Growing Fruit In Duluth

Planning the planting Size of fruit planting – Space available – Size of family – Experience of grower – Availability of tools

Planning – Fruit plot location Soil type Drainage Sun Water availability Slope Things to avoid

Planning Kinds of fruit to plant – Size of plot – What does the family like? – Hardiness – yield

Planning Getting the plants – Local nurseries – Duluth Community Gardens fruit sale – Mail order: FEDCO trees, St Lawrence – Transplant from wild – graft

Soil and site preparation Soil test- call Extension Site history Plan out irrigation Fertilizer timing

Planting Timing – Plant in spring Care of stock- keep roots damp Planting holes- rough, shallow, no N Fert Root pruning- cut off broken roots Staking – stake up dwarfs Watering- 5 gal, every other day for the first 2 weeks

Seasonal care Sunscald protection- wrap trunks for winter Weed control – keep grass away Pruning- train to modified central leader Animal pest control – Protect the trees Insect and disease control – inspect frequently

Red-backed Vole

Shubat’s deer fence

Insect pests Apple Worm - sticky traps - Pheromone Apple maggot – sticky traps + scent Scale – dormant oil spray Aphids – soap spray, pressure hose

Insect pests Apple Worm

Apple Maggot

Insect pest scale

Insect pest aphids

Common Diseases Apple Scab – sanitation, – Kaolin Fire Blight – streptomycin, – pruning

Blueberries Minnesota ½-high – Northblue – Northsky – Chippewa – Polaris – St.Cloud Wild – can be transplanted Avoid highbush

Strawberries June Bearing – Honeoye – Sparkle – Trumpeter – Veestar Ever-bearing – Ft. Laramie – Ogallala – Tribute

Seeded Grapes Beta (black) Valiant (black) Edelweiss (white) Swenson Red (Red) Wild grapes

Juneberries Honeywood Northline, Pembina Regent Smokey Theissen Wild

Gooseberry Pixwell Poorman Welcome

Black Currants Consort Antonina’s

Red Currant Red Lake MN 71