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Grow Your Own BackYard Fruit

© Diana Pederson

I am pleased to introduce you to a relatively new garden writer and a new garden topic for me. I always considered fruit growing to be a hobby for the specialist and have avoided this topic. Stella Otto's books make it clear that anyone can enjoy producing their own fruit - in the city or in the country. You don't need a large farm to grow many kinds of fruit. Stella Otto lives in northern Michigan. She is a horticultural consultant and fruit farm owner. Stella Otto is also an outstanding garden writer who understands just what a new comer to fruit gardening would need to know. Her first book, the BackYard Orcharist, won the Benjamin Franklin Award from the Publishers Marketing Association and was a Garden Book Club Selection. This indicates the quality of her books and is an outstanding achievement for a first time writer.

The BackYard Orchardist

This book is divided into six sections. The first section presents the basics of getting started in fruit tree growing. Otto presents several important reasons to consider adding fruit trees to your landscape in the first chapter. They can be grown for the pride of growing your own fruit, the beauty of the trees, the ability to grow species not available in your local grocery store such as the heirloom or antique varieties. Other reasons can include the benefits you receive from the exercise involved in their care and the benefit of eating pesticide or chemical free fruit if you so desire. Fruit trees can also provide needed shade and erosion control. Finally, you can share some of the harvest with wildlife. Remember that birds in particular can help you control the pests and thus eliminate part of the need for pesticides.

In chapters 2 and 3 you will find detailed instructions on selecting a site and preparing the soil for your fruit trees along with instructions on how to plant them. Otto discusses topics such as microclimates within your landscape and climate issues which you must consider. Many of us just look at the temperature ranges and forget to consider the actual length of the growing season. Otto stresses selecting varieties that are appropriate for your area and even includes a map showing which types of fruit trees do best in different sections of the country. I believe this knowledge will save you money because you won't select trees which aren't likely to thrive in your area. Information on determining soil type, ph, moisture content, and available sunlight for a potential fruit tree location is provided. She strongly encourages you to have the fertility of the soil studied by a State cooperative extension office or a private laboratory so you can add necessary nutrients (fertilizer) before actually purchasing and planting your trees.

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