Fruit picking

Arboriculture refers to the large-scale cultivation of pome fruit, stone fruit and soft fruit in the field.

History

The important particularly for vitamin and mineral supply of the human species of fruit were as wild fruits million already several years ago for the daily food of collecting Urvorfahren of man. More than 50,000 years were raspberries, blueberries, elderberries, the fruits of mountain ash and blackthorn part of the diet of migratory groups of people. These wild fruits were not yet grown Systematically secure. In some areas, these berries have been cultivated but very early. Thus it is assumed that raspberries, elderberries and blueberries have been regularly harvested by about 8000 BC in some woods or in simple gardens in Europe. Berries were even then to regular food of Native Americans. In Mesopotamia, on the Euphrates and Tigris, mulberries millennia were very popular BC. Early beginnings of fruit growing in the Middle East, up to the 4th millennium BC to trace. After the transition to agriculture were planted fruit trees and shrubs regularly targeted and harvested the fruits for consumption. In Mesopotamia, fruit trees were planted for establishment of parks and palace gardens priority.

Created in modern times bigger fruit growing, in which fruit was planted for the supply of nearby cities and for export worldwide. The main regions are: Austria (Styria ), Italy ( South Tyrol), France and Germany Altes Land near Hamburg, the Lake Constance region, the Voreifel and the promontory near Bonn ( where it was founded in 1896 the first pure Obstgut Germany by Otto Schmitz -Pretty ). Depending on the region, these areas provide, for example, apples, cherries and plums. In Central America, created huge banana plantations, which also influenced the political situation there, because U.S. companies had an interest in the control of the land and cheap labor. Recently, large quantities are produced at Fruit in South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Origin of the fruit species (selection)

• Among the oldest known tree fruits part of the apple (Malus sylvestris). Observations of wild apples in today's Anatolia dating to 6500 BC. Three thousand years later, the apple in the territory of present-day Switzerland and in the British Isles was known. The Egyptian kings Ramses II and Ramses III. donated every day a basket of apples to the priests of the temple.
• The pear (Pyrus communis) came from Persia and Armenia over Asia Minor to the Greeks and the Romans. The latter they also spread north of the Alps.
• The wild forms of plum (Prunus domestica ) come from Anatolia, the Caucasus and Persia. The Romans knew many recipes with plums. They were soaked in wine and thus preserved.
• The original form of fresh cherry is the bird - cherry. Eight thousand years ago, she was known in Asia Minor. Lucullus, more famous as a gourmet than as a successful commander, brought 74 BC, the first cherries from Asia Minor by his campaign against Mithridates VI. to Rome.
• From China, the apricot or apricot originated (Prunus armeniaca ). Already 2200 BC fruit were harvested. They spread through Iran and Assyria towards Europe. In the year 50 BC, the apricot was a very rare and expensive fruit in Rome.
• Citrus fruits such as oranges (Citrus sinensis) and lemon (Citrus limon) were grown according to Greek and Roman writers already 1100 BC. They come from Asia.
• The German medlar ( Mespilus germanica ) or stone apple has lost its meaning. She also comes from the Near East.

Homer's Odyssey, the epic of ancient Greece ( 800 BC), provides in its extensive descriptions is never that fruit is eaten. And yet do for the poet pears, pomegranates, apples, figs, olives and grapes, of course, from a well- planned vegetable garden, which will bring about a long time in fruits ( Odyssey 7.112 ):

In addition to the yard is a large garden near the courtyard door At four acres, on all sides moved from the fence. Large trees stand in it in lush growth, Apple trees with bright fruit, grenade and pears And sweet figs and fresh green olives. Which never spoils fruit, nor winter and summer missing Throughout the year, but the steady Western whiff Drives out the one and leaves the other mature. Pear on pear ripens as zoom and apple on apple, but also grapes on grape and fig on fig as well.

King Laertes realizes his son Odysseus, who returns after ten years of wandering home, remember that Odysseus can not remember the trees, which the Father hath once given him ( 24 song): "For I accompanied you as Knab ' in the garden; we walked under the trees around, and you called and showed me everyone. Thirteen trees with pears and ten fully ruddy apples you gave me, and forty fig trees ... "

Propagation

Many fruits can be traced not from seed, but propagated vegetatively by cuttings or hardwood cuttings.

For some types of fruit shoots, called scions of the desired varieties on shoots of rootstock varieties, certain properties will have, ( documents ) grafted ( grafting ). The reason for this can be different: either can be, for example, the type of fruit does not reproduce by Steckholz or you want from the base variety an impact on growth. Schwachwüchsige trees (small crowns) you only get by using certain rootstock varieties. Depending on the type of fruit to certain processing methods are appropriate.

Care measures

Irrigation

The irrigation in low rainfall areas, the most important prerequisite for the economic success of fruit growing. Thus, in the southern United States, South Africa, Australia and the Middle East, to name just a few examples, watered regularly. The same is true for less low rainfall, but summer dry regions, such as in South Tyrol, France and other southern European countries. In Germany, the use of irrigation water plays especially on light soils play an important role: fruit growing on sandy soils, such as in the area around Werder / Havel (Land Brandenburg), is to secure earnings only with adequate irrigation. But you also deserves more attention on better soils than previously when the distribution of rainfall is less favorable.

Of particular importance are the irrigation systems. Fruit plants are endangered in many growing regions such as in South Tyrol especially by late frosts. Irrigation system will be used in the flower to the frost protection irrigation. Due to the freezing process, enough heat is released to protect the protected organ (flower, young fruit ) against cell death.

Section

The cutting of fruit trees has among its tasks, the tree a particular form ( from the education system dependent) and thus give a good inclination distribution. Thus, the yield and the quality is affected. Cutting measures take place mainly in winter ( winter average ) from organizational reasons. Average measures in summer ( summer or green waste ) is targeting the impulse distribution (and thus leaf and fruit distribution) optimized.

The cut fruit bushes mainly serves the rejuvenation and health of the plants. High quality fruit is primarily at younger shoots; old, worn shoots are less fertile and are often attacked by fungal diseases.

Plant protection

A number of diseases and pests can damage a variety of fruit species. Through the use of targeted plant protection measures damage to the organs of the plants and the fruit is to be reduced.

Is considered critical of the use of pesticides, which is often, as in all monocultures also in fruit growing. Thus there are in addition to the conventional orchards also a organic fruit growing. In recent years, the integrated pest has arrived in fruit growing more and more. In particular, the control of animal pests ( caterpillars, aphids, beetles, etc.), especially with the confusing method gives good results here.

More detailed information can be found in the articles on the individual fruits.