Many people believe the desert is a poor place for fruit. I used to think so too. Then I saw a backyard in the Valley with oranges, pomegranates, and figs all growing within a few steps of each other. Arizona is a state of extremes. Summer heat is intense, and rainfall is low. Yet with…
Georgia is called the Peach State, but its fruit-growing story is much bigger than peaches. The state has hot summers, mild winters, and plenty of rain. That combination lets home gardeners grow an impressive range of fruit. I have seen backyards in Georgia with figs by the porch, pears by the fence, and a persimmon…
Few things beat picking fruit from your own tree. In Florida, that dream is within reach. Our long growing season lets gardeners grow everything from peaches to papayas. Yet the state is long and varied, and the wrong tree can fail fast. I have seen a young mango lose every leaf after one cold night….
I still remember the first time I saw black rot on my own vines. Plump green berries turned brown and shrivelled in a few days. It was a hard lesson. Most grape problems are easy to manage early and very costly to fix late. This guide covers 15 common grape vine diseases and problems, complete…
Texas is a hard place to grow fruit. One year, a late freeze wipes out the peach blossoms. The next year, a long drought tests every tree in the yard. I have seen both, and I know the feeling of walking out to an empty branch. Still, many fruit trees do very well here. The…
When I first heard that figs could grow near Chicago, I did not believe it. Figs felt like a Mediterranean fruit, something for warm hillsides and stone walls. Then I tasted a fresh fig from a northern backyard. It was sweet, soft and warm from the sun. That tree was a Chicago Hardy fig. It…
For years, I believed avocados were only for the tropics. A friend with a backyard tree in a cooler region proved me wrong. His tree had survived a hard freeze, and it still gave him fruit every autumn. The secret is not luck. Some avocado varieties simply handle cold much better than others. Once you…
Many gardeners believe figs belong only in the Mediterranean. I used to think so too. Then I saw a Hardy Chicago tree loaded with fruit in a place where snow stays for months, and my opinion changed. The truth is simple. Some fig varieties handle cold far better than others, and the right choice can…
I once stood in front of a nursery bench full of citrus trees and felt completely lost. Every label sounded sweet and promising. Yet the trees were very different, and the wrong choice would have cost me years. Citrus is a big, varied family. Some trees give sweet fruit for the breakfast table. Others give…
Few things are as satisfying as picking an orange from your own tree. Few things are as discouraging as finding that tree covered in spots, gum or yellow leaves. I have felt both feelings, and I know how quickly worry sets in. This guide covers 15 common orange tree diseases and problems, with symptoms, the…