Spring Fruit Calendar and Maintenance

Spring is the time for planting fruit trees, bushes, brambles, and other soft fruits. The best location for fruit is a place in full sun, with deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Grow fruits away from frequent breezes or winds and away from low spots where cold air and frost can settle.

Bare-root and balled-and-burlapped fruits will be available in early spring. Begin planting as soon as the soil thaws and begins to dry out.

Winter-pruning of fruit trees—removing winter-damage growth–should be completed in early spring and brambles should be thinned. The final dormant spray applications should be completed before the buds begin to swell. Tree wraps and other protection can be removed as the days grow longer.

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When heavy frost has passed, remove mulches from established plants. Fertilize or top-dress with compost around established plants and replace mulches once the soil has warmed.

Spring is the time to watch for pests and signs of disease. Pest insect larvae should be trapped and destroyed in spring.

As soon as the inclement weather subsides most frost protection can be removed. Be sure to do this as pollinating insects begin visiting plants. Replace frost protection with netting to protect developing fruits from birds.

What follows is a round-up of spring tasks in the fruit garden.

Table of Contents

Fruit Trees Crop-by-Crop Tips

Click on any of the following crops to see complete growing and harvesting information and tips.

Apples

Early spring: Begin planting bare roots as soil and weather allow.
Mid-spring: Most varieties flower now or in late spring. Protect blossoms from frost. Coddling moths will begin mating; hang pheromone traps to attract and catch males. Inspect dwarf trees and hand-pick caterpillars.
Late spring: If pollination is successful, fruitlets form now and begin to swell. Water newly planted trees if the weather is dry. Check for powdery mildew and scab on fruitlets. Hang apple maggot traps in trees now or in early summer depending on when the adult flies emerge.
See also How to Choose an Apple Tree for Planting and Apple Pruning and Thinning Apples.

Pears

Late winter: Spray trees with dormant oil to protect against aphids, pear psylla, and other pests. Prune trees before the dormant period ends.
Early spring: Begin planting bare-root trees.
Mid-spring: Most varieties flower now. Protect blossoms from frost. Hang pheromone traps to catch male coddling moths before they mate. Inspect dwarf trees and hand-pick any pest caterpillars.
Late spring: Water newly planted trees if the weather is dry. Check for powdery mildew and signs of scab.
See also, How to Choose a Pear Tree for Planting and Pear Pruning and Pear Varieties for Backyard Gardens.

Plum tree leafing out — Young plum tree leafing out in spring

Plums

Late winter: Treat trees with dormant spray to protect against aphids and other insects. Prune out any branches that show signs of black knot.
Early spring: Begin planting bare-root trees as weather and soil conditions allow. Prune trees for training purposes.
Mid-spring: Blossoms appear on mid-season and late-flowering varieties. Protect blossoms against frost. Pinch out unwanted new buds and shoots on wire-trained trees. If black knot was a problem last year, apply two sprays of lime-sulfur as a preventative, one week apart.
Late spring: Fruitlets form and begin to swell. Weed and water regularly. Shake trees to knock loose plum curculios on a dropcloth then destroy them. Repeat daily.

Cherries

Late winter: Treat trees with dormant oil spray to protect against aphids, winter moths, and other pests. Prune out any branches that show signs of black knot.
Early spring: Begin planting bare-root trees as conditions allow.
Mid-spring: Most cherries flower now. Protect blossoms against frost. If black knot was a problem last year, apply two sprays of lime-sulfur as a preventive, one week apart.
Late spring: Keep newly planted trees watered. Shake trees to knock loose plum curculios onto a dropcloth; destroy the pests. Repeat daily.
See also, Sweet Cherry Varieties and Sour Cherry Varieties.

Apricots

Early spring: Buds will start to open in a warm spring. Protect blossoms from frost. Hand-pollinate flowers if necessary. Weed and mulch around trees. Prune newly planted trees.
Mid-spring: Prune established trees in late spring. As fruitlets form, begin thinning them out. Fertilize established trees. If black knot was a problem last year, apply two sprays of lime-sulfur as a preventive, one week apart.
Late spring: Weed and water regularly. Shake trees to knock loose plum curculios onto a dropcloth; destroy the pests. Repeat daily.
See also Apricot Varieties.

Peaches and Nectarines

Early spring: Blossoms open. Protect blossoms from frost and hand-pollinate if necessary. Weed and mulch around trees. Prune newly planted trees by mid-spring. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer around trees. Plant bare-root trees.
Mid-spring: As fruitlets form and begin to swell, begin thinning them out. In hot climates, feed trees with a liquid fertilizer while fruits are developing. If black knot was a problem last year, apply two sprays of lime-sulfur as a preventive, one week apart.
Late spring: Weed and water regularly. Shake trees to knock loose plum curculios onto a dropcloth; destroy the pests. Repeat daily.
See also Peach Varieties and Nectarine Varieties.

Figs

Early spring: Plant trees before they emerge from winter dormancy. Weed and mulch around trees. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer.
Mid-spring: The first fruitlets start to form; in hot climates, they should ripen by late summer; in cool climates, they are unlikely to ripen. Spring-prune established trees, cutting back unwanted growth and encouraging new fruiting shoots.
Late spring: Remove insulation used to protect trees during winter. Begin regular watering. Give trees liquid fertilizer while fruits are developing between now and late summer.

Bushes, Brambles, and Soft Fruit Crop-by-Crop Tips

Strawberries

Early spring: Cover outdoor plants with cloches or tunnels in order to force an early crop. Feed plants with an organic all-purpose fertilizer. Plant bare root runners or pot-grown strawberries outdoors now until mid-spring. Plant day-neutral varieties outdoors now until mid-spring; they should fruit late in summer.
Mid-spring: Most varieties flower now or in late spring. Protect plants against frost but uncover plants to allow pollination. As the fruit begins to appear, spread a layer of straw around and underneath plants if they are not on mats.
Late spring: Water regularly as berries fatten up and ripen. Protect plants against slugs, and net plants to keep birds away. Harvest early-season summer-fruiting varieties.
See also Strawberry Varieties for Home Gardens and Starting Strawberries from Runners.

Raspberries

Late winter: Tip-prune overwintering summer-bearing canes. Cut down and remove all of last year’s fall-bearing canes if not done.
Early to mid-spring: New leaves start to appear on last year’s summer-bearing canes. New canes start to shoot from below ground on fall-bearing varieties. Feed plants with an all-purpose organic fertilizer. Plant new bare-root canes now.
Late spring: Flower buds form and blossoms open for pollination. Weed and water. Net summer-bearing berries against birds.
See also How and When to Prune Raspberries and Raspberry Varieties.

Blackberries

Late winter: Spread out and tie in last year’s new canes.
Early to mid-spring: Leaf buds begin to open and new leaves appear. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer. Weed and mulch around plants. Plant new bare-root canes. Uproot new plants propagated by tip layering and transplant.
Late spring: Blossoms should be open; pollinating insects will visit. First fruitlets start to form as the blossoms drop. Weed and water as needed.

Gooseberries

Late winter: Winter-prune established gooseberries.
Early spring: Plant bare-root gooseberries as soon as the ground is workable. Apply potassium sulfate and an all-purpose fertilizer around plants. Buds begin to burst and new leaves appear. Prune newly established gooseberries.
Mid-spring: Blossoms open. Protect plants against frost. Mulch around plants to suppress weeds. Spray against insects after blossoms drop.
Late spring: Fruitlets form and begin to swell. Start thinning unripe fruits by picking every other berry. Weed and water as needed. Inspect the center of bushes for larvae of imported currantworm; pick them off and destroy them.

Red Currants

Late winter: Winter-prune newly planted and established currants. New buds should be swelling.
Early spring: Plant bare-root currants as soon as the ground can be worked. Apply potassium sulfate and an all-purpose fertilizer. New young leaves and flowers will appear. Protect blossoms against frost. Mulch around plants to suppress weeds.
Mid-spring: Blossoms are fully open and pollinating insects should be around. Spray against plant bugs after blossoms have fallen.
Late spring: Fruitlets form and begin to swell. Weed and water regularly.

Black Currants

Late winter: Winter-prune newly planted and established currants.
Early spring: Plant bare-root currants as soon as the ground can be worked. Apply ammonium sulfate and an all-purpose fertilizer. New young leaves and flowers will appear. Protect blossoms against frost. Mulch around plants to suppress weeds.
Mid-spring: Blossoms are fully open and pollinating insects should be around. Spray against plant bugs after blossoms have fallen.
Late spring: Fruitlets form and begin to swell. Weed and water regularly.

Blueberries

Late winter: Prune blueberry bushes now through early spring. Apply dormant oil to control aphids or scales.
Early spring: Young leaves and blossoms start to appear on early-flowering varieties. Protect plants against frost if necessary. Spread acidic mulch around plants.
Mid-spring: Blossoms are fully open on most bushes and pollinating insects are around. Pot on blueberries in containers. Plant new bushes; remove flowers so plant direct nutrients into establishing a root system. Feed plants with a lime-free general fertilizer.
Late spring: Late-flowering varieties are in flower. As blossoms drop, small fruitlets form and swell. Weed and water regularly. Continue to remove blossoms from new bushes. If blueberry maggots were a problem in the past, cover bushes with floating row covers once fruit has set.
See also Blueberry Types and Varieties and Easy to Grow Blueberries.

Grapes

Late winter: Winter-prune established cordons now into early spring. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer around the vines.
Early spring: Plant bare-root vines before they come out of dormancy. Re-tie cordons that have been allowed to hang horizontally. Weed and mulch around vines.
Mid-spring: Plant young container-grown vines now until late spring. Prune established cordons thinning to two shoots on each spur.
Late spring: Flowers are usually open now. Begin weeding and watering regularly. Give vines a regular liquid feed while grapes are developing, and continue feeding until late summer.
See also Growing Backyard Grapes and Grape Types and Varieties.

Related articles:

Planning the Home Fruit Garden

Fruit Tree Chill Hours

Pruning Fruit Trees for Fruit

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