Many varieties of sweet cherry are not reliably cold-hardy in Iowa. Because they tend to bloom earlier in the season than other fruit trees, like apples and pears, they are also more prone to damage from a late spring frost. When…
Peaches are not reliably cold hardy in many parts of Iowa. The best peaches to grow in Iowa tend to have slightly later bloom times and more cold hardy flower flowers buds. Cultivars good for Iowa include
It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. However, in most cases, apple trees don't come true from seeds. For example, a seed taken from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a Red Delicious apple tree. Seedling…
While grapevines can be propagated by several methods, they are most commonly propagated by hardwood cuttings. Hardwood cuttings are made from the dormant canes of the preceding year’s growth. Cutting material should be collected in late…
Common or edible figs (Ficus carica) are not reliably cold hardy in Iowa. The stems of ‘Chicago Hardy’ (considered one of the hardiest edible fig cultivars) are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant’s roots are hardy to 15 to 20…
Construction of a grape trellis is similar to constructing a farm fence. The trellis must be substantial enough to carry the weight of the vines plus a heavy crop during high winds. Basically, the trellis consists of two or three…
Fruit trees should be pruned on an annual basis. Annual pruning of young (non-bearing) fruit trees develops a strong framework and desirable tree shape. Annual pruning of bearing trees maintains tree vigor, maximizes fruit yields, and…
Gooseberries should be pruned to maximize fruit production. Gooseberries produce the majority of their fruit on two- and three-year-old shoots. Shoots 4 years old and older produce very little fruit. Pruning of mature,…
Apple trees don’t come true from seed. Grafting is the best way to propagate an apple tree. Grafted apple trees produce fruit that are identical to their parent.
Grafting is the joining together of two plant parts (scion…
By the second year, the home gardener should have selected the training system and constructed the appropriate trellis. In early spring, select a vigorous, straight cane and remove all the rest. Tie the cane securely to the uppermost…
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma. After pollination and fertilization, fruit set occurs. There are two types of pollination. Self-pollination occurs when the pollen is transferred from the…
The symptoms are those of peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease. The disease is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Infections occur as the peach tree buds begin to swell in spring.
Red raspberries spread rapidly as they sucker profusely from their roots. To prevent the planting from becoming a wide, unmanageable thicket, red raspberries should be confined to a one- to two-foot-wide hedgerow. Shoots growing…
Established blueberry plants benefit from an annual application of an acid-producing fertilizer, such as ammonium sulfate. In early spring, apply ½ to 1 pound of ammonium sulfate per 100 square feet of garden area. Ammonium sulfate…
It is generally not necessary to fertilize fruit trees in Iowa. Most Iowa soils can supply sufficient amounts of nutrients to fruit trees. Check tree growth to determine whether fruit trees need fertilization. Young, nonbearing…
Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) is a species of honeysuckle native to cold regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Other common names include blue honeysuckle or haskap. Honeyberries grow 4 to 6 feet tall. Plants…
Serviceberries are members of the genus Amelanchier. Other common names for plants in the genus Amelanchier include juneberry, saskatoon, shadbush, sarvisberry, and sugar plum.
Apples are considered self-unfruitful. While a few cultivars, like Gold Delicious, set a good crop without cross-pollination, most apple cultivars will not produce a good crop without a different cultivar nearby to provide pollen.
Cherries perform best in moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites. Cherries are susceptible to root rots in wet, poorly drained soils. Trees should also receive full sun. Sites must receive at…
When ready to plant, trim off the older leaves, place the roots of the plants in water for an hour, then plant immediately. Set each plant in the ground so the crown of the plant is even with the soil surface.
In March or early April, remove all small, weak canes, leaving only 4 or 5 of the largest, most vigorous canes per clump or plant. Cut back the lateral (side) branches to 12 inches in length.
Grapevines produce fruit clusters on the previous season’s growth. Before pruning, a grapevine may have 200 to 300 buds capable of producing fruit. If the vine is not pruned, the number of grape clusters would be excessive and the…
