Tree Fruits

Apricot trees are very hardy and produce an abundance of fruit when there are no late frosts. Apricots can survive most places in Idaho.

General care

• Apricot — the versatile fruit, Utah State University (PDF)
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook, chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing apricots, Utah State University
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Stone fruit, Washington State University
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)
• Varieties for Utah: apricot, Utah State University

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Plant disease: apricot, PNW Handbooks

Pests

• Apricot — apricot pests, PNW Handbooks
• Fruit pests: apricots, Utah State University (PDF)

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserve the harvest: apricots, Utah State University (PDF)

Sweet cherries are only marginally cold hardy and the buds can be injured at temperatures near -20°F. Production over the long term is challenging in northern Idaho and questionable, at best, in central and southeastern Idaho. Sweet cherries are grown commercially in some small pockets of western Idaho.

General care

• Black cherry, ATC3
• Cherry training systems, Oregon State University (PDF)
• Four simple steps to pruning cherry trees on Gisela and other productive rootstock, PNW592
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Growing sweet cherry, Utah State University
• Stone fruit, Washington State University
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Cherry training systems, Oregon State University (PDF)
• Four simple steps to pruning cherry trees on Gisela and other productive rootstock, PNW592
• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Cherry insects and diseases, Utah State University
• Cherry pest management guides, University of California
• Plant disease: cherry, PNW handbooks

Pests

• Cherry insects and diseases, Utah State University
• Cherry pest management guides, University of California
• Fruit pests: cherry, Utah State University (PDF)
• Insect crop pests: cherry, PNW handbooks

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserve the harvest: cherries, Utah State University (PDF)

An adventure fruit for Idaho growers-will only survive in the warmest zones of Idaho. Look for varieties that are cold hardy and ripen quickly.

General care

• Don’t be fooled, figs grow fine in western Oregon, Oregon State University
• Fig fact sheet, University of California Davis
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing apples for local markets in cold climates, BUL820
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing figs, University of California
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning and thinning fig trees, University of California
• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Fig (Ficus carica)-dieback, PNW handbooks
• Fig (Ficus carica)-fig mosaic disease, PNW handbooks
• Fig (Ficus carica)-leaf spots, PNW handbooks
• Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)-leaf drop, PNW handbooks

Pests

• Pests in gardens and landscapes: figs, University of California 

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserve the harvest: figs, Utah State University (PDF)

Despite the colder climates in Idaho, a variety of tree nuts can be grown and enjoyed in Idaho. Know your USDA zone and soil type before selecting a variety.

General care

• American chestnut, ATC2
• Black walnut, ATC4
• Carpathian (English) walnut, ATC2
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)
• Utah's a great place for nuts!, Utah State University (PDF)
• Your USDA zone and soil type before selecting a variety

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Coryneum or Shothole blight, Utah State University (PDF)
• Plant disease: nut, PNW handbooks
• Thousand cankers disease on black walnut (PDF)

Pests

• Insect crop pests: nuts, PNW handbooks

Preservation

• Food storage in the home, Utah State University

Mature trees grow to about 20 feet tall, but can be kept smaller with pruning and training. The trees bear fruit three to four years after planting. Peach trees bloom early and the buds are easily damaged by frost. (Nectarines are simply fuzzless peach varieties.)

General care

• Fruit pests: peach and nectarine, Utah State University (PDF)
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing peaches, Utah State University
• Growing peaches, Utah State University
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Stone fruit, Washington State University
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)
• Utah peaches, Utah State University (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Peach/nectarine insects and diseases, Utah State University
• Plant disease: peach, PNW Handbooks

Pests

• Fruit pests: apricots, Utah State University (PDF)
• Peach/nectarine insects and diseases, Utah State University

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserve the harvest: peaches, Utah State University (PDF)

Two distinct types of pears varieties are available: standard and Asian. Standard pears can be grown in many places in Idaho. More tender Asian pears won’t perform as well. Look for varieties that do well in your conditions.

General care

• Growing pears in the home orchard, Utah State University (PDF)
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Pears, Washington State University (PDF)
• Stone fruit, Washington State University
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Fire blight of pears and apples, Utah State University (PDF)
• Insect crop pests: pear, PNW handbooks
• Plant disease: pear, PNW handbooks

Pests

• Fruit pests: pears, Utah State University (PDF)

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserve the harvest: pears, Utah State University (PDF)

A unique fruit with large seeds and orange Jell-O like flavor and consistency. An adventure fruit for Idaho growers-will only survive in the warmest zones of Idaho.

General care

• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing apples for local markets in cold climates, BUL820
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Persimmon diseases and deficiencies, University of California-Davis

Pests

• Persimmon insect, mite and nematode pests, University of California-Davis

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Freezing persimmons, National Center for Home Preservation
• Preserving times, University of California (PDF page 4)

European varieties of plums can be quite hardy and will grow well in most places in Idaho. Many enjoy their brightly colored blossoms in spring as well.

General care

• Growing plums, Utah State University
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Plums in the home garden, Utah State University
• Stone fruit, Washington State University
  
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State Extension
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University Extension (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Plant disease: plum, PNW handbooks
• Plum insects and diseases, Utah State University

Pests

• Insect crop pets: plum PNW handbooks
• Plum insects and diseases, Utah State University

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• Preserving and preparing plums, Michigan State University

Enjoy the rich color and unique texture of this exotic fruit from your own backyard. Pomegranates grow on bushes and could be grown in a high tunnel or greenhouse. An adventure fruit for Idaho growers-will only survive in the warmest zones of Idaho.

General care

• Fruit trees — Idaho Master Gardener handbook chapter 22 (PDF)
• Growing apples for local markets in cold climates, BUL820
• Growing small-fruit crops in short-season gardens, BUL868
• Pomegranate, fruit of the desert, Utah State University
• Pomegranate, Utah State University
• Tree fruit varieties for Idaho (PDF)

Soils and fertility

• Backyard: fertilizing fruit trees, IPM resources, Utah State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Colorado State University
• Fertilizing fruit trees, Oregon State University
• Home orchard fertilizer applications, Washington State University

Irrigation

• Watering fruit and nut trees, University of California

Pruning

• Pruning fruit trees: clip with confidence! Utah State University (PDF)
• Pruning the orchard, Utah State University (PDF)
• Training and pruning your home orchard, Oregon State University (PDF)

Diseases

• Pomegranate disease and disorders, University of California Davis 

Preservation

• Canning fruits, PNW199
• Drying fruits and vegetables, PNW397
• How to use pomegranate as a healthy choice, Utah State University
• Preserve the harvest: pomegranates, Utah State University (PDF)