HORTICULTURE

 

 

Home Fruit Plantings

By: Mark Longstroth,
District Extension Educator for Horticulture & Marketing

 

Many home owners would like to have fruit plantings in their yards.  MSU has a few references that are excellent and would be useful to backyard fruit growers.  You will also find that many of the links I have for general information, insects and diseases are worthwhile.

Home owners need to spray pesticides to control insect pests and diseases.  I am reluctant to make spray recommendations to homeowners, because they want to control pest and diseases on their fruit but do not know what insect and disease pest they have.  It is easier to control only the pests you have rather than all the pests you might have.   I have posted recommendations are for homeowners using commonly available homeowner fruit sprays.  Pesticide registration for home fruit changes a lot every few years and many materials are no longer sold.  Most materials are registered on some but not all fruit.  Read the label to determine the spray’s ingredients, what crops to use it on and how to use the material. For ease of reference I have created two different files with specific fruit spray recommendations using common pesticides sold in garden stores.

 

These recommendations are for homeowners using commonly available sprays.
Backyard Sprays for Tree Fruit such as Apples and Pears and stone fruit such as Plums, Peaches and Cherries.
Backyard Sprays for Small Fruit such as Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries and Grapes.

If you have a larger planting and a way to mix and apply large amounts (10 to 50 gallons) of spray mix to your plantings,  I have another set of files you would be interented in using commericial general use pesticides registered on fruit.  Bear in mind you will be buying a large quanity of pesticides (enough to treat several acres) and you will need a safe way to store these materials.  I suggest you get some references and determine exactly which pests you have and then tailor your spray program to the insect and disease complex you have in you home planting.  These recommendations are for hobby orchardists using general use pesticides available at farm pesticide dealerships.  I do not recommend this if you only have a few trees.  Commerical pesticides are sold and formulated for use in large acreages and you will need to buy a lifetime supply of a material that you only use a little so you need to store this material in a safe place.

 

Sprays for Tree Fruit Plantings using registered general use fruit pesticides.
Sprays for Small Fruit Planting using registered general use fruit pesticides.
Old Sprays for Fruit Planting using old removed registered general use fruit pesticides

If you like pictures, I have posted a page of pictures and links.

You should also check my general information page
For more information on specific commodities click below
For Apple information see Apples.
For Blueberry information see Blueberries.
For Cherry information see Cherries.
For Cranberry information see Cranberries.
For Grape information see Grapes.
For Peach information see Peaches.
For Pear information see Pears.
For Plum information see Plums.
For Strawberry information see Strawberries.
For Raspberry information see Raspberries.