Growing deciduous fruit trees in Rockridge district of Oakland, California

by James K. Sayre

Growing deciduous fruit trees in Rockridge district of Oakland, California is complicated by the cool cloudy summers and also the relatively warm winters, with low winter chilling hours.

The winter chilling, which is defined as the total number of hours with air temperatures between 32 F and 45 F, seems to average about 600 hours per winter season. This is enough winter chill for certain selected varieties of apples, peaches, pears, cherries and plums.

In my backyard garden, I have planted a variety of deciduous fruit trees including:

Fuji Apple trees (2) - purchased from Miller Nurseries in upper New York State - planted in spring 2003, produced an excellent crop in summer of 2004.

Braeburn Apple trees (2) - purchased from Miller Nurseries in upper New York State - planted in spring 2003, produced an excellent crop in summer of 2004.

Akane Apple trees (2) - purchased locally in spring 2003 from Grocery Outlet in Pheasant Hill. Produced one apple between two trees in summer 2004. A dud.

Whitney Crabapple tree (1) - purchased from Miller Nurseries in upper New York State - planted in spring 2003, produced one Crabapple in summer of 2004.

Bartlett Pear tree (1) - purchased from Miller Nurseries in upper New York State - planted in spring 2003, produced some flowers in spring 2004, but no fruit was set.

Colette Pear tree (1) - purchased from Miller Nurseries in upper New York State - planted in spring 2003, produced some flowers in spring 2004, but no fruit was set.

Saturn Peach trees (2) - purchased from Stark Nurseries in Missouri - planted in spring 2003, produced an excellent crop in summer of 2004. The Saturn Peach is a special low-winter-chill variety that produces flattened fruits, hence the name Saturn.

Royal Blenheim Apricot trees (2) - purchased at a Friends of the Winters Library sale in Winters, CA in early 2003; one Apricot fruit on one tree in 2003; no fruits in 2004; severe unexplained die-back on both trees. (Too little winter chill?)

Santa Rosa Plum trees (2) purchased in spring 2003 from Grocery Outlet, Concord. Two plum fruits produced in 2004. Many flowers in early 2005.

Lapins Cherry trees (2) purchased in spring 2003 from Grocery Outlet, Concord. No cherries yet.

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