 Backyard Farming in the River Valley Podcast
November 4, 2009
Backyard Orchards (3:29 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dustin Blakey, County Extension Agent - Agriculture
[Title slide - Backyard Farming in the River Valley, with Dustin Blakey and
Jessee Bocksnick, Backyard Orchards, University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture. Drawing of a person carrying a basket of apples in an apple
orchard.]
[Dustin Blakey] Fall is a great time to consider putting in few fruit trees
in your backyard. I'm Dustin Blakey with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture. Today we're going to talk about some things to think about before
putting in fruit trees. Because fruits are a long-term crop that will be with
you, hopefully, for years to come, it is important to do everything right when
planting them.
[Pictures of apples and blackberries] There are dozens of different kinds of
fruits that grow here in Arkansas and for the most part each one has unique
horticultural requirements. We literally could talk about each one for days.
[Pictures of peaches and grape vines] In fact there are multi-national
conferences held every year around the world covering the ins-and-outs of
growing a single kind of fruit. [Picture of a pawpaw fruit
sliced in half.] Since we don't have that sort of time here, I
want to cover some of the basic ideas to consider before planting.
[Slide - Four considerations: 1. Sun exposure; 2. Adapted plants; 3. Site
preparation; 4. Your own commitment.] For the homeowner there are 4 important
things to think about before planting: sun exposure; adapted plants; site
preparation; and your commitment. There's a lot more to growing fruits - or most
anything else - than just these topics, but they make a great place to start.
[Picture of a house with trees and a fruit tree planted in full sun.] The first consideration in planting fruits at home is sun exposure. It is
vitally important that fruit trees, vines, and brambles have access to full sun.
A half-day will not do. [Picture of a house with landscape in the shade.
Too shady!] Plants use sunlight to make sugar so, no sun means no
fruit. Fruits grown in shade are usually weak, subject to disease, and seldom
yield well. [Picture of a fruit tree planted in the sun] Sunlight is definitely not optional!
[Picture of plums] The next thing to think about when growing fruits is simply, "Does it grow
where I live?" [Pictures of coconut trees and bananas. No!] Fruit trees, just like people, have a certain climate they
prefer. [Picture of a Japanese beetle.] And to make things a little more difficult, some locations like Arkansas
are prone to pests and diseases some of which are nearly impossible to control
at home.
[Picture of leaves showing bacterial leaf spot.] As an example, varieties of peaches susceptible to bacterial leaf spot should
never be grown in Arkansas. [Picture of peaches on trees] Fortunately there are many varieties that are
resistant to various diseases.
[Picture showing the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service home page - uaex.edu.] The best way to find out which varieties to grow
is to use varieties recommended by the Cooperative Extension Service.
[Picture showing the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service Fruits, Nuts Vegetables and Herbs page - uaex.edu.] This website has a list of good varieties for Arkansas, or you can call or
email your local county office. Unless you know what you're doing, I'd suggest
sticking with these varieties. Locally-owned nurseries carry these varieties or
you can order them from catalogs in fall. [Picture of a bee on a flower.] Some fruits like apples will require
cross pollination so be sure to look into that too.
[Picture of a soil sample box.] Before planting, you need to make sure your soil is weed-free and ready to
plant. Don't forget that Arkansans can have their soil tested for free at their
county Extension office.
[Picture of apples on trees.] Finally, before I sign off, remember that fruits require more commitment than
landscape plants. [Picture of a fruit tree.] You will need to prune, water, and perhaps spray on a regular
basis. [Picture of two pears.] Nothing is particularly hard, but everything must be done right - and at
the right time. [Video showing two dogs playing.] Like pets, if you cannot commit to taking care of your orchard,
don't plant it.
[Picture of figs on a tree] Not all fruits are equally hard. Figs take very little time commitment.
[Picture of peaches on a tree.] While
peaches require a great deal of diligence. Bringing home a peach and keeping it
healthy is not entirely unlike owning a horse. You'll need to fuss over it
constantly and even so, you may still get bucked off from time to time.
[Dustin Blakey] Hopefully all this talk about planning ahead hasn't scared you off. Fruits
are a great addition to the garden, but if you want to be successful
with them, don't buy one on a whim.
[Questions? Contact your
Extension Office for more information or e-mail:
dblakey@uaex.edu. U of A University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture]
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