Growing Fruit Trees

[TheGirls]

I'm interested in starting a little family orchard on our property. We have a pretty big lot for being in the city and I have a couple of sunny corners that I think would work well. I think I'd do dwarf trees so that they don't get so big they shade my veggie garden (which is a little ways away) and also because they seem easier to care for myself.

I'm in zone 5. I'd like to grow all kinds of trees, but the ones I'm most excited about are cherry, pear, and peach. One spot I'm looking at is probably part sun - It would get some shade in the afternoon. The other spot is full sun. I'm guessing full sun would be better?

I've started trying to do some research but I'm so confused. I don't really even know how to start! I see some plans that call for planting 4 trees in one hole, and that seems cool. The size of my planting area is fairly flexible, there's nothing in the way until you get close to the barn, so maybe 30'x50', but I don't really want to plant the whole thing - that seems like I'd be biting off more than I could chew. Also I'd like to leave some of that space for future veggie garden expansion (maybe some shade lovers like lettuce...)

I'm rambling, sorry. I guess I'm really trying to figure out how to choose varieties and how to lay them out. Also, how far away from the neighbor's yard should I be? (The neighbor has a garden right up to the edge of his propery there - but I am north of him, so the shade shouldn't be a big problem).

Also I'd love to hear what others are doing in terms of fruit trees! What do you grow, how, where, etc!
TIA!

[Greenmama2AJ]

When it comes to fruit trees I try to plant variety. Always have a couple of each tree to help with pollination. It sounds like a lovely combination you have chosen there.

I'm not an expert - but we only ever planted one tree in each hole. Why did they plant 4 trees? Interesting.

The only thing with fruit trees is they can take a little while to mature. So try to get you hand on the most mature seedlings you can afford and you'll be looking at fruit sooner. Dwarf varieties are a good way to go because they set fruit earlier.

Good luck

[naturemama1]

I'm in zone 5b/6a and we get astonishing amounts of pears from our two small pear trees. Cold is good for pears. We get a good amount of cherries, and we're going to put in a peach tree this year and see what happens. I always think of peaches as a southern climate fruit, but they say they'll grow here. I've mostly seen recommendations to plant them 8-10' apart -- I've never heard of four trees in one hole! My understanding is that full sun is very significantly better than partial.

One advantage to dwarf trees is that they're usually grafted onto mature stock, so you start getting fruit right away.

[Hibou]

When we started our orchard, I chose trees that had been grown in our province so that they would be better able to cope with the climate. They were able to give us a choice of varieties to choose from that would do well here. The advice that the nursery gave us was not to fertilize (even with compost) for the first year, so long as we were putting the trees in relatively decent soil. The idea is to encourage more root growth than top growth the first year, which helps the tree to establish itself.

I've never heard of planting 4 trees in one hole...that does sound interesting. Especially if you're short on space. I wonder if it would work?

Anyways, I think growing trees is kind of like starting compost...it can be as simple or as complicated as one makes it. But if you choose the right varieties for your climate, and give them decent soil and water, you'll be off on the right foot!

[kittywitty]

We are going to be doing the same thing when we move next month. I have an ornamental plum I actually want to take out and put in a more useful fruit bearing tree. We have a dead cherry tree to take up, too. We will be putting in a bunch of fruit bushes but then some dwarf nectarine, almond, peach, apple, and cherry and maybe plum trees wherever we can find room.

http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_fruit_tree.htm
http://www.dwarffruittrees.org/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...uit-Trees.aspx
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/r...00007_Rep7.pdf
http://books.google.com/books?id=ADy...esult&resnum=9

And the book: edible landscapes naturally

[homewithtwinsmama]

Not only dwarf, but self-pollinated if you don't have room for many trees. I have a self pollinating sour cherry called Ballotin that is a good one. I have a self pollinating dwarf apple tree on sale. If you want a pear and it grows in your area, the seckel pair is amazingly sweet and less grainy than most.