The Backyard Orchardist: A complete guide to growing fruit trees in the home garden, 2nd Edition

by Stella Otto, Glenn Wolff (Illustrations), Peter Hatch (Foreword)

For novice and experienced fruit gardeners alike, The Backyard A complete guide to growing fruit trees in the home garden has been the go-to book for home orchardists for over 2 decades. This expanded and updated edition--organized into 6 easy-to-follow sections--offers even more hands-on horticulture. Award-winning author Stella Otto starts by systematically guiding readers through the all-important first steps of planning and planting the home orchard. Learn •    evaluate and build healthy soil •    choose the best planting site •    select fruit trees that are easy to grow and appropriate for your climate Become familiar with the growing requirements of popular temperate zone tree the pome fruit―apples, pears, Asian pears, quince, and the novelty medlar --and stone fruit―cherries, apricots, plums, their new hybrid pluots and apriums, peaches and nectarines. In-depth chapters on each fruit offer recommendations •    disease-resistant varieties to save you time and reduce unnecessary spraying •    size controlling rootstocks choices for smaller spaces •    compatible varieties to achieve proper cross-pollination that leads to a bountiful harvest For urban gardeners in apartments, condos, and small lots, Otto walks you through the essentials of container growing and even how to winterize figs and other potted fruit trees. Horticultural fundamentals are simplified into practical techniques for ongoing care and maintenance of a thriving orchard. Gain understanding of soil biology and how nutrient availability impacts the tree. Master how to prune with precision, including the when, how, and why of pruning and its importance to tree health and disease prevention. Water with learn when why, and how much. The pests and disease sections are extensively illustrated to help with identification. Control solutions, both biological and synthetic have expanded greatly since the original edition, offering the gardener numerous choices based on their individual situation. Harvest hints, use, and storage recommendations help you enjoy your fruit at its peak flavor or preserve it for the off-season. A seasonal to-do calendar, resource list, additional reading suggestions, glossary, illustrations, charts, and an index put all you need to know at your fingertips.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2015

Reviews

[R C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the habit of reading books cover to cover. While I don't necessarily regret doing that with this one, I think it's much better read with a specific goal in mind. For example, look for information about a specific type of tree you would like to plant. Nonetheless, the information here is helpful, but a lot if you are just browsing. I will return to this book once I have a more defined plan.

[Allen Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a lovely read and has everything you need to start a backyard orchard. As someone who only just planted their first two apple trees, some of the information was a bit premature in my journey, but it is set up well to be referred to later and I suspect I’ll keep coming back to this guide over and over as my planting continues.

[Sixwing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful compendium of fruit trees, care instructions, and things I can't necessarily get answered at the local nursery. I'll be using this to put together a better garden plan.

[Tim Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference, a tad long and I felt the pest section could have been broken out into its own book, but overall extremely informative and helpful. Wish it talked more about grafting.