Q. This is really great
information that you put on your blog!! Thank you so much for doing this, and
it gives me a bit more hope about expanding my home orchard in Phoenix.
information that you put on your blog!! Thank you so much for doing this, and
it gives me a bit more hope about expanding my home orchard in Phoenix.
How
many chill hours are you getting where you are located? Specifically related to
Pluots, you are recommending some with some pretty high chill hours, such as
the Flavor Supreme which is listed on DWN as 700-800 chill hours. But as you
mentioned above that may have a lot to do with location and micro climate.
many chill hours are you getting where you are located? Specifically related to
Pluots, you are recommending some with some pretty high chill hours, such as
the Flavor Supreme which is listed on DWN as 700-800 chill hours. But as you
mentioned above that may have a lot to do with location and micro climate.
Also for Apples, Pink Lady
is a pretty late ripener, and I’ve heard that late harvest don’t do as well in
the extreme heat of Phoenix, something similar to where you live. But again, I’m
hoping the placing them is certain cooler places within my backyard and trying
to create a micro climate that is a bit more forgiving to these fruits could
have a large impact as well.
is a pretty late ripener, and I’ve heard that late harvest don’t do as well in
the extreme heat of Phoenix, something similar to where you live. But again, I’m
hoping the placing them is certain cooler places within my backyard and trying
to create a micro climate that is a bit more forgiving to these fruits could
have a large impact as well.
Would love to hear you
take on the points point. Thanks again for putting some much time into this.
take on the points point. Thanks again for putting some much time into this.
A. Thank you for appreciating the hundreds of hours that
it took over a period of one and a half decades to put this list together. Many kudos to the Master Gardener volunteers who supported it. I
will try to address each of your questions separately.
it took over a period of one and a half decades to put this list together. Many kudos to the Master Gardener volunteers who supported it. I
will try to address each of your questions separately.
Most of the trees used were donations by Dave a Wilson
Nursery, Tom Spellman in particular, who worked with us since 1996. This
orchard is located in North Las Vegas Nevada at right about 2000 foot
elevation.
Nursery, Tom Spellman in particular, who worked with us since 1996. This
orchard is located in North Las Vegas Nevada at right about 2000 foot
elevation.
The orchard is exposed to the North West by cold winter
winds which helps explain why citrus was not included on this list even though
it was tried. Las Vegas is not citrus country but many people further south in
the Valley have had success with some citrus and even limes and blood orange in
warm microclimates.
winds which helps explain why citrus was not included on this list even though
it was tried. Las Vegas is not citrus country but many people further south in
the Valley have had success with some citrus and even limes and blood orange in
warm microclimates.
Our chilling hours are somewhere between 300 to 400 hours
per year. You are exactly right. If you take chilling hours literally many of
the recommended trees should not produce in this climate yet they have for over
15, now going on 20, years. Some of these so-called high chilling hours tree
fruits have shown no sign of a lack in chilling hours.
per year. You are exactly right. If you take chilling hours literally many of
the recommended trees should not produce in this climate yet they have for over
15, now going on 20, years. Some of these so-called high chilling hours tree
fruits have shown no sign of a lack in chilling hours.
Tom Spellman was the first person to bring this idea to
light for me. It challenges many preconceived ideas about chilling hours and
there has been much speculation and even disbelief in this information.
light for me. It challenges many preconceived ideas about chilling hours and
there has been much speculation and even disbelief in this information.
Personally, I believe that chilling hours are more
important in some types of fruit and even some varieties than others. Is
chilling hours important? Yes, definitely. Have we followed chilling hour
recommendations to literally? Yes, definitely.
important in some types of fruit and even some varieties than others. Is
chilling hours important? Yes, definitely. Have we followed chilling hour
recommendations to literally? Yes, definitely.
Too many, Phoenix and Las Vegas have similar climates if
you don’t live in either of these locations. You and I both know that as far
from the truth! Phoenix is a totally different animal from Las Vegas but I
believe there is a wide variation in how plants view this difference. I believe
most apples are more prone to chilling hours than peaches, nectarines, apricots
and plums and their crosses.
you don’t live in either of these locations. You and I both know that as far
from the truth! Phoenix is a totally different animal from Las Vegas but I
believe there is a wide variation in how plants view this difference. I believe
most apples are more prone to chilling hours than peaches, nectarines, apricots
and plums and their crosses.
I don’t know all pink lady apple performs in Phoenix but
it is an outstanding Apple in the Las Vegas area. Like pomegranates, this
particular Apple seems to have better flavor quality as temperatures drop. In
our harsh desert climate it seems to develop a thicker, tougher skin but the
flavor quality of the “meat” is superior. It is worth giving a try in
Phoenix, Yuma, Parker, Bullhead or Lake Havasu.
it is an outstanding Apple in the Las Vegas area. Like pomegranates, this
particular Apple seems to have better flavor quality as temperatures drop. In
our harsh desert climate it seems to develop a thicker, tougher skin but the
flavor quality of the “meat” is superior. It is worth giving a try in
Phoenix, Yuma, Parker, Bullhead or Lake Havasu.
I think planting apples in areas of the landscape that
avoid the late afternoon sun is a good idea. Contrary to some information out
there, if your soil has lower amounts of organics in it, amend it with compost
at the time of planting. I also believe you will see huge benefits if the soil
is covered with wood chip mulch under its canopy to a depth of at least 4
inches.
avoid the late afternoon sun is a good idea. Contrary to some information out
there, if your soil has lower amounts of organics in it, amend it with compost
at the time of planting. I also believe you will see huge benefits if the soil
is covered with wood chip mulch under its canopy to a depth of at least 4
inches.
Keep the mulch away from the trunk for the first five
years of the trees life to avoid collar rot. If rabbits are problems, protect
the tree from rabbit damage with 1 inch hexagon with chicken wire for the first
five years as well.
years of the trees life to avoid collar rot. If rabbits are problems, protect
the tree from rabbit damage with 1 inch hexagon with chicken wire for the first
five years as well.
I used a site to calculate my chill hours using actual weather stations. http://www.getchill.net I found that I'm getting over 450 on average in my yard the last 2 years here in SW Vegas.
Dave Wilson Nursery/Tom Spellman did a video about high chill apples in a low chill area and they work. https://youtu.be/oiEEHRfAEWY
Lastly you will find a lot of help for Phoenix in the "Phoenix Fruit Growers" group on Facebook as well as Jay Barringer's FB and youtube.