Many of us remember summertime treats as fresh-picked, fully ripe fruit. So luscious were peaches and plums that juice ran down our chins with each bite. Now we are less than pleased with the summer fruit sold at the supermarket.

There are reasons for this. The main criteria of commercial orchards are: fruit maturity (the time of ripening to meet market demand), fruit size and appearance, the ability of fruit to hold up during shipping, and lastly, fruit flavor. For backyard fruit growers, the flavor of fruit harvested at the peak of maturity is the main goal, followed by the desire to have fresh fruit over an extended harvest season, and an attractive appearance. Special varieties are developed for commercial orchards and others for backyard orchards.

Historical perspective: At first only full-size trees were available for home orchards. These produced enough fruit for eating fresh, canning, and sharing with extended family, friends and neighbors. Several decades ago the introduction of semi-dwarfing rootstock produced smaller trees, but they were still too large to allow more than one or two trees on an average-sized city lot and they produced more fruit than the average family could use. Over the years as families got smaller and more women began working outside the home, there was no longer the time nor the necessity to can or preserve hundreds of quarts of fruit (as my mother did) every summer. However, people still wanted to be able to enjoy ripe, luscious home-grown fruit.

Backyard Orchard Culture: During the past decade "Backyard Orchard Culture" was introduced and promoted by nurseries and home orchard enthusiasts. Fruit trees on either standard or semi-dwarfing rootstock are maintained at a much smaller size. Two to four trees are grown in the same amount of space needed for one full-sized tree. I use this method in my own yard, with trees planted five-and-a-half feet apart in each direction.

The first three years of tree training (pruning) are the most important as is summer pruning. At planting (January or February) the bare-root tree is cut off at knee height to force low branches. In May or June three or four main branches (scaffolds) are selected and cut back by one-third to one-half; all other branches are removed. In August or September the growth is cut back again by the same amount. The result is a tree approximately hip high after the first growing season. With summer pruning and cutting back the new growth by the same amounts during the succeeding years, the tree is waist high after the second growing season and chest high after the third. Summer pruning is then practiced for the regular maintenance of the tree. The grower decides the ultimate size of the tree and doesn't allow it to get bigger.

EZ PICK trees are the newest concept: In 2004 retail nurseries are offering a different tree growing concept called EZ-PICK. This method was specifically developed for the home orchard by a wholesale tree nursery in Tulare County. EZ-PICK trees are low-branching fruit trees that have been trained in the nursery. There are many varieties of several fruit trees available this bare-root planting season. Our local nurseries carry the varieties that produce well here, while distant nurseries carry varieties suitable for their growing regions. If you don't like the idea of cutting half or more off your tree at planting time, EZ PICK might be an option for you. Summer pruning is still needed to maintain your tree's small size.

The same principles apply: Whether you use the Backyard Orchard Culture or the EZ-PICK method to develop and train your fruit trees, it will be possible to prune, spray, thin, net and harvest without using a ladder. Using small tree cultural practices allows for variations in spacing and planting options. The trees can be planted as close as 36 inches apart in hedgerows, planted two to four trees spaced 18-20 inches apart in one large hole or in separate holes, three trees planted in a triangular pattern, or espaliered along a wall or fence.

Bare-root planting season is here. By choosing varieties with different ripening times it's possible to have ripe stone fruit from May through October. With berries, grapes, persimmons and citrus I enjoy ripe fruit from May through January. Why not start your own fruit orchard and enjoy the wonderful mouth-watering, juicy goodness you can't buy in the supermarket?