Fruit Tree Tip

The fruit trees in our garden have transformed into super givers. Just take a peek at our pomegranate tree from last week’s salad post. In the last 18 months we’ve gone from so-so fruit production to churning out fruit like chocolate on a conveyer belt ‑- I Love Lucy, anyone? Even with our hot, drought-ridden weather we are scrambling to keep up with the bounty, maybe we should consider a stand at the farmers market….

Yuzu tree

I’d like to take credit for this transformation, but it should go to Ernesto, my partner in garden crime (and hand model in this post). He shared his simple trick that has made all the difference for our trees — spray your trees weekly with a mild, soapy water solution.

Bad bacteria and bugs love to hang out right at the leaf origination point on your tress. This causes low fruit production and that crimping of the leaves. The soap spray acts as an insecticide and removes those pesky bad bugs while allowing the good ones to hang around a little longer. The leaves look dark and lovely and your fruit production increases.

There are only a couple of things needed to work some fruit wonder in your yard:

First, you need to use a mild soap like Dawn or Gain.  If you use something too concentrated you risk killing off the good bacteria as well. Also, mild soap won’t harm pets or kids and it’s cheap!

Then, you need to track down one of these cool spray nozzles that let you mix up a solution of soap and water. They are also called a soap and rinse nozzle.

All mixed and ready to go.

For the first spray turn the nozzle to the lowest setting.

Once we began employing this trick each week the results were nothing short of magical. The leaves became healthy and glossy and fruit production has been crazy. We’ve had such success that we’ve started spraying weekly about every fruiting thing in the garden — figs, peaches, oranges, mulberries, avocado, loquats, pineapple guavas, tangerines, yuzu, apricots and yes, those pomegranates.

Rub-a-dub-dub give those trees a scrub!