Growing Tips

These growing tips articles were written for Pacific Northwest Gardeners, but much of the information will be relevant for gardeners in other climates as well.

Getting Started

• Learn to Grow Fruit Trees– Getting started right with fruit and nut trees in the first 3 years
• Learn to Grow Perennial Fruit Shrubs, Vines, and Cane Fruit– Getting started right with fruiting shrubs, including blueberries, gooseberries, kiwis and cane fruit.
• Planting Plants – Basic Information on planting balled and burlapped, bareroot, or container grown plants.

Pruning & Training

• Apple Pruning – Pruning and training apples to central leader form. Includes information on open center form trees as well.
• Pear Pruning and Training – Pruning and training pear trees as open center trees
• Pruning Dwarf Cherries – Focusing on pruning and training dwarf cherries as a Spanish bush system.
• Training UFO Sweet Cherries – Training Sweet Cherries to a Upright Fruiting Offshoot System
• Espalier Your Fruit Trees – Train your fruit trees to espalier; create a living fruit fence.

Pest Management

• Disease and Pest Management – Pest management through the seasons for backyard orchards in the Pacific Northwest
• Suggestions for Pest Problems – Grid layout of pest problems in home orchards, and a range of solutions.
• Organic Fruit Growing for Homeowner – Growing organic and organic pest management
• Pear Trellis Rust and other Pear Problems– How to recognize and deal with pear trellis rust, pearleaf blister mite, pear sawfly (pear slug) and pseudomonas dieback.
• Verticillium Wilt – Symptoms and Solutions – A common root disease in the Pacific Northwest, causing decline of numerous species. Tips on diagnosing symptoms, and how to choose plants that are resistant if verticillium is present.

Growing Specific Fruits

• Growing Apples – From planting to pruning, fruit management to harvest.
• Growing Apricots – Site selection and culture of a challenging fruit tree for the Pacific Northwest
• Growing Cherries– Site selection, pruning & training methods and disease management for sweet and tart cherries.
• Growing Peaches – Pruning and disease management for peaches in our maritime climate.
• Growing Pears– From planting to pruning to harvesting, all about pears in our climate.
• Growing Plums and Prunes – Initial planting and pruning guide for plums and prunes, along with basic disease control information.
• Growing Nut Trees in the Pacific Northwest – Best types of nut trees, requirements for growing, disease and pest issues, and pruning tips.
• Growing Figs in the Pacific Northwest – Tips on planting and pruning figs for best cropping in a maritime climate.
• Growing Blueberries – Site selection, planting tips, disease and pest problems, and pruning information for Northwest gardens.
• Growing Currants and Gooseberries – Tips for site selection, pruning, and disease and pest management.
• Growing Cane Fruit – Planting, trellising, and pruning raspberries and blackberries.
• Growing Kiwis – Site selection, hardy vs. fuzzy types, trellis construction, and cultural needs of kiwis in the Northwest.
• Growing Strawberries – Planting and growing both June bearing and day-neutral or everbearing varieties of strawberries.
• Growing Table and Dessert Grapes in Cooler Climates – Site selection, cultivar selection, and training methods for growing great grapes for eating in our cool maritime climate.
• Growing Wine Grapes in Cooler Climates – Focus on mainly wine grapes for the Pacific Northwest: site selection, cultivar selection, training and pruning tips. Some table grape tips, too.

Landscape Gardening

• Edible and Sustainable Landscaping – Use food producing plants and plants for beneficials to create an ornamental, productive landscape.
• Encouraging Pollinators in a Home Orchard – Companion planting suggestions for orchards to encourage year round habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
• Gardening with PNW Natives – Choosing the right native plants for the right spot in your landscape
• Create a Backyard Sanctuary – Using plants to attract birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects to your garden.
• Living with Deer – How to garden in areas with deer

Vegetable Gardening

• Growing Asparagus – How to plant and grow asparagus from crowns
• The Locavore’s Garden – Basic vegetable gardening information for Pacific NW gardens
• Growing Vegetables for Fall & Winter Harvest – In our mild climate, you can grow vegetables nearly year round. Timing of plantings is key, and choosing winter hardy varieties.
• Seed Starting Tips – Grow your own transplants!
• Building a Home Hoop House – Build a 10’ wide by 20’ long hoop house at home to successfully grow heat loving crops.
• Growing in Hoop houses – Using tunnels and hoop houses to extend the growing season in the Pacific Northwest. Construction ideas, growing tips, and resources for materials is included.

Ornamental Gardening

• Plants for Problem Places – Salt Spray – Plants that work for seacoast plantings where salt spray is a problem
• Plants for Problem Places – Wet Soil – Plants that thrive in soil that stays wet all year, and may at times be flooded.
• Plants for Problem Places – Dry Soil – Drought tolerant plants for gardens without irrigation
• Plants for Problem Places – Shade – Plants that thrive in partial to full shade and bring color to the garden.
• Growing Conifers – Choosing conifers, growth habits and pruning tips.
• Growing Hydrangeas – Tips on planting and growing hydrangeas, including pruning of different hydrangea groups
• Growing Japanese Maples – Site selection, cultural needs, and problems common in Japanese Gardens in the Pacific Northwest.
• Growing Rhododendrons – Site selection, culture, and tips on choosing rhododendrons for Pacific Northwest Gardens.

More Fun Information

• Favorite Fall Fruit Recipes– Old staff favorites and new ideas for using the abundance of fall fruit in your garden.
• Preserving the Harvest – A basic overview of techniques for preserving fruits and vegetables from your garden.
• Harvesting and Storing Fall Fruit – How to judge when to pick apples and pears for optimal storage, plus other ideas to preserve the fall harvest.
• Growing in Containers – Focusing on woody and perennial plants in containers.
• Basics of Hard Cider Making at Home – Get starting turning your extra apples into a great adult beverage. Equipment, procedure, and tips about what apples work best are all included.
• Summer Chip Bud Propagation How we propagate and grow fruit trees at Cloud Mountain.
• Gifts from the Kitchen – Using fruits to create special preserves, vinegars, liqueurs, and preserves, perfect for holiday gifts.
• Winter Damaged Plants – How to tell if your plants have winter damage, and what to do about it.