Frequently Asked Questions about San Diego fruit tree & Gard

Q. How can I tell my tree is suffering from low-quality water? How can I fix it?

A. San Diego water has a very acidic pH that will cause your trees to show reddening of the leaves or brown crunchy tips. Fixing the pH through a water filter or adding humic acid to their base will help treat them from this. Our humic acid product can help you do the trick.

Q. There are bugs EVERYWHERE, and holes in the leaves of my trees. What is the solution?

A. Most bugs can be eliminated with proper pruning techniques, we want to reduce spray treatments as much as possible to protect the beneficial insect population which ultimately is our best defense against bugs. We recommend organic neem oil! Head to our blog post on Pest Control to read more about using neem oil and other natural pest control methods on your plants!

Q. My leaves are curled? What is it?

A. Leaf curl happens in one of two ways. The first is bugs and the second is a micronutrient deficiency. Please identify if you see bugs and if so, provide a neem oil spray treatment—our blog on Pest Control can further help you with this problem. If no bugs are present, your plants may have a micronutrient deficiency. Our Rapid Response product is a complete amino acid fertilizer for fruit trees and will provide your trees with what nutrients they are lacking.

Q. My tree is dropping its fruit too early? Can I stop this?

A. Trees drop fruit because their acid levels are too low. Acid allows the fruit to hold onto the branch easily. Consider acidifying the base of your trees for treatment. Our humic acid or Rapid Response products can correct this!

Q. My younger tree’s branches are breaking before its fruit is ripened. What do I do?

A. The tree’s branches are not yet strong enough to hold up the weight of the fruit. By staking the branches individually and providing support with the wooden stakes and nursery tape, you will alleviate the weight of the fruit on the branches and help the tree hold it till harvest.

Q. Water. Too much, or too little?

A. Too much water can be seen in your trees through the yellowing of leaves, leaves dropping to the ground, and failure to thrive. Underwatering is shown through bone-dry ground, digging down to a depth of 8 inches and finding dry soil, crunchy leaves that are brown, and drooping leaves. After identifying if it is underwatering or overwatering, the fix is by providing accurate irrigation. Irrigation in general should be run one time per week for fruit trees. The minutes will depend on the watering system used, but there needs to be at least 8 inches deep of water penetration for the tree to respond.

Q. When do I fertilize my plants, and what are my organic fertilizer options?

A. Organic fertilizer options include dry meal fertilizer and kelp. We recommend Fruitmommy Soil Refresh product which has every nutrient available in a slow-release formula. In combination with our Rapid Response product water soluble fertilizer, your trees will have the necessary nutrients to thrive. Both can be found on our website or on Amazon.

Q. There is black powder all over my tree. What is it?

A. Black sooty mold comes from bugs secreting sugary honeydew liquid on your trees and is common in San Diego. To combat black sooty mold with your fruit trees, taking care of the bug problem is the first step. You can do this with a neem oil spray. Second, provide a large amount of airflow via corrective pruning within the tree and make sure that there is plenty of sunlight to the interior of the tree

Q. My tree's leaves are yellow and the tree looks sad. What should I do?

A. Your tree is most likely suffering from a lack of nitrogen, micronutrients, or it is getting too much water. Start fertilizing with our Rapid Response amino acid organic fruit tree fertilizer once a week and make sure to let your tree completely dry out in between waterings. Put your hands in the soil to determine if the soil is wet or dry. Watering deeply and infrequently is key for most all fruit tree care.

Q. My tree has black/brown branches and looks dead from the top down. What's wrong.?

A. Your tree's energy system is not functioning correctly. Your tree needs to be correctly pruned and it needs nutrients applied weekly to help it recover. 

Q. What is San Diego’s mold issue?

A. Black sooty mold comes from bugs secreting sugary honeydew liquid on your plants and is common in San Diego. It can affect both trees and garden plants. To combat black sooty mold with your plants, you must take care of the bug problem. You can do this with a neem oil spray. Second, make sure to wash the mold off your plants.

Q. Pests?

A. Head to our blog post on Pest Control to learn about techniques Fruitmommy approves: neem oil, coffee grounds, vinegar sprays, and beneficial bug releases are a few of the topics discussed!

Q. Can I use Rapid Response in my garden beds?

A. All Fruitmommy products can be used both on fruit trees and in garden beds, and will benefit both!

Q. What inspired Fruitmommy?

A. Fruitmommy was inspired by my children. When they were five and nine years old we started something called “planting in the park,” which was a free event every week at Roar Park in Bonita. We taught kids in the park-- and eventually homeschooling groups, Girl Scout groups, and Boy Scout groups-- to learn to garden independently of their parents! These kids successfully created their own gardens ... even the three-year-olds! Seeing their passion and abilities led to the creation of Fruitmommy.

Q. What is the mission of Fruitmommy?

A. The mission of Fruitmommy is to help others feel the joy of growing their own fruit and veggies, connecting to Mother Earth, and learning how to respect her, love her, and take care of her.

Q. Do you have a Fruitmommy motto?

A. “Saving the Earth one fruit tree at a time.”

Q. What is your favorite thing to grow in your orchard?

A. Surname cherries, apriums, and dragon fruit!

Q. What is your favorite thing to grow in your garden?

A. Hot peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and potatoes.

Q. Where can I find Fruitmommy Products?

A. Our website shop and Amazon have our products. 

Do you have a question for the fruit tree & garden specialist Fruitmommy? Provide your information on the "Contact Us" page, and include your questions there!