OK, so I want to plant an orchard...

[aikigypsy]

We've just moved back to the family land, and I hope to stay here for most of the next 20 years, possibly longer. We have a few acres of scrub-oak and jack-pine woods, a 6" layer of so-so topsoil on top of lots of sand. We get about 5-6 months between last frost and first frost, maybe a bit longer some years. It's a great spot for blueberries (huge patch planted by my grandfather in the early 80s is producing well), but we haven't had much luck with (very neglected) fruit trees in the past.

I'd like to start this year with a couple of cherry trees, maybe, and put in strawberries next summer. There's a place up the road which does OK with apples, but I don't know what our chances are for other types of fruit trees. We have a feral peach growing out of the compost heap, too, and some old scraggly grape vines.

The first thing we'll need to do is to clear a big swath of land, maybe 100' square, hoping for 100'x200' eventually. Everyone here seems to think that fruit trees take a ridiculous amount of care, and although it doesn't sound like all that much to me, I do worry about it being too much work for what you get.

Opinions? Experiences?

[birthgreeter]

I say just go for it. five years from now, you will be happy you did...
I also would plant all you want -caring for one or two trees--you might as well care for 10-20. (just throwing a number out there)
That way they would be all growing and maturing at about same time.

good luck!

[insahmniak]

I think doing fruit trees well does take time, energy and thought. It's not just something to plant and forget about. There are certain trees in your area which will be harder than others. I'd find a master gardener or arborist to talk to about what does well there and what to avoid.

If I had that kind of land, I think I'd start with a smaller number of trees initially. You can see how it goes and in case you want to expand then you can plant add them later and have somewhat of a successive planting.

You might consider what the heck you're wanting to do with the yield, too. Fruit trees are not too different from tomatoes in that when they arrive they pretty much arrive all at once and then you're having to deal with it. Will you give it away? Sell it? Preserve it? There are only so many hours in a day and one tree can give you yields that keep you in the kitchen for days.

I personally would start by aiming for a few well-cared for trees and aim to keep them healthy. Good luck and happy planting!

[JamieCatheryn]

Be sure to carefully pick disease resistant varieties so you don't need to spend time and energy fighting diseases. Fruit trees need pruning before spring each year, and may need spraying for disease anyway (organic options can be good). And be sure you're able to set aside time to preserve all the fruit you get (canning, freezing, drying, jelly making, winemaking). If you get dwarf or semi dwarf trees it won't be too big a thing to prune them so long as you have the time.

[aikigypsy]

Thanks for the replies. I have been thinking about it and I really want to get some trees in this year, but I'm not sure it will happen. Still, I can make a plan and get the land cleared. I'd like to start with about ten semi-dwarf trees (definitely disease-resistant!), which is a bit of an investment, but I really want to do it. I think we can plant here until mid-October or so. I got some bare-root trees from Arbor day a few years ago, but they didn't arrive until late November and never got properly established... then again, I wasn't around to mulch them when needed, etc. Some of them are still struggling along, but they probably need more sun. This time I'm going to try to start with slightly bigger trees, but I don't know where to get them. There are some at local landscaping stores, but not much selection and very expensive, so I think I'll have to do mail-order again.

[JamieCatheryn]

I've never had luck with anything bare root, my apple trees from little pots worked great. I like Stark Brothers, even when I had no luck with bare root bushes they gave a full refund since the bushes died.

[aikigypsy]

A few years ago I got several bare-root trees and bushes from Arbor Day. The pecans (or were they walnuts?) died. One of them never got properly established -- too much stuff around it -- and the other one did OK for a year or so then I think someone drove over it or mowed it down. About half (or maybe more) or the hazlenuts are still alive, though not thriving. I've just weeded around them again and will mulch in the spring. Two of three apricots are still struggling along, too. They also sent a pack of ten free "trees" which were very small, but I think one of them managed to take root even though I just popped them into the ground and ignored them.

Thanks for the tip about Stark Bros. I was looking at their website but wasn't sure about spending all that money for bare root. They're charging about $25/tree, which seems like a lot, but maybe it's worth it.