Aileen Guzman, a camper from Henry’s Place, walks through fruit trees at Ahern Orchard Friday, July 31, 2020. Henrys Place is a summer camp for inner-city youth named after Las Vegas Metro Police Sgt. Henry Prendes, who killed in the line of duty in 2006.
Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 | 2 a.m.
Sure, the nearest grocery store produce section is brimming with a cornucopia of fruit. And sure, it’s convenient, inexpensive and available year round.
Nevertheless, the human psyche can’t resist the romance of trying things the hard way. And we can’t deny the childlike joy of stepping into the backyard to pluck a ripe, juicy grapefruit. Thus, we present to you this explainer on growing fruit in the desert.
Sizes
• Ultra-dwarf (3-6 feet tall/wide). Great for a container or patio garden.
• Dwarf (8-10 feet tall/wide). Ideal for Vegas backyards.
• Semi-dwarf trees (12-15 feet tall/wide). Good for desert backyards.
• Standard (18-30 feet tall/wide). Unwieldy, so they’re best avoided.
How to start
If you’re new to gardening, committing to a tree can be quite intimidating. Any type of citrus fruit is generally a good bet. And if you buy from one of the local nurseries, such as Star or Moon Valley, employees will be happy to tell you everything you’ve always wanted to know about plants.
The University of Nevada Reno’s Extension program is also an invaluable resource. It runs the Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada program, keeps a research and demonstration orchard in North Las Vegas (4600 Horse Drive, 702-786-4361) and offers classes to the general public, along with information online (bit.ly/36SYqZm). The Master Gardeners Tree Fruit Orchard also hosts seasonal sales of fruit trees.
We also recommend joining local social media groups dedicated to fruit growing. There, you’ll be able to trade tips with other locals, share war stories and sometimes even swap plants.
Basic care
• Protect against the sun. Just like our skin, the delicate bark of a fruit tree can suffer from sun damage. Don’t spray on sunscreen, but do paint the trunks—and any stem larger than a pinky finger—with a 50/50 water/light-colored outdoor latex paint mixture. This can also help protect from pests.
• Prune. Nobody wants to use a ladder to harvest their afternoon snack. The general rule is to prune fruit trees to keep them low and wide, keeping the fruit within reach. You’ll also want to keep the center of the tree pruned so the sun and air can reach the necessary tree parts. Prune trees during their winter dormant season, which is generally January and February. The goal is to have a small tree with a high fruit yield.
• Where to plant. Fruit trees need full sun, at least eight hours a day. Even if a baby tree is small today, plan ahead by giving it enough space to grow to its full adult size. Fruit trees need lots of water and also good drainage. Norm Schilling of Schilling Horticulture suggests planting a fruit tree near a grassy lawn if you happen to have one, because both are thirsty. Don’t plant a fruit tree too close to traditional desert plants, which can become waterlogged by runoff from the fruit tree.
Desert fruit trees
After years of research, The UNR Extension Research Orchard recently released its “Evaluations and Recommendations for Southern Nevada 2020.” Here’s which fruit trees—beyond citrus—it says do and don’t work well in Southern Nevada, based on both fruit quality and tree health, according to that report.
Stone fruits
Peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots are all considered stone fruits because of the giant seed at their center. They all do well in the desert, albeit with some heat stress, according to a video by Nicole Hansen, an instructor with YHEP (Youth Horticulture Education Program), which is part of the Extension program.
“All fruit trees in the desert require maintenance, but this is particularly true of stone fruit trees,” she says. You’ll need to plan for proper pruning, fertilization, soil sulfur to combat our high pH and protection from sun damage.
• Apricots: “Most apricots do well in Southern Nevada and are flavorful.”
• Aprium: An apricot/plum hybrid that does “extremely well” in Southern Nevada.
• Asian pears: Their trees do well in our heat but produce smaller fruit here than elsewhere.
• Cactus and nopal: Both the cacti and the fruit are great for eating.
• Figs: Most do well here, but they need more water than most fruit trees.
• Grapes: Both table and wine grapes do well here, though they might require bird netting.
• Jujube (aka Chinese date or Indian fig): It’s “drought-resistant and virtually pest- and disease-free.”
NEED HELP?
The Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada offer a wonderful (and free!) community service. Master Gardeners help fulfill their volunteer commitment by staffing a gardening help and information line. If you have a gardening question, no matter how big or small, call 702-257-5555 or email [email protected].
• Nectarines: The best variety for Southern Nevada is the Arctic Star.
• Peaches: A winning choice for Las Vegas gardens.
• Persimmon: “Excellent quality” but requires extra care.
• Plums: Requires protection from borers.
• Pluot (sweet apricot-plum hybrid).
• Pomegranate: It can be grown here as a trunk or a tree.
• Quince shrub: Does well in our climate.
What to do with all that fruit
• Juice it
• Can it
• Make it into jam or jelly
• Cook it in a pie
• Make fruit-infused vodka (a great holiday gift)
• Make homemade fruit ice cream or ice pops
• Dehydrate it for snacks
• Make it into candy or homemade fruit chews
• Gift it to friends
Maybe in Vegas
• Apples: Specifically Dorsett Golden, Pink Lady, Mutsu, Fuji, Granny Smith and Sundowner. “Not all apples do well in Southern Nevada,” says the UNR Extension, so make sure to plant a top variety like those listed here.
• Blackberries: They “struggle in this climate and soils but produce acceptable fruit.”
Avoid in Vegas
• Cherry: “Not reliable” here; it’s too dry and warm.
• Raspberry shrub: “This climate causes poor production and poor quality.”
PITFALLS
• Fruit trees are thirsty creatures.
• Beware of external attacks. Your Garden of Eden will also be a paradise for insects, birds and rats. Covering fruit in organza bags will help protect them.
• Be ready to pick up fallen fruit and to deal with more fruit than you can handle.
This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.
