon trees make excellent house plants where they can be enjoyed winter through summer. Provide a large enough container and use a potting soil that drains well. The soil needs to be kept moist and slightly acidic for best results. Lemon trees should be placed outside during warm weather to assist with pollination from insects.

Blueberries

The Blueberry is a flowering plant of the genus (Vaccinium). There are blueberries that are native to South America, Asia, and Europe. Blueberries are native to North America and they produce fruit that matures to a blue color. Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit from late spring to summer. Commercially grown blueberries are generally divided into 3 types; lowbush or wild blueberries, highbush, and evergreen blueberries. There are approximately 30 species throughout various regions. The highbush is mainly found on the east coast, the lowbush in the Northeast and Canada, and the evergreen in the Pacific Northwest.

 The blueberry is acknowledged to have a high leveler of anti-oxidants than any other fruit. They also contain very high levels of vitamins C and A. Fully ripened blueberries contain the most anti-oxidants. Various studies have show that blueberries are beneficial in anti-aging, disease prevention, eyesight, cholesterol levels, arteries, memory, and weight control.

 Blueberries will perform well in a number of soil types as long as they are acidic and high in organic matter. Blueberries have shallow roots that are sensitive to soil compaction and poor drainage. Blueberries require acid soil with a pH below 5.5 and they do best when the pH is between 4.5 and 5.0. Blueberries should be pruned regularly after they reach 3 years of age. Remove damaged branches and less vigorous, spindly growth around the base of the plant. Blueberry bushes are best pruned when they are dormant and early spring pruning can help eliminate any winter damage to the plants.

Mangos

Most Americans consider the mango an exotic fruit with the taste of a peach and pineapple. Although it is popular in tropical areas it actually originated in Southeast Asia or India where it has been grown more than 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world, where the climate allows the mango to grow best. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to 60 feet tall. The mango tree will fruit 4 to 6 years after planting. Mango trees require hot, dry periods to set and produce a good crop. Most of the mangos sold in the United States are imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America.

Varieties

Today there more than 1,000 different varieties of mangos throughout the world. Mangos come in different shapes, sizes and coloring depending on the ripeness. The colors range from yellow to green to orange or red. They weigh as little as a few ounces up to a few pounds. All varieties have a very rich tropical flavor when ripe.

Guava Trees

The Guava is a sub-tropical fruit native to central America. It is grown from Florida across the lower south, gulf coastal region to Texas, as an outdoor plant. With a good source of light, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors for growing in northern climates. The Guava is a small tree or evergreen shrub that produces fragrant white flowers followed by 2-4 inch long round or oval shaped fruits. The fruits come in different varieties ranging from white, pink, yellow, or red. When ripe they are soft with a creamy texture. The juice is very sweet and highly nutritious. The trees are generally self-fertile, however they do produce a much larger crop when cross-pollinated with other varieties. Guava trees are easy to grow and are adaptable to many soil types. However, they prefer regular watering and fertilizing on a monthly basis. Willis Orchard Company offers a unique selection of Guava trees (Pink, Yellow, White, and Red). So try one of each for your home orchard, you won't regret it.

Planting Your Peach Tree

Planting a peach tree is a simple process, but there are a few steps that need to be taken to ensure that your tree has the best chance of thriving in its new location. Here are some tree planting tips:

The site you choose is very important when planting fruit trees. Peach trees need a sandy, well-drained soil. Water should drain away quickly after a rainfall, and the roots will not survive in a thick, clay-type soil. Full sun is required as well, so ensure that there is no shade blanketing the tree from nearby trees or buildings.

Peach trees are best planted when dormant, in the winter or very early spring months. This will allow the roots time to adjust and establish themselves when the warmer months arrive.

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Before you purchase your peach tree, take a soil sample to the nursery to have it analyzed. The garden experts there will be able to tell you if you need to add anything to the soil, such as lime or phosphorous, before planting.

Create a hole in the earth that is large enough to encompass the entire root system of the tree. Do not add fertilizer to the earth, as it can burn the tree's tender roots.


After purchasing your peach tree, soak the roots in water for about 24 hours before planting. Trim off any damaged or decaying roots, being careful not to go overboard in your trimming.

Place the root system of the peach tree in the ground, and cover with soil. Pack the soil in gently as you work. Make sure that the bud union of the tree (the point where the root system meets the tree trunk) ends up about 1 to 2" from the ground level.

Water the area where the tree was planted, and make sure there are no weeds in the near vicinity. If desired, add a layer of mulch where the hole was dug out to deter weed growth and retain moisture.