Fruits & Nuts

Santa Clara Valley, also known as the Valley of Heart's Delight, is an ideal place for growing a wide variety of fruits & nuts. UC Master Gardeners can help you determine how to get started, how to nurture young trees, and how to get the most out of mature trees.

Resources that apply to all fruit and nut crops

Soil: Soils should be relatively well-draining
Sun: A minimum of eight hours of full sun is required for quality fruit
Water: Fruit trees grow and produce best if you irrigate them deeply several times a season
Wildlife Protection: Most protection efforts focus on excluding vertebrates with fences and/or netting
Chill hours: Cumulative number of hours below 45°F will influence which fruits and varieties you can grow successfully

Crop-by-crop overview for Santa Clara County

Videos

Tip: Winter Pruning [7:49]
Talk: Fruit Tree Pruning [1 hr 28 min]
Talk: Summer Fruit Tree Pruning [1 hr 31 min]
Talk: Winter Fruit Tree Care [1 hr 25 min]

Additional links

Winter Pest Management in Backyard Deciduous Fruit Trees: California Master Gardener Tip Sheet for dormant fruit trees go
Fruit Tree and Vine Care Calendar: A month-by-month schedule for backyard orchards in Santa Clara County
Backyard Orchard: A comprehensive guide to planning and care for a variety of fruit and nut trees
Fruit Facts: From the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) organization