Growing stone fruits in the home garden

Hybrid plums and apricots are self-incompatible, which means they require at least two different cultivated varieties (cultivars) located within about 100 yards of one another for pollination to occur and fruit to be produced.

Hybrid plums require a specific second cultivar for pollination (see cultivar charts). For example, in order to get fruit from an Alderman plum, you would have to plant either a Toka or Superior plum as well (or a native American or Canadian plum).

European plums and tart cherries are self-compatible. They do not require two cultivars to produce fruit, however they will generally produce more fruit if a second cultivar is nearby.

Select the right trees for your location and use these step-by-step instructions to plant and care for your young trees.

Stone fruit trees can be purchased as dormant, bare root plants, or in pots.

• Bare root plants should be planted in early spring while they are still dormant (before visible growth starts), after the ground is workable but before the weather warms.
• Potted plants can be planted any time during the growing season, though spring is ideal, and trees may have leaves when planted.

Many local nurseries are now carrying plum, cherry, apricot and even a few peach cultivars suitable to this region.

• You can order fruit trees online, nurseries around the country carry many of the winter hardy cultivars.
• Order early to get the best selection.
• If you order during the winter, the nurseries will wait to ship the trees until the appropriate time in spring.

Mature height listed in this and other tables is an estimate. Plant size at maturity will depend upon cultivar and growing conditions.

Plums are very much at home in the Minnesota garden, provided you choose the right cultivars. There are quite a few hybrid plum cultivars, and a couple of European plum cultivars that perform well in most areas of Minnesota. Local garden centers and online nurseries are carrying more and more hardy plums, making it easier for Minnesota gardeners to grow these delicious fruits.

Plums, along with tart cherries, are the most reliable stone fruits for Minnesota gardens. Fruit of various cultivars ranges from deep purple to red to pale yellow, and the flavors are equally varied.

Most require a second compatible cultivar to ensure maximum pollination and good fruit set. Toka is the most highly recommended cultivar for cross-pollination, as it is compatible with many other cultivars. The fruit of Toka is delicious too!

The following table includes suggestions for pollen-compatible cultivars. Wild American plums (P. americana) and Canadian plums (P. nigra) can be good pollen sources for hybrid plum cultivars. Truly wild plum trees are difficult to find at nurseries, but if you already have these trees in your yard they will provide pollen for your selected cultivar.

Of all types of cherries, tart cherries (also known as pie or sour cherries) are best adapted to northern climates.

Tart cherry trees are small compared to their sweet-fruited relatives, growing only to about 15 feet tall, and a few cultivars only to about 8 feet—perfect for small spaces.

These attractive, vase-shaped to rounded trees have stunning copper bark and beautiful dark green, glossy foliage. When in flower, the trees are covered with small, white, fragrant blossoms.

Later in summer, the bright red cherries are a vibrant contrast with the dark foliage.

As autumn arrives, the foliage turns a lovely orange hue.

Of all stone fruits, tart cherries are the most self-fruitful, but a second compatible cultivar will ensure even better pollination and fruit set.

Apricots

Apricots are soft and tender, both in terms of fruit and personality.

There are only a couple cultivars that are hardy in Minnesota, and these are more delicate than plums or tart cherries. The fruit of hardy apricots isn't quite as juicy as those of warmer climates, but still has delicious flavor and is excellent for making preserves.

Peaches

Peaches love warmth more than the other stone fruits, and so are the most limited in cultivars that can be grown in Minnesota.

If you live in the southern part of the state or have a particularly mild micro-climate in your yard, you might have success with one of the few hardier peach cultivars. These include Reliance, Contender, and Intrepid; befitting names for peaches growing in the North. Gardeners in the Twin Cities growing these cultivars report they get a moderate crop of peaches every year or so. If you're a peach lover, it's certainly worth a try.

• Bare root plants should be planted as soon as possible upon arrival.
• Do not allow the roots of bare root or potted plants to dry out at any time.
• Soak the roots of bare root plants in water for 2 to 4 hours before planting.
• Although potted plants may be held for several weeks before planting, they will require frequent water and fertilizer.

Find a sunny location

Choose the sunniest site available for planting, in a spot protected from harsh winds. Stone fruit trees require at least a half day of sun to produce fruit. The more sun they get, the more fruit they can produce.

Avoid planting stone fruit plants too close to the south side of buildings. Heat can get trapped there on sunny spring days and that will encourage trees to bloom too early.

Do not plant stone fruit trees where water stands after rain.

Dig a hole 

At planting time, dig a hole large enough to fit the roots without bending them. Bent roots are less likely to spread normally as they grow, causing anchorage problems and susceptibility to drought.

If one root is very long it may be trimmed, but in general do not prune the roots.

Remove plants from pots 

If the plant is root-bound or if larger roots circle the inside of the pot, make several vertical cuts through the roots with a sharp knife and spread them out. This will not harm the plant, rather it will encourage the roots to extend and grow out into the soil.

Do not fertilize the soil

Do not add fertilizer nor heavily amend the soil from the hole at planting time as this can create a 'flower pot' effect, where the roots never leave the amended soil. When this happens, plants become root-bound with poor anchorage and low drought resistance.

You may mix in compost or dampened, shredded peat moss to the soil, but make sure at least half the resulting mixture is original soil.

• Place the tree in the ground at the height at which it was grown in the nursery.
  • You should be able to see the soil line on the tree.
  • If you can't see it, place the tree so that the graft union is 3 to 4 inches above the soil line.
• Fill the hole with soil and firm the soil with your foot while holding the tree in position.
• Water immediately. If the soil compacts after watering, add more soil until it is at the right level.

Note: The methods used in the video apply to all stone fruit trees. Nematode testing is not required before planting stone fruit trees in Minnesota. Courtesy of Mike Parker, NCSU Extension

Protecting and mulching young trees

Spread about 4 inches of organic mulch, such as wood chips or well-rotted compost, around the base of the plant. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rotting and rodent damage. Spread the mulch in a circle at least 4 feet in diameter.

Grass and weeds should be kept at least 2 feet from the trunk throughout the life of the tree. For this reason, you should renew the mulch annually.

Planting is also the perfect time to place a tree guard around the trunk. These can be found at most nurseries and garden centers. The tree guard should cover most of the length of the trunk, which will protect it from rodent damage and winter injury.

Watering

Regular watering is critical throughout the first year of planting.

• Young fruit trees require 1-2 inches of water a week, either in the form of rainwater or irrigation.
• If rain is plentiful, you might not need to irrigate very often.
• During hot, dry periods trees should be given about 5 gallons of water once a week.

Different soils and weather conditions will affect how much you'll need to water your tree.

Test to see if your tree needs water

• Check the soil at a depth of 4-8 inches (be careful not to dig into the soil too close to the roots of the tree).
• If the soil feels dry or slightly damp, give the tree a good watering.

Occasional, slow, deep watering will encourage the roots to grow deeply into the soil. Avoid frequent, shallow watering because this will encourage roots to stay near the soil surface, leading to poor anchorage, susceptibility to drought, and other stresses.

Do not wait for the leaves to wilt before watering.

It is just as important not to overwater new trees. Overwatering can lead to root rot and can kill the tree.

Remember, if you are watering your lawn near the tree, take this into account when determining the tree's water needs.

After the first year, regular rainfall should be sufficient for the tree. But watering will be required during hot, dry periods.

Support

Young trees benefit from staking at planting time to help them grow straight and develop a strong root system.

• Either a wood or metal stake will work.
• It should be about the height of the tree or taller after it is pounded two feet into the ground.
• Use a wide piece of non-abrasive material to secure the tree to the stake.
• Avoid narrow fastenings such as wire or string, as these will cut into the bark.
• The stake can be removed after 3 or 4 years, once the tree is well-established.

Once established, a stone fruit tree planted on a favorable site in properly prepared soil should thrive with minimal fertilization.

Nitrogen is normally the only mineral nutrient that needs to be added on an annual basis and can be added using compost.

• After the first year, use the previous season's growth as a guide, and add compost in early spring if necessary.
• If the shoots of a young, non-bearing stone fruit tree grew 15 inches or more in length, you do not need to fertilize.
• For mature, bearing trees, the minimum shoot growth is 8 inches.
• If the previous year's growth falls below these amounts, then add compost.

Never fertilize a tree exhibiting normal or vigorous growth. Too much fertilizer is more harmful than too little.

If you fertilize the lawn surrounding a stone fruit tree, take this into account when calculating the amount to be applied to the tree.

Weeding

• For the first three to five years, grass and weeds should be removed from about a three foot radius around the tree.
• Grasses can deplete soil moisture rapidly and will reduce tree growth.
• Apply a few inches of mulch around the base of a tree to help prevent weeds.
• Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rodent damage and fungal growth.

Insects and other creatures

Significant insect pest damage is rare on stone fruits in home gardens, but these trees are occasionally subject to pests including apple maggot, caterpillars and plum curculio.

Keep an eye on your trees so you notice any problems early on. If you see anything unusual like holes or scarring on fruit, deteriorating or dropped fruit, distorted or damaged leaves, there might be insect damage occurring.

Birds are the main pests of stone fruits in Minnesota. They feed on maturing stone fruits, pecking holes or eating entire fruits. This is especially true for cherries.

The best protection is to net the entire plant, taking care to secure the netting both above and below the protected area.

Rodents can be a threat to stone fruit trees in winter, chewing the bark and the living tissue beneath it. Using tree guards on the trunk, enclosing the trunk in a wire-mesh cylinder and keeping mulch a few inches from the trunk will protect the tree from rodent damage.

Diseases and other challenges

Disease pressure is relatively low on stone fruits in Minnesota, however occasional problems do arise.

See Pest Management for the Home Stone Fruit Orchard for a downloadable publication on diseases and insect pests and how to manage them.

Is it ripe?

As stone fruits ripen, the flesh softens and the skin changes from green to purple, red, orange, or a combination of these colors. You may test for ripeness by giving the fruit a light squeeze. The flesh should yield to gentle thumb pressure.

The best way to determine ripeness is to taste the fruit.

Picking fruit

To harvest without harming the fruit buds for next year's crop, twist the fruit slightly while pulling. Ripe fruit usually will detach from the stem with little effort. Handle fruit gently and avoid piling fruit too deeply to prevent bruising.

Storing fruit

Refrigerate stone fruits right after harvesting in perforated plastic bags or loosely covered containers. Keep the refrigerator at a temperature of 32-40°F.

Cherries will keep 3-5 days, while plums will keep 3-5 weeks when promptly refrigerated.

Stone fruit trees are susceptible to trunk cracking in winter, especially when the trees are young. Often this is caused by fluctuating temperatures as the winter sun warms the bark on very cold days.

To prevent cracking

• Wrap the trunk with a paper or plastic trunk protector in late fall.
• The wrap should extend from the ground to just beyond the first scaffold branch base.
• The wrap can be removed when temperatures warm in spring.

• Remove diseased, broken, or dead branches.
• Remove any downward-growing branches.
• If two limbs are crossed, entangled, or otherwise competing, remove one of them completely at its base.
• Remove any limb along the trunk that is getting bigger in diameter than the trunk.
• Remove suckers coming up from the roots or low on the trunk.
• Remove watersprouts, which are vigorous vertical branches.
• Pruning cuts should be made close to the branch collar at the base of the limb. For larger limbs, first cut on the underside of the limb to avoid tearing the bark.
• Remove large limbs first and start in the top of the tree.
• Thinning cuts remove entire branches at the branch collar and are almost always recommended. Heading cuts remove only part of a branch and encourage unwanted vegetative growth just below the cut.

The goals of pruning and training are to maximize light penetration into the tree and to maintain healthy fruiting wood.

For new trees

At planting, if the tree has branches, choose four to six of them, starting about 18 to 24 inches above the ground and spaced as equally as possible around the tree, to form the first tier of scaffold branches. These branches should not all be at the same height on the trunk. Prune out all remaining branches.

If the newly planted tree does not have at least three strong branches suitable for the primary tier, remove all branches and prune the leader at a height of 30-40 inches from the ground.

Once branches begin to sprout from the trunk, you can select scaffold branches and remove any unwanted branches while they are still small. This pruning may be done through mid-summer if necessary.

Prune once a year

Fruit trees should be pruned on an annual basis in late winter, preferably after the coldest weather is past and before buds break and growth begins. Use the open center pruning method described in the next drawer.

Prune minimally, especially with young trees, as excessive pruning will delay or reduce fruiting and encourage too much leafy growth.

Once the first set of scaffold branches has been selected, choose a second set above it, with the new scaffold branches beginning about 12 inches above the top branch of the first.

In the second year and thereafter, prune in early spring, usually March or April in Minnesota.

If you were able to select first-tier branches in the previous year, you may select four to six second-tier branches.

• These should begin about 18-20 inches above the first tier
• Spaced as equally as possible around the trunk
• At different heights from one another 

Remove all other branches not belonging to the first or second tiers and prune out the leader.

Stone fruit trees are often pruned to an open center form, following their naturally spreading growth habit.

This produces a vase-shaped tree, which

• Provides good air circulation through the canopy of the tree 
• Helps prevent brown rot and other fungal diseases that may occur in a canopy that is too dense 
• Keeps the many fruits on a stone fruit tree within reach

The illustration below shows the contrasts between open center (left) and central leader (right) method of pruning.

You can see in the open center method, the center vertical stem is immediately pruned out upon planting. This encourages scaffold branches to grow, which will become the foundation of the open center tree.

Central leader pruning is used for trees that have more of an upright growth habit (like many apples). Occasionally you'll find a stone fruit tree that has a naturally upright habit, in which case the central leader method might be the best choice.

This video explains pruning peach trees to an 'open center' style. This method can be used for all other stone fruit trees. Video courtesy of Mike Parker, NCSU Extension

Renovating an old tree

Pruning a mature tree that has been neglected for several years can be a challenge and will take a few years of pruning to make the tree productive again. Here are a few guidelines for renovating a neglected tree:

• Choose a branch to be the leader; or if the tree has more of a spreading habit, choose which limbs will remain to be the foundation of the tree. Remove one of two major limbs that might be competing with these main branches.
• Then decide on additional branches to save based on the branch position around the trunk. Think balance.
• At this stage, pruning out a few large branches in year one will open the tree up, increase light and air flow.
• Don't prune too much or the tree will put all its energy into making new branches and not fruit!
• During year 2, make a few more decisions on where branches should remain and remove a few more.
• Follow general pruning guidelines to prune out branches that are diseased or broken.