The abundant precipitation produced this winter by an El Niño weather pattern should benefit Española Valley fruit growers.
The cool temperatures have kept the fruit trees from blooming too early, hopefully limiting the damage from a spring frost.
Apples are the foundation of most orchards in Rio Arriba County and have a long history of cultivation here. Agricultural statistics provided in the 2007 (the most recent) agricultural census back this up. The census lists Rio Arriba as first in New Mexico with 629 acres in apple production.
Most of the established orchards in the County are dominated by the Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apple varieties. But Rome Beauty, Jonathan and Winesap varieties are also commonly found at local farmers’ markets. Newly-developed varieties of apples such as Gala, Honeycrisp and Jonagold are also showing up more frequently in area orchards and at farmers’ markets.
Apple orchards are popular in the County for several reasons. Apples bloom the latest of the most commonly grown orchard crops and are therefore the most dependable fruit crop in the County. Also, backyard growers can plant dwarf trees that take up little space in the yard.
This year, the favorable growing conditions may lead to good crops of other fruits.
I’m very optimistic that this will be a year when we will have a crop of apricots.
I’ve watched the fruit trees on our property in Sombrillo for over 40 years and for the first time in years, the apricot trees are holding back on their blossoms so far. Most years, the trees bloom too early in the spring and the blossoms get zapped by a frost.
That’s one reason that apricot trees in the Española area grow into such big shade trees. They usually don’t have to put any energy into producing fruit; they can put that energy into growing leaves and branches.
For that reason, apricots, like some of the other fruits I will mention, will never be a viable economic crop in the Española Valley because you can’t depend on them from year to year.
Apricots are very healthy, loaded with Vitamin A, beta carotene and potassium. If we have fruit this year, try to can some, make some apricot jam and enjoy some apricot pies. You never know when the next good year will come.
Another fruit that I’m optimistic about harvesting this year is the Japanese plum.
These plums bloom just days after apricots and are just as susceptible to spring frost. The trees are not as hardy as apricots and a hard winter can kill them.
We have four different varieties growing in Sombrillo. They come in red, yellow, purple and black. Yellow varieties, like Shiro and Early Golden, seem to be the hardiest. Redheart, with blood red flesh, is another variety you may find growing in the Española Valley.
Peaches and nectarines bloom next in my experience and their beautiful pink blossoms are a sight to see. Because of their relatively early bloom, it’s difficult to depend on these crops from every year. Orchards that have installed frost control methods, like wind machines and sprinkler systems that can raise the air temperature a critical few degrees, seem to do better and have more dependable production. Rio Arriba County is one of the leading peach producers in New Mexico with 221 acres harvested in 2007.
White-fleshed peaches have been increasing in popularity and command higher prices in grocery stores. They are no more difficult to grow than the more common yellow-fleshed peaches. Late-blooming varieties of peaches, such as Contender, are better suited to growing conditions in the Española Valley. Peaches are normally self-pollinating, so backyard growers can plant just one tree to get fruit.
Nectarine trees are nearly identical to peach trees. Nectarines have never caught on in this area as a commercial crop because the smooth skins of the fruit are very susceptible to insect damage. The fruit tastes good but can look very unappetizing.
Sweet cherries are grown in the Española area and should be blooming by mid-to-late April. The most common variety in older area orchards are the golden-type, but red Bing cherries are also commonly found and widely planted.
It used to be that sweet cherries were self-sterile and you needed at least two different varieties to provide cross pollination and produce fruit. Modern plant breeders have developed self-fertile varieties like Stella, Lapins and Black Gold. These varieties are best for backyard growers.
Rainier cherries, a yellow fruit with a red blush that commands high prices in grocery stores, can be grown in the Española area. The blossoms are self-sterile so Rainier must be pollinated by another sweet cherry.
Pear trees are scattered throughout the Española area. There were 109 acres of pears harvested in New Mexico in 2007 with Rio Arriba one of the leading counties.
One fruit that has been generating some interest as a possible commercial crop in the Española area is the jujube or Chinese date. These relatively small trees are adapted to dry climates and cold temperatures. The trees leaf out and bloom very late (normally late May to early June from my experience) and escape late spring frosts. The fruit is relatively small, about one-two inches in length. with a reddish brown-skin. It has an apple-like taste. The one tree we have in Sombrillo bears a small crop of fruit that we normally eat fresh, but the fruit can be dried.