FRUIT TREES

GROWING YOUR OWN FRUITS

NECTARINE

There is nothing more rewarding than picking the fresh ripe fruit straight from your own backyard.  These decidious trees will bloom during spring (left, nectarine), like cherry blossoms.  And in the summer, the tree will be overloaded with fruits.  Therefore, we usually prune out the smaller branches and twigs during dormancy to prevent overcrowding and breakage of branches.  Adequate watering after flowering will help the fruits to get bigger and juicier.  Stop watering once the fruits are getting ready to ripe and the sweetness process will begin before you pick them.  

The only problem with nectarines, peaches, and apricots - the fruits ripe almost all at the same time - and if you don't pick them right away, they will start to drop and rot on the ground.   

PERSIMMON (Giant Fuyu)

By November, these giant fuyu persimmons (right) are welcomed treats and desserts, right in time for Thanksgiving.  A single tree will produce about 300-500 fruit each season.  Birds and squirrels are some of the animals that will get their fair share of your harvest - so pick them early before they get them ahead of you.    

LEMON

In California, every garden should have at least one lemon tree - we have four (two Eureka and two Meyers).  These lemon trees will produce tons (literally) of lemons each year non-stop - regardless of the season.  Each wondrous fruit will cling on its branches for as long as 6 months - so there's no rush to pick them until you're ready to use them (for lemonade, marinade, baking, or simply squeezing them while washing and rinsing your dishes and pans).  As decor, put them on display in a tall big glass and they will last for a month or two.