For every gardener desiring to add apples, pears, cherries, and other tree fruit to their landscape here are hints and solid information from a professional horticulturist and experienced fruit grower. The Backyard Orchardist includes help on selecting the best fruit trees and information about each stage of growth and development, along with tips on harvest and storage of the fruit. Those with limited space will learn about growing dwarf fruit trees in containers.
Appendices include a fruit-growers monthly calendar, a trouble-shooting guide for reviving ailing trees, and a resource list of nurseries selling fruit trees.

"This little gem is the finest single source of fruit growing information published to date...very comprehensive..." -Pomona, newsletter of the North American Fruit Explorers

"What we like most about this book is it isn't intimidating...she gently and convincingly enables us to realize that, yes, we can grow fruit successfully." -HortIdeas

For every gardener desiring to add apples, pears, cherries, and other tree fruit to their landscape here are hints and solid information from a professional horticulturist and experienced fruit grower. "The Backyard Orchardist" includes help on selecting the best fruit trees and information about each stage of growth and development, along with tips on harvest and storage of the fruit. Those with limited space will learn about growing dwarf fruit trees in containers.Appendices include a fruit-growers monthly calendar, a trouble-shooting guide for reviving ailing trees, and a resource list of nurseries selling fruit trees.

List of Illustrations VIII
List of Charts XI
Acknowledgments XIII
Preface XIV
Section I. Getting Started with Fruit Trees
1. Enjoying Fruit Trees in the Landscape 17
2. Selecting the Right Site 21
A Close Look at Your Site-Climate-Average Minimum Temperatures and Hardiness-Length of Growing Season-Microclimate-Soil-Soil pH-Moisture-Sunlight-Space Required-The Perfect Site
3. Planting and Early Care 37
Preparing the soil-Selecting the tree-Plating-Pruning After Planting-Other Care
Section II. Fruit Fundamentals-Growth Habits of Specific Tree Fruit
3. Pome Fruit 47
4. Apples 49
Growth Habit-Flowering and Fruiting-Rootstocks-Variety Choices-Disease Resistant Varieties-Popular Varieties-Varieties for Special Situations
5. Pears 67
Growth Habits-Pollination-Rootstocks-Domestic Varieties-Judging Ripeness and Harvest Time-Asian Pears
Stone Fruit 81
6. Sweet Cherries 83
Growth Habit and Training-Flowering and Pollination-Rootstocks-Variety Selection
7. Tart Cherries 91
Growth Habit and Pruning-Rootstocks-Variety Selection
8. Apricots, Plums, ApriumsandPlutos 95
Apricots-Flowering and Pollination-Rootstock-Varieties-Types of Plums-Pollination-Rootstocks-Pruning-ApriumsandPluots
9. PeachesandNectarines 107
Growth Habit and Pruning-Flowering and Pollination-Rootstocks-Varieties-White Fleshed Peaches-Need for Thinning-Nectarines
Section III. Caring for Your Fruit Tree
10. Nutrition and Fertilizers 117
Photosynthesis-Choosing a Fertilizer-Function and Sources of Nutrients-Soil and Tissue Testing-Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms- Fertilizer: How Much?-Water: How Much?-Mulching-Modifying pH
11. Pruning Basics 127
Young Nonbearing Trees-The Bearing Tree-Rejuvenating the Neglected Overgrown Tree-Proper Pruning Cuts-Pruning Tools
12. Growing Fruit Trees in Containers 141
Genetic Dwarf Trees-Choosing a Container-The Soil Mix-Plants and Repotting-Feeding and Watering-Keeping the Container Growm Tree Healthy-Winterizing the Container Planting
13. Flowering, Fruiting and Thinning 149
Understanding Fruit Bud Development-Managing Growth and Fruiting in the Early Years-Flowering, Pollination and Fruit Set-June Drop-Biennial Bearing-Hand Thinning
Section IV. PestsandDiseases
14. Insect Pests 161
Understanding Insect Life Cycles-Insect Damage-General Insect Identification-Direct Insect Pests-Indirect Pests-Occasional Insect Pests-Beneficial Insects
15. Disease Identification 175
Fungus Diseases-Bacterial Diseases-Virus and Miscellaneous Disorders-Nematodes
16. Insect and Disease Control Methods 187
Different Philosophies Defined-Safe Handling of Materials-Effective Pest Control-Insect Control-Disease Control
17. Wildlife Pests 199
Birds-Deer-Rodents-Raccoons and Porcupines
Section V. Harvest
18. Harvest and Storage 205
When to Harvest-Picking Technique-Proper Storage
Section VI. Preface
Appendix
Reviving the Ailing Tree