CHERRY (Prunus avium & cerasus) produce fruit on different types of wood depending on the variety:

• Sweet cherries (Prunus avium): Primarily bear fruit on spurs (short, stubby branches) that develop on older wood (2+ years old). Spurs typically last 8 to 12 years. Caution should be exercised when picking fruit to avoid removing the fruit spurs, as this will result in less fruit production the following year. 

• Sour cherries (Prunus cerasus): Produce fruit on the previous year's growth.  These spurs typically remain productive for about 3 to 5 years. After this period, they tend to become less fruitful and should be pruned to encourage the growth of new spurs.

Pollination Requirements:
Sweet cherries generally require cross-pollination, which means that most varieties need another variety of sweet cherries for successful pollination. The main pollinators for sweet cherries are bees. However, some sweet cherry varieties are self-fertile, meaning they can pollinate themselves without relying on a different variety (e.g., Lapins). Sour cherries are often self-fertile as well. For instance, Bing cherries need a pollinator like Rainier or Lambert cherries to ensure proper pollination.

Common Pests and Disease of Cherries in the Okanagan

Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Black cherry Aphids (Myzus cerasi) and other Aphids
Bacterial Cankers (Pseudomonas syringae)

Peach trees produce fruit on the previous year's growth (one-year-old wood). This means you need to encourage new growth each year to have a good crop.

Pollination Requirements:
Most peach trees are self-fertile, meaning they can pollinate themselves and do not require another tree for pollination. While bees assist in the process, they are not always necessary.

Common Pests and Disease of Peaches & Nectarines in the Okanagan
Peach Leaf Curl (Taphrina deformans)
Peach Twig Borers (Anarsia lineatella) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Greater Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon exitosa) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Lesser Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon pictipes) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Aphids
Bacterial Cankers (Pseudomonas syringae)
Coryneum Blight (Wilsonomyces carpophilus)

Depending on the variety, Plum trees produce fruit spurs—short, stubby branches—typically on wood that is 1 to 3 years old. This means that the tree needs to reach a certain level of maturity before it begins to bear fruit. These spurs usually remain productive for 5 to 8 years.

• European Plums (Prunus domestica): These plums (like 'Stanley' and 'Italian') tend to produce fruit on spurs that develop on two-year-old wood and older.

• Japanese Plums (Prunus salicina): These plums (like 'Santa Rosa' and 'Methley') produce fruit primarily on one-year-old wood.

Important Considerations

• Tree Age: Young plum trees require more formative pruning to establish their shape, while mature trees need less pruning.

• Variety: Different plum varieties have different growth habits and fruiting patterns, so adjust your pruning techniques accordingly.

• Tree Health: Avoid over-pruning, as this can stress the tree and make it more susceptible to disease.

Pollination Requirements

Pollination requirements vary among plum varieties. Some plums are self-fertile, meaning they can pollinate themselves, while others require cross-pollination to produce fruit. Bees are the main pollinators for plums. If you have a variety that needs cross-pollination, make sure to choose a compatible plum variety that blooms at the same time.

• Japanese plums typically require cross-pollination.

• European plums are generally self-fertile.

Common Pests and Disease of Plums in the Okanagan
Aphids
Bacterial Cankers (Pseudomonas syringae)

Greater Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon exitosa) RDOS Bylaw enforced

Lesser Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon pictipes) RDOS Bylaw enforced

Coryneum Blight (Wilsonomyces carpophilus)

Apricot trees produce fruit on one-year-old wood and on spurs that develop on older wood.  

• One-year-old wood: This refers to the new growth from the previous year. Apricots produce flowers and fruit buds on this new wood.

• Spurs: These are short, stubby branches that develop on older wood (two years old and older). Apricot spurs are productive for 3-5 years. After that, they tend to become less productive and should be pruned out to encourage new spur growth.  

Pollination Requirements:
Most apricots are self-fertile. Bees can help but are not always necessary.

Common Pests and Disease of Apricots in the Okanagan

Aphids
Peach Twig Borers (Anarsia lineatella) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Greater Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon exitosa) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Lesser Peach Tree Borers (Synanthedon pictipes) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Shot-hole Borer (Scolytus rugulosus)
Coryneum Blight (Wilsonomyces carpophilus)

Different varieties of apple trees produce fruit in various locations based on whether they are tip-bearing or spur-bearing. Apple trees primarily bear fruit on spurs, which are short, stubby branches that grow on older wood, typically 2 to 3 years old or older. Flowers and fruit buds form on these spurs, which can remain productive for many years, even decades, on a healthy apple tree.

• Spur-bearing: These trees develop fruit on short, stubby growths called "spurs" that grow along the branches. Most apple varieties are spur-bearing and can be pruned more heavily. (Ex.'Red Delicious,' 'Gala,' 'Empire')

• Tip-bearing: These trees produce fruit at the tips of the current year's growth and require careful pruning to avoid removing fruiting wood. (Ex. 'Granny Smith,' 'Fuji,' 'Cortland')

Important Considerations

• Tree health: A healthy tree with proper care, including adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients, will have longer-lasting fruit spurs.

• Variety: Some apple varieties naturally have more vigorous and longer-lived spurs than others.

• Pruning: Proper pruning helps to maintain the health and productivity of fruit spurs. Removing old or damaged spurs encourages the growth of new ones.  

• Pest and disease management: Keeping the tree free from pests and diseases is essential for the longevity of fruit spurs.

Pollination Requirements
Almost all apple varieties require cross-pollination, which means they need pollen from a different apple variety to produce fruit. Bees serve as the primary pollinators for these trees. It's important to note that not all apple varieties can pollinate one another. When choosing which varieties to plant, make sure they bloom at the same time. Additionally, some varieties are "triploid," meaning they produce sterile pollen and cannot serve as pollinators.

• Honeycrisp can be pollinated by Gala or Fuji.

• Granny Smith can be pollinated by Fuji or Red Delicious.

Common Pests and Disease of Apples in the Okanagan

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Aphids
Apple Clearwing moth (Synanthedon myopaeformis) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Apple Curculio (Anthonomus Quadrigibbus)
Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis)
Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha)
Perennial Cankers (Cryptosporiopsis perennans)
Anthracnose (Cryptosporiopsis curvispora) & (Phlyctema vagabunda)

Spur-bearing varieties: Pear trees, like apples primarily produce fruit on spurs, which develop on 2-year-old wood or older. These spurs are short, stubby branches that often have a cluster of flower buds at the tip and appear all along the branches. Pear fruit spurs, like apple spurs, can last for many years, even decades, on a healthy pear tree.

Tip-Bearing Varieties: Some pear varieties (like 'Bartlett') also produce fruit at the tips of the previous year's growth. For these varieties, pruning requires careful consideration to avoid removing the fruit-bearing tips. These trees can have a more leggy and spreading growth habit, as the weight of the fruit can cause branches to droop.

Important Considerations

• Tree health: A healthy tree with proper care, including adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients, will have longer-lasting fruit spurs.

• Variety: Some apple varieties naturally have more vigorous and longer-lived spurs than others.

• Pruning: Proper pruning helps to maintain the health and productivity of fruit spurs. Removing old or damaged spurs encourages the growth of new ones.  

• Pest and disease management: Keeping the tree free from pests and diseases is essential for the longevity of fruit spurs.

Pollination Requirements

Most pear varieties require cross-pollination, meaning they need a different variety of pear blooming at the same time for successful pollination, much like apples. Bees are the primary pollinators of pears. When selecting pear varieties, it's important to choose those that bloom simultaneously. For example, Bartlett pears can be pollinated by Bosc or D'Anjou pears.

Common Pests and Disease of Cherries in the Okanagan

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) RDOS Bylaw enforced

Aphids

Pear Psylla (Cacopsylla pyri)

Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora)

Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis)

Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha)

Perennial Cankers  (Cryptosporiopsis perennans)
Anthracnose (Cryptosporiopsis curvispora) & (Phlyctema vagabunda) 

Quince trees, similar to apple trees, produce their fruit on spurs—short, stubby branches that grow from older wood. Unlike some fruit trees that bear fruit on new growth, quince trees primarily depend on these spurs for fruit production. Although there is no specific lifespan for quince fruit spurs, they typically remain productive for several years.

Important Considerations

• Tree health: A healthy tree with adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients will have longer-lasting fruit spurs.

• Pruning: Regular pruning helps to maintain the health and productivity of fruit spurs. Removing old or damaged spurs encourages the growth of new ones.

• Pest and disease management: Keeping the tree free from pests and diseases is essential for the longevity of fruit spurs.

Pollination: Quince trees are self-fertile, meaning they don't need another tree to produce fruit.
However, having another quince tree nearby can increase the fruit set.

Common Pests and Disease of Cherries in the Okanagan

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) RDOS Bylaw enforced
Aphids
Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora)
Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha)