Planning for Perennial Crops - Fruit & Nut Trees

Choosing Fruiting Trees for the Home Garden

Aug 18, 2009

Careful planning is critical with long-lived, perennial crops that will occupy the same space for many years, like fruit and nut trees.

Educating yourself about their specific requirements and preparing the growing site properly will ensure a bountiful harvest. Understand the trees' needs in terms of soil, water, light and spacing when choosing a permanent home for a fruit or nut tree. Some trees may need pollinators, meaning you will need to plant more than a single tree or cultivar for successful fruiting. Take into account the trees' height and spread as they reach maturity, to ensure that they don't become overcrowded or eventually cast shade on a sunny bed.

Preparing the Site

To prepare the site you've chosen for your trees, loosen the soil to a depth of 1 foot in an area that will encompass the mature trees' roots out to the drip line from the leaves, where the most active feeder roots will be. If the tree will have a spread of 12 feet at maturity, the soil needs to be loosened up to 6 feet away from the tree on all sides. Incorporate as much organic matter into the loosened soil as you can.

Testing the soil is crucial for fruit trees. According to Growing Fruits & Vegetables Organically, published in 1994 by Rodale Press editors Jean M.A. Nick and Fern Marshall Bradley, they require plenty of calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as other micronutrients like iron and boron. Soil testing will allow you to correct any deficiencies ahead of time.

Generally, plant trees as far apart as they will grow tall. For the home gardener, using dwarf or semi-dwarf cultivars where feasible makes sense. The trees will be shorter, making pruning and harvesting easier, they can be planted closer together, and the fruit will be of the same size and quality as with a standard tree. Plant about 18 inches deep, taking care to leave any root graftings a few inches above the soil and mulch. Trees will begin bearing fruit in 3 to 5 years.

Trees that Require Pollinators

Trees that Do Not Require Pollinators

Most garden catalogs will list the acceptable pollinators with any given fruit tree cultivar. Local nurseries will stock varieties that grow well in your area. Choose combinations that bloom at roughly the same time, and will thrive in your growing zone.

As noted in this article by Tony Allen, if your neighbors have fruit or nut trees, it may not be necessary to buy your own pollinators. It may pay to initiate a discussion with them about the cultivars they have on their property to see if what they have is compatible with the cultivars that you want to grow.

For other articles in this series on Planning Perennial Crops, please read Brambles or Fruiting Bushes.

The copyright of the article Planning for Perennial Crops - Fruit & Nut Trees in Orchards/Fruit Gardening is owned by Chaz Iannazzo. Permission to republish Planning for Perennial Crops - Fruit & Nut Trees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Aug 20, 2009 6:16 AM

Guest :

The key to successful fruit and nut production is the presence of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them. Careful planning is critical and essential with long-lived plants such as fruit trees and nut trees. Preparing and testing the site for type of soil, nutrient availability, moist holding capacity, protection from wind and available sunlight or shade will ensure such a friendly environment for your trees and, may in turn provide you with a better return on effort than anything else in your garden.
Thank you
Steve
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