Question: I am thinking of buying a Desert Gold Peach tree and planting on the north side of my home. I have a plum, lime and grapefruit on this side, all which bear fruit. However it does not get much direct sun. 1-2 hours winter, 2-3 hours spring and fall, 4 hours in summer. Is this enough sun for this tree to produce? Bob Desert Gold Peach Answer: Bob, Usually I like to plant my…

Question: Please tell what fruit trees (especially apricots, plums, figs) you recommend for the (hot) San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. I'd like a grape that will grow over an arbor, as well as all sorts of edible fruit.Many Thanks, Rafael Answer: Rafael, Thank you for a wonderful question. I chuckle at the relative term "hot" in your question. Our growing fields, in the richest agricultural area in the world (San Joaquin Valley), is much…

Question: My customer wants a Elberta Peach Tree but we don't have the correct amount of chill time, what do you suggest instead???? Leslie from Torrance CA Answer: Leslie, You are right - Elberta Peaches, which is nearly every one's favorite, take about 800 hours of dormant season chilling below 45º F. This prevents if from fruiting in mild winter areas like yours in Southern California. Torrance is lucky to reach 200-300 hours chilling since…

Question: I bought a Persian Laceleaf lilac for my yard. I was going to plant it on the east side where it would get only late morning sun and early afternoon soon. Now I am thinking about the back yard where it would get full sun all year but with the temps climbing as high as 115 in the summer I am wondering if it will be too much burning sun. My roses seem to…

Question: How to make the quince blooming in Chinese new year!! Shuna Cameo Flowering Quince Answer:Shuna, I love the Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) as a cut flower! When everything else in your garden is still dormant, these hardy plants make their welcomed early arrival with a burst of color. These plants are one of the first to bloom and, as such, are popular for the Chinese New Year. Of course the answer to your question…

Question: Do your bareroot plum and peach trees have the same rootstock? If not, are the rootstocks for these trees compatible with one another if I were to plant them together in the same hole? Thank you. James Answer: James, Most plums are on plum rootstock (Myrobolan, Mariana, Citation, etc). The peaches are on peach rootstock (Nemaguard, Lovell, Siberian, etc.). Exact rootstock is of course dependent upon the specific variety and whether standard or semi-dwarf.…

Question: I Purchased a Early Ruby cherry yesterday. The sales clerk stated it was a mazzard root stock. Is this a f12-1 seedling or some other cultivar that is bacterial canker resistant. Gary Answer: Gary, The sales clerk is correct, the Early Ruby Cherry is on Mazzard rootstock. The Mazzard rootstock (Prunus avium) we are using is the seedling, not the F.12/1. It is still the number 1 choice for fruiting (and flowering) cherries although…

Question: is a fuyu persimmons (jiro), the flat persimmons that can be eaten hard or when soft? Verena Fuyu (Jiro) Persimmon Answer: Verena, Yes the Fuyu (Jiro) is the most popular persimmon precisely for the reason that it is non-astringent and can be eaten right off the tree when it is hard. Other Non-astringent persimmons are the Fuyu (Imoto), Giant Fuyu (Gosho) and Izu. The following are also non-astringent and can be eaten when properly…

Question: I just bought and planted an LE Cooke bare root apple from my local nursery. It is a 4in1 and is about 8 feet tall and beautifully branched. It was not pruned by my nursery and they advised me not to prune any of the main graft branches but only some of the side branches. I was under the impression that I should severely prune bare root trees upon planting. How should I prune…

Question: I bought a 4-in-1 mild climate apple (Anna, Red Fuji, Gordon, Golden Dorsett) but there is no rootstock info on tag. Can you tell what rootstock it is on?Thanks,Paul Answer: Paul, The 4-1N-1 Apples are grown on EMLA106 virus certified, semi-dwarfing apple rootstock. This rootstock produces a tree about half to two-thirds the size of a standard apple tree. It does not sucker and the rootstock is resistant to wooly aphid. EMLA 106 has…