Berries and Fruit
Steve Dodrill
Featured Fruit and Nut Tree Resources
About The Apple – Malus domestica
Taxonomy, history, folklore, medicinal properties, botanical description, general cultural, harvest, contribution to diet.
Tree Pruning Basics
A properly pruned tree looks as natural as possible; that is to say, the tree’s appearance reflects its fundamental form and character. The pruner must be sensitive to maintaining this structural integrity, in addition to knowing a bit about tree biology and proper pruning principles!Featured Berry Resources
Growing Raspberries in Your Home Garden
Explains how to grow black, red, and purple raspberries in a home garden. Covers cultivar and site selection, soil preparation, fertilization, and planting. Discusses how to build hedgerow and hill planting systems and trellises. Outlines how to care for established plantings, including fertilizing,...
Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden
Describes how to grow highbush and cultivated blueberries in a home garden. Covers how to establish a planting, select a site and cultivars, determine soil requirements, prepare soil, plant, control weeds, mulch, fertilize, water, prune, care for established plants, and select ripe berries for...
Growing Strawberries in Your Home Garden
Describes various varieties of June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral strawberries and when they produce crops. Explains where to plant strawberries and how to rotate a strawberry patch to optimize growth and minimize disease. Discusses the matted-row and hill planting systems and the advantages...
Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden
Describes how to grow blackberries in a home garden. Covers types, growth and fruiting cycles; how to establish a planting, select a site and cultivars, determine soil requirements, prepare soil, plant, control weeds, trellis, fertilize, water, prune, care for established plants, and select ripe...Latest Resources
A look back on a year of gardening stories
Jan 12, 2019
A story about yellowjackets topped the most-popular list.
Can a pluot pollinator be plum or apricot?
I have a Flavor Supreme pluot. The year before last it had a lot of fruit. I do not have a pollinator for it, but the neighbor's have a plum. Last year it had only a few fruits. I want to get a pollinator. According to what I read it needs to be another pluot or a plum (there is a list of them). Why...
Is my apple tree wounded?
I have a Gala apple tree, around 5 years old. It is a good producer and appears to be in good health, but as you know, requires lots of attention... spraying, etc. I had some apple scab problems with it for the last two years, which I gather is pretty common with Galas, but now seem to have that...
Latest News
A look back on a year of gardening stories
Jan 12, 2019
A story about yellowjackets topped the most-popular list.
Know when it’s time to pick pears and apples
Sep 14, 2018
Apples ripen on the tree, but pears must be stored first.
Planning now brings a good tomato season next year
Sep 7, 2018
If you had problems with blossom-end rot this year, try amending the soil with lime and changing your watering habits.
