Xtremehorticulture

Pahrump Fruit Tree Selection Similar to Kingman and St. George

Q. We recently moved to Pahrump. Nevada, What recommendations would you give for fruit bearing plants other than pomegranate and fig? We get some cold nights in Jan and Feb. I posted this climate information from the Internet for Pahrump, Nevada, USA. I was disappointed. The weather can get much colder than this in the winter (down to 10F easily) and hotter in the summer 110F plus. Its saving grace is its elevation which makes it colder than Las Vegas 75 miles away. Plus it does not give much information on the wind which can be brutal during low temperatures and high temperatures. It is on the doorstep to Death Valley. A.  For sure apples and pears, most of the plums will be fine. Take a look at the possibility of sweet and tart cherries and apricots. Although your weather might be too dry for a good fruit set.  There is an active gardening group in Pahrump with many of the active with Cooperative Extension horticulture there   https://www.facebook.com/Pahrump-Master-Gardeners-420253654687416/ Contact them for more specific advice. They have an active Farmers Market during growing times of year https://www.facebook.com/PahrumpFarmersMarket/ You should relate closely to…gardeningwise…. Kingman, Aarizona, and St. George, Utah, as well. Both cities have active gardening groups closely tied to their respective Cooperative Extension offices in Kingman and St. George.   Fruit trees that flower earliest should be planted on slopes. Fruit trees that flower later can be planted in the lower elevations. Remember microclimates and cold air drainage can be a game changer. I can make general recommendations for that climate but it varies even more with your local microclimate. There will be colder areas and warmer areas in the valley due to wind and cold air drainage. Cold air is like water…it drains to low spots. Low areas will have late frosts in the spring and early frosts in the fall. In those areas season extenders such as low and high tunnels aka greenhouses without heaters or cooling pads…would be advised. Select fruit trees in these areas that delay their flowering in the spring as much as possible.   The area protected on the leeward side of a windbreak can be divided into three sections designated here as A, B and C. The area a closest to the windbreak has wind of modified the most, a short distance equal to about 1 to 2 times the height of the windbreak. Area B is modified but less; up to about five times the height of the windbreak. And the sea is modified even less up to about eight times the height of the windbreak. This is why windbreaks should be planted close to the area needing protection. Consider windbreaks to protect the gardening areas. These windbreaks should be very close to your planted area and NOT planting tall trees along the perimeter of the property as so many people hsve done out there. Its a waste of water. The wind is broken up to a distance of about five to eight times its height. Big trees require more water so planting on the perimeter uses alot of water and you get very little benefit from them. To me it looks like a prison, although prettier than fencing.

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Amargosa Valley Fruit Tree Selection for Bees

Q. Do you have any suggestions on fruit trees for the Amargosa Valley area? I have an apiary out there so I try to plant things that are good for the bees but that will survive the heat and cold out there. Amargosa vineyard in its first year in 2006 A. Nearly all of the fruit trees that do well in the Las Vegas Valley will do well in Amargosa Valley. You have a commercial winery there that sells its grapes to Pahrump Winery and this same orchard began producing olive oil this past year.             The problem with fruit trees is that they have a narrow window for flowering and so the bees only get to work them for a short period. Fruit trees that have a longer flowering period would be pomegranate or spread your flowering time out with different types of fruit trees. Bee in a peach blossom at the UNCE Orchard             Early bloomers are the stone fruit like peaches, apricots and plums and later the pome fruits like apples and pears begin flowering.             Vegetable crops and flowers would give your bees a lot to work for a longer period. You should have a lot of leafcutter bees out there from the alfalfa. Leafcutter bee damage to apricot leaf at the UNCE Orchard             Make hauling water to their hives as easy for them as possible during the hot summer. Make sure the source of water available to them is clean and you should have no shortage of bees. This could be irrigated basins at the fruit trees that are operating when bees are flying.

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Fruit Tree Selection for Nevada at 5000 feet

Q. My friend and I would like to plant a few fruit trees on some property at Acoma Siding in Nevada. It is near Barclay, Nevada, east of Caliente about 20-30 miles. I was wondering if you had some advice on types and varieties of fruit trees that may do well there. I believe it is in the 5000′ elevation. A. This advice would also apply to property in southern Nevada on the way up Mt Charleston and other higher elevations.             Your best bet will be to plant on the side of a hill, if you can do it, to avoid late spring freezes. The major limitation for you is minimum temperatures and late spring frosts. To avoid these as much as possible planting on the sides of hills and avoiding low spots where cold air can accumulate would be safest.             Without knowing your exact low winter temperatures it would be safe to assume you are in apple, pear, sour cherry and plum country. Perhaps you might also try berries such as raspberry and other cane fruit. The best website for general growing information on fruit selection for colder spots of the West will be Dave Wilson Nursery and can be found at http://www.davewilson.com             Stay with fruit with a higher chilling requirement, probably around 800 to 900 hours, and check their requirements for pollination. Some apples might be Rome, Delicious, Northern Spy, Harrelson among others.             European pears might include Bartlett, Comice and D’Anjou. But higher chilling hours may be one indicator that they will probably perform better for you. On apples, have them on a dwarfing rootstock such as M111.             Because you are in a very arid climate with desert soils, mulch the soil and add plenty of soil amendments at the time of planting. That should get you going.  

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I Want to Plant a Necta Zee Nectarine. Will it do well here?

Q. I want to plant a necta-zee nectarine tree. will it do okay in Las Vegas? I looked on your fruit tree list and it shows its under review. A. You are right it is under review. It is expected to do very well but to date it is only about three years old so it is very new for us. I like to see about three years to five years of production before I determine how it will do in southern Nevada. It is a Zaiger Genetics release I would expect the fruit will be good to high quality. Watch for thrips damage to the fruit (scarring) in the future if you plan to go ahead with it. Necta Zee Nectarine

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Early Mid and Late Peaches for Season Long Production

Q. I live in the Mesquite area (1800 ft elevation) and was looking to plant 3 differant varieties of peach’s that would not ripen all at the same time. Would also appreciate some advice on when to plant them and where I might obtain them should you recommend bare roots.  The eye-popping visual of Indian Free peach. Flavor is incredible as well when it is grown in the desert. A. It is hard to predict which peach trees will be available for you to purchase to help you plan. I can make recommendations but these trees may or may not be available. Off of the top of my head, I would probably pick a yellow peach, a white peach for sure. Something like May Pride, Babcock and Indian Free. If you look at my downloadable recommended variety list it will tell you which are early, mid and late peaches. http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/2011/10/recommended-fruit-trees-for-southern.html You can also look at varieties posted on Dave Wilson Nursery at http://www.davewilson.com/br40/br40_trees/peaches.html

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