Growing Fruit Trees in Anchorage

Growing Fruit Trees in Anchorage

Three Keys to Success • Choose the Correct Location • Use the Correct Cultural Practices • Plant the Appropriate Varieties

Correct Location • Full Sun – south and east exposure are the most important • If possible the ground should slope to the south • Protection from wind and moose • Site should have good drainage • Beware planting trees where they may be susceptible to mystery harvests

Cultural Practices • Ensure rich soil by mixing with compost before planting trees • Provide nutrients with fertilizers from early June to early August • Protect bark from voles in winter • Insects and diseases are usually not a problem in Anchorage – so pesticides are not required

Varieties of Tree Fruit • Apples • Pie Cherries • Sweet Cherries • Pears

Apples • Nearly all apple trees are grafted

Grafting

Apples • Only “summer” apples will ripen in our short season • Pollination is not a concern • It takes two to five years for a tree to bear • My variety recommendations: Norland Breakey Westland

Apples Apples like most fruit are produced on fruit spurs – which develop as the tree matures:

Apples

Yellow Transparent

Breakey

Westland

Norland

Pie Cherries • The site must be very well drained • Rootstocks are critical • Best are Gisela 5 and Amur Chokecherry • Pie Cherries are self-fruitful – only need one • Best Varieties are Evans (Bali), Montmorency and Northstar

Pie Cherries • Example of a pie cherry fruit spur:

Montmorency

Evans

Evans Cherries

Sweet Cherries • Challenging in Anchorage • Most require two varieties for pollination • Same rootstocks as for pie cherries • Varieties to try: Lapin (self fruitful), Stella, and Kristin

Pears • Rootstocks not a concern • Must be summer ripening varieties • Require two varieties for pollination • Varieties to try: Summercrisp, Stacey, and Hudar

Summercrisp Pear

Summercrisp Pears

The End

Growing Fruit Trees in Anchorage