The Silver Lode Nectarine

This is the final post of the Fruit Trees for Tucson series and it's about the Silver Lode Nectarine.  I put this tree into the ground in a bit more shade than sun and yet it still performed well. This tree requires a bit more water so I planted it near a rain gutter where the run off water soaks the roots. There wasn't any fruit on the tree this year and it is said that this tree will fruit at around 4 years. It needs 400 hours of chill time and is similiar to the peach tree in a lot of the same things like when to fertilize,the pink flowers, same pests, etc.  This tree can grow to a height of 15-30 feet and blooms mid-spring.  It also tolerates  heat and humidity. It likes full sun but watch the afternoon sun here in Tucson. Remember to fertilize in spring before the first blooms. It should be interesting to see what this tree will do when March arrives. I haven't heard much from people growing nectarine trees in their yards, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.   Sometimes it's good to try things that are unknowns......and speaking of unknowns, there are a lot of trees that I haven't covered in this series that can be grown in Tucson.   There is a great website link below that has a lot of information about your zone.  The links below will also give you info on fruit/nut trees and berry bushes.
Some of the information on this list I found conflicting with my own notes on several fruit trees. For example, some of the plums, like the Satsuma, on the list are said to be self fertile when I have heard and read otherwise.  Could it be possible that they are grafting superior varieties of fruit trees that are self fertile?  Just remember to check with your garden specialist and  read the card that comes with the plant to verify if the plant is self fertile or not.  I find that every year they come out with a new variety of fruit tree to try out. http://www.gardeninginarizona.com/FruitTrees2.html

For general information on your particular garden zone and for more information on Arizona plants for spring plantings click on this great link below.....
http://www.gardeninginarizona.com/

I have a lot more information on some major topics.  Plus I'm pulling out my camera again to snap and write about more Tucson Gems, an Urban Legend, projects at El Presidio, and several fun surprises.  Stay tuned for more Tucson Gardening......

Satsuma Plum

Two more trees to go before finishing this fruit tree series(for this year).  It has been a lot of fun recalling my experiences with these plants last year and also sharing the research done before putting them into the ground.  The simple truth is that having fruit trees on your property is very exciting....for color, smell, and taste:)  Plums are some of my favorite fruits to eat. 

The Satsuma Japanese plum is at every garden center currently in town.  You can buy this plant bareroot or potted.  I purchased it bareroot and it grew really well in a sunny spot in the garden.  While it didn't produce any fruit during the first year, it did double in size. This plum is popular in Tucson and again is hidden from the general public.  It is a juicy flavorful plum that ripens over a 2-3 week period in late July and early August.  Some years it will bear heavily.  The chill hours required are 250-300 hours and are perfect for our area.  It does need a pollinator however or it won't bear fruit at all.  Pollinate with a Santa Rosa or Beauty.  I put a Santa Rosa plum tree nearby so that they will help each other out:) It is a recommended tree for Tucson gardeners as it performs well in our area.  I have one more fruit tree that I am currently growing in the El Presidio Gardens to talk about which means one more post to go....I'll also have a general link of information on fruit/berry bushes, and nut trees that I did not cover.  There are a lot of choices out there and it is a time to dream and get excited.  Fruit trees should be planted, like your bareroot roses, this month. So don't wait....go and have yourself some fun! 

Not related to the fruit trees series is yet another series coming up...the Citrus Garden. It is my current project that has been ongoing for some time. However, several major events have happened on the progress and I hope you'll find it informative. There is some major writing to do in the upcoming weeks. We were outside today for 5 hours reshaping the future of the gardens. There are also several other individual writes that I am investigating currently and I cannot believe the excitement that I feel inside. Watch as a garden transforms into a magical oasis in the middle of Tucson. And watch as we, the residents, have come up with solutions to deal with several problems on our property. There is a lot to write about my friends and I can't wait to get back to my photo shoots after I finish with my fruit tree segment. 

Gold Nugget Loquat

Years of living in Tucson and I kept passing these trees that had burned leaves from the summer sun.  I thought it was an interesting plant because the leaves were tropical looking, but I never understood why people planted a tree that got "burned":).  This plant clearly did not belong here and yet there it was....all over the place.  And then there were those orange fruits on it that made a huge mess all over the sidewalk! Fast forward to this last summer and I became enlightened about this tree from China. For years,  I worked at this place near the U of A library and they had a loquat tree.  The fruit looked edible but I thought they were poisonous until one day I was curious.  When no one was looking, I grabbed one off the tree and popped it into my mouth. Why did I do this?  I saw a Foreign Exchange Student do it at the U of A one night.  She seemed to enjoy it and not die from the experience. The taste was a cross between an apple and apricot with a big pit.  For years I have passed this tree frequently and for years, I've never tried the fruit!  To be fair, I never grew up with this plant in Wisconsin.

I like this plant a lot especially because it's very fragrant.  What I don't like about this plant is that it looks terrible in the summer when the sun's rays fry the leaves.  The U of A, however, had a perfect tree in the middle of summer without the burns.  So I noted the position of the tree on campus and the positions of "burned" loquats across town.  I discovered the East Side of our homes was the secret to a burn free loquat in Tucson. From my own experiences, the loquat took well to the freeze we just had and had zero issues with the summer because it received afternoon protection from the sun.  Loquat trees placed in the Northern or Eastern sides of a building seem to do very well. If you have a loquat tree in the Southern or Western sides of your home and are worried about the leaf burn, don't.  This doesn't hurt the tree at all, but it does make it look pretty shabby.  This tree is very easy to grow once you've chosen the right spot for it and give it some space as it can grow 15-30 feet high.  To be honest though, I've really only seen this tree around town grow to be about 20 feet tall at the most.  There is probably a loquat out there that is large, but I have yet to see it.  Fertilize mid-winter.  It's cold hardy between 20 and 30 degrees F.  It's a medium growing tree that will add tropical interest to your garden.  It blooms from fall to winter adding some color to your winter garden. It does require some water so it isn't quite xeric. It can be a messy tree so be aware of that issue.  However, I think you need to know that the fragrance of this tree is one of the strongest of our plants that grow in the desert.  The creosote is known for adding that desert rain smell while the loquat is known for the perfumed fragrance smell in the spring air.  It's quite sweet and strong.  When I first put the tree into the ground, I thought someone with perfume passed by me, but then I realized it was the plant....and I smiled.  So for beginning gardeners, I give this plant a 7.5 out of 10. I purchased this plant for 30 dollars and it has grown since it was introduced into the tropical garden. Some people love this fruit while others seem indifferent. I grow this tree for the scent and tropical looking leaves.  The fruits are for the birds:)
Until next time, happy gardening!