Question: Do chill hours increase in dwarf fruit trees over what they are for the same variety in standard size tree? Maureen - Lakeland, Florida Answer: Maureen, good question. To the best of my knowledge dwarfing rootstock or semi-dwarfing rootstocks do not change the chill requirements on the fruit trees. On the other hand, dwarfing and semi-dwarfing rootstocks often cause the tree to fruit earlier in its life (often called making it precocious) so I…

Anna Apples - Early July Photo - from L.E. Cooke Orchard Question: I've never owned fruit trees and now have an Anna's Apple tree. It's late Oct. and I have a load of apples on my 5' tree. I have read that I need to prune but all of the sites I've been to on the net show tree pruning on tree's without leaves or apples. Should I prune off the apples and branches? Help!!!…

Question: 3years ago I bought a Sherwood jujube from Doan's Nursery in Irving, TX. It had tags from your farm. While it has grown well and flowered profusely in the last two years it has not made any fruit. I read somewhere that another variety planted close by might help. Is this true and if so what variety would you recommend? Thanks a bunch in advance. Ruven - Flower Mound, TX. Sherwood Jujube Answer: This…

Question: How do i care for a black mission fig tree in the winter i live in long island new york and what is the best location to plant this tree also can i plant this tree now. John Answer: I am amazed at the number of figs that we ship into Long Island as well as New York, New Jersey and other areas where figs really should not be grown. That's right - the…

Question: Hello..I am interested in growing cherry trees in my orchard in the Dallas area. My favorites are the Rainier cherry & the Bing cherry. I am interested in puchasing them from you, but I was wondering if you know how well they will grow in my area.Please let me know. Lance Answer: I wish I could give you a confident "go ahead" but I cannot. Over the years I have had wholesale growers in…

Question: Can I eat the fruit from a Prunus C. KRAUTER VESUVIUS TREE? Lena - Las Vegas Short Answer: To my knowledge it won't hurt you - but I do not think you would like it. So I would not eat it and toss it out. Long Discussion: Let me expand on the topic of fruit on purple leaf flowering plums. For the most part, we (you buyers and us growers) do not like to…

Question: 1) Does Pomegranate grow well in Dallas, Texas?2) I would like to grow the "big" fruit of Pomegranate, which type of Pomegranate do you recommend? I saw on your web site and there are several of them?3) Which nurseries are your vendors?Thank you very much for your time. Tho - Dallas Texas Answer:Not really, in my opinion. I do not recommend them for your area. There are several issues of concern - any of…

Question: i planted the peach and pear trees (two of each next to each other) last week. they now have pea size fruits on them. my husbands friend said to pick these off the first year. Is this right? why or why not?PLEASE Peggy - Colorado City, TX Answer: If I were you, I would follow your friends' advice. Right now you are most concerned about getting your tree well established. Good growth to the…

Question: Hello- I am writing to you with a question about L.E. Cooke Co.'s Purple "Cooke's Special" Wisteria. My question: What is the expected mature height and width of this plant? I am about to install one of these plants in the garden of my home in Phoenix, Arizona. If you can help in answering my question, I'd certainly appreciate it. Thank you.Sincerely, Tom Answer: Hi Tom, Good choice of wisteria! The spring blossoms are…

Question: I was wondering will Prunus Mume 'Rosemary Clarke' do well in my area? I think we get about 350 chill hours a year. Nanthawat, Burbank, CA Rosemary Clarke Flowering Apricot Answer: Absolutely! All the Flowering Apricots (Prunus mume) require only 100 to 150 hours of chilling. A good choice for your area. See more details: Flowering Apricots