University of California

The California Backyard Orchard

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Links

Some of the links below are outside of the UC domain. No endorsement is intended of products, services, or information, nor is criticism implied of similar sites that are not mentioned.

Why Have an Orchard?

Backyard Orchard Culture, Dave Wilson Nursery
[PDF] Want to Grow Horticultural Crops in the Foothills?, Mario Moratorio, Yolo/Solano Co. UCCE
Benefits of Trees, International Society of Arboriculture

Site Considerations

Climate

Climate Zones, Sunset Publishing Co.
Heat Zone Map, American Horticultural Society
What's My Zone?, Capital Nursery
Rainy Weather May Result in Disease Problems for Fruit Trees, Ed Perry, Stanislaus Co. UCCE

Tree Selection

Tree Selection, International Society of Arboriculture
SelecTree for California: A Tree Selection Guide

Chilling

Chilling Accumulation: Its Importance and Estimation, Texas A&M University Stone Fruit Breeding Program
Chilling Accumulations, UC Fruit & Nut RIC
About Chilling Accumulations, UC Fruit & Nut RIC
Chilling Requirements of Selected Peach Varieties, M.L. Parker and D.J. Werner, North Carolina State University
High-Chill Regions, Texas A&M University Stone Fruit Breeding Program

Frost

Lake County Weather Page, developed by WNI weathernews in conjunction with the Lake County Fruit Frost Trust Fund, Lake County Air Quality Management District, and the UCCE Pomology Program
[PDF] Frost Protection for Citrus and Other Subtropicals, Pamela M. Geisel and Carolyn L. Unruh, Fresno County

Varieties

[PDF] Varieties for Planting in the Home Garden, Paul Vossen, Marin/Sonoma Co. UCCE
[PDF] Selecting Fruit, Nut, and Berry Crops for Home Gardens in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties, K. S. Jones, Laurence R. Costello
[PDF] Fruit, Nut, and Grape Varieties for Home Orchards (El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras Cos.), Ken R. Churches, Lynn Wunderlich
[PDF] Suggested Fruit and Nut Varieties for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties' Backyard Orchardists, John H. Foot, Frank Laemmlen, Mary Bianchi
Almond Variety Tables, Almond Production Manual, Warren Micke, UCD Pomology
Capital Nursery
Dave Wilson Nursery
Sierra Gold Nurseries
California Rare Fruit Growers
- Stone Fruit Varieties for Milder Climates

Propagation

[PDF] Budding & Grafting Citrus and Avocados in the Home Garden
Plant Propagation Chart, California Rare Fruit Growers
Plant Propagation: An Overview of Asexual Reproduction, Texas A&M
Plant Tissue Culture for Home Gardeners

Budding

Budding, University of Missouri

Grafting

[PDF] Bark Grafting, Mario Moratorio, Yolo/Solano Co. UCCE
[PDF] Bud Grafting, Chuck Ingels, Sacramento Co. UCCE, illustrated by Walter Dong
Follow Up Care of Grafted Trees, Harry Andris, Fresno Co. UCCE and James Doyle, Kearney Agricultural Center
Grafting, University of Missouri
Whip Grafting, Texas Agricultural Extension Service
[PDF] Budding and Grafting Citrus and Avocados in the Home Garden, Pam Elam, Fresno Co. UCCE

Preparation & Planning

Layout

Examples of High-Density Planting, Dave Wilson Nursery

Planting

[PDF] Planting and Care of Young Fruit Trees, UC Master Gardeners Jim Carson and Gary Shimizu and Chuck Ingels, Sacramento Co. UCCE
Planting Bareroot Trees, Paul Vossen, Marin/Sonoma Cos. UCCE
[PDF] Planting Bareroot Trees, Mario Moratorio, Yolo/Solano Co. UCCE
[PDF] Planting in El Dorado County, El Dorado Co. UCCE
New Tree Planting, International Society of Arboriculture
[PDF] Fruit Trees: Planting and Care of Young Trees, Jim Carson, Gary Shimizu, Chuck Ingels, Pamela M. Geisel, Carolyn L. Unruh

Irrigation

Watering Your Fruit Trees, Ed Perry, Stanislaus Co. UCCE
Deep, Infrequent Irrigations Keep Home Orchard Trees Healthy, Ed Perry, Stanislaus Co. UCCE
[PDF] Water Management Guide, Paul Vossen, Marin/Sonoma Co. UCCE
Estimating Water Use by Plants, WSU-TFREC Orchard Calculator

Care & Management

Why Fruit Trees Fail to Bear, Washington State University
[PDF] Fruit Tree and Vine Care Calendar, Santa Clara County
Plant Pathology

Pollination

Pollinating Fruit Crops, Michele R. Warmund, Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri-Columbia

Pruning

[PDF] Ten basics of When and How to Prune Fruit Trees, Mario Moratorio, Yolo/Solano Co. UCCE
[PDF] Training and Pruning Fruit Trees, Chuck Ingels, Sacramento Co. UCCE, illustrated by Walter Dong
Proper Pruning Techniques, Texas A&M
How to Prune Trees, US Forest Service
Pruning Young Trees, International Society of Arboriculture
Pruning Mature Trees, International Society of Arboriculture
[PDF] Fruit Trees: Pruning Overgrown Deciduous Trees, Chuck Ingels, Pamela M. Geisel, Carolyn L. Unruh
[PDF] Fruit Trees: Training and Pruning Deciduous Trees, Chuck Ingels, Pamela M. Geisel, Carolyn L. Unruh

Fertilization

[PDF] Minerals and Amount Needed in El Dorado County, El Dorado Co. UCCE

Fruit Thinning

[PDF] Fruit Thinning, Chuck Ingels, Sacramento Co. UCCE and edited by Judy McClure, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, illustrated by Walter Dong
[PDF] Olive Spray Thinning Guidelines, Bill Krueger, Glenn Co. UCCE and Steve Sibbett, Tulare Co. UCCE
[PDF] Fruit Trees: Thinning Young Fruit, Chuck Ingels, Pamela M. Geisel, Carolyn L. Unruh, Patricia M. Lawson

Pests & Diseases

Insect and Disease Problems, International Society of Arboriculture

Pests

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm, UC IPM
Pest Management Guidelines of Agricultural Crops, UC IPM
Home & Landscape Pest Notes, UC IPM

Weeds

[PDF] Home Orchard Weed Control, Paul Vossen, Marin/Sonoma Co. UCCE
Weed Photo Gallery, UC IPM
UC Weed RIC
Yellow Starthistle Biology and Control

Diseases

Harvest & Postharvest

Harvest

[PDF] Harvesting and Storing Your Home Orchard’s Nut Crop: Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, and Chestnuts
Use Taste, Rather Than Rind Color, to Determine When to Harvest Citrus, Ed Perry, Stanislaus Co. UCCE
California Central Valley and North Coast Region, Tree and Vine Crop, Bloom and Harvest Calendar, California Pest Management Center

Postharvest Handling & Storage

[PDF] Safe Handling of Fruits and Vegetables, Christine Bruhn, Amy Li-Cohen, Linda Harris, Anne Spitler-Kashuba
[PDF] Key Points of Control and Management for Microbial Food Safety: Edible Landscape Plants and Home Garden Produce, Trevor V. Suslow, Linda Harris
[PDF] Producing Quality Almonds: Food Safety Starts on the Farm, Bruce Lampinen, Joe Connell, Almond Board of California
[PDF] Oranges: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Jennifer Snart, Mary Lu Arpaia, Linda Harris
[PDF] Apples: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, Linda Harris, Sylvia Yada, Elizabeth Mitcham
Store Navel Oranges in a Cool Place, Ed Perry, Stanislaus Co. UCCE
UC Postharvest Technology RIC, UC Postharvest Technology RIC
Properties and Recommended Conditions for Storage of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, UC Postharvest Technology RIC
Microbial Food Safety IS Your Responsibility!

Fruits & Nuts

Specific Crops

Fruits & Nuts, Backyard Orchard
Crop Information, UC Fruit & Nut RIC
Produce Facts, UC Postharvest Technology RIC
Fruit Facts, California Rare Fruit Growers

Farm Advisor Newsletters

UCCE Pomology Farm Advisor Newsletters

University Publications

Order UC Publications, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Select “Agriculture,” then “Fruit & Nut Crops” or “Gardening, Canning & Preserving” or “Pest and Disease Management”)
[PDF] UCCE El Dorado Home Orchard Brochure, Placerville Master Gardeners
Fruits, Nuts, and Berries for Lake County, Lezlie Ceran and Rachel Elkins, Lake Co. UCCE
Recommended Fruits and Nuts for Santa Clara County, Nancy Garrison, Santa Clara Co. UCCE
[PDF] Fruit Tree and Vine Care Calendar, Santa Clara Co. UCCE

Out-of-State Publications

University of Arizona Ag. Publications
Fruit Publications, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Home Fruits, University of Minnesota Extension
Home Fruit Production: Fruit, University of Missouri Agricultural Publications
Plant Facts, Ohio State University
Web Garden, Ohio State University
Home Fruit Production, Texas A&M
WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics Publication Catalog

Nurseries

Directory of Licensed Nurseries, California Department of Food and Agriculture
[PDF] Fruit & Nut Nurseries, Mario Moratorio, Yolo/Solano Co. UCCE
CRFG Member Nurseries & Fruit Sources, California Rare Fruit Growers
Capital Nursery
Dave Wilson Nursery
Fowler Nurseries
Sierra Gold Nurseries