It's never too early to add fruit trees to your home garden. Just think of the rewards you will receive.
There is an old saying, " the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. the second-best time is now." I think this little pearl of wisdom is especially true when it comes to fruit trees.
It's too easy to put off buying and planting trees. They can be expensive and there's always so much else to do. When thinking about fruit trees, it's also easy to twist one's logic: "It might be seven years before I'd get fruit, so why bother?" But guess what, you'll be waiting a whole lot longer if you never plant those trees.
Here's my advice for selecting and growing fruit trees.
Don't Put It Off
The sooner you plant your fruit trees, the sooner they'll produce. Since it's going to take a minimum of two to five or more years for them to produce fruit. It's never too soon to get started. If a fruit tree is more than your budget can bear, you might consider starting them from seed.
Do Your Research
Some trees are self-pollinating (most nectarines, peaches, sour cherries). Others require another variety of the same fruit to pollinate (most apples, pears, plums). It's best to plant cross-pollinators no more than fifty feet apart. If you're lucky, a near neighbor has planted a cross-pollinator close by. Timing is everything when it comes to pollination bloom at the same time of year.
It's also important to know the best time to plant. Most nurseries ship based on appropriate planting time for your area; however, if you're buying locally, you need to learn all you can about favorable planting conditions.
Learn about hole depth and width, watering needs, pruning requirements. There's plenty to learn. If your tree doesn't come with these instructions, search the internet. Just be sure your sources are reliable.
Know Which Trees To Select For Your Planting Zone
As much as you may wish it were true, you can't grow every kind of fruit in every climate. Apples, for instance, require a dormant season. Frost and citrus don't mix. And while there are folks who push the limits, it's a lot of learning and work to grow fruit in an uninviting climate. To find out whether you can grow your favorite fruit where you live, check with your local extension service.
Protect Your Trees
A young tree's bark is especially susceptible to damage, yet it's appealing to hungry deer. Be safe and use some kind of tree wrap or guard. You can purchase netting, tubing, or paper or burlap wrap. Or you can be creative and make your own tree guard. When we planted our Alvacado trees we used left-over fencing from the goat pens.
Nothing is more disappointing than discovering that just before your fruit fully ripened, something got to it before you did. We have lost so much to the deer. We are planning on putting up deer fencing this year. Here's to keeping our fingers crossed that it works.
Be Sure You Have Enough Space
Think about Height
You need to think about how you'll harvest your fruit, also. Do you really want to climb an extension ladder braced against tree limbs to collect your fruit? Or to prune your trees? That can be dangerous, especially for aging gardeners. When they're available, consider dwarf or semi-dwarf trees instead of the larger standard ones to make care and harvesting simpler.
Siting Is Important
Soil for fruit trees should have plenty of nutrients, and you may need to add amendments in any case. Plant where drainage is good. and plant where your trees are ensured a minimum of five hours of sunlight each day.
What Size Orchard?
If you over plant, you're not as likely to keep up with necessary maintenance. Consider which fruits your family is most likely to eat, which are the most versatile, how much fruit you really need. There's no reason to plant and entire peace orchard if your harvest will serve your family. (On the other hand, remember that peaches can be dried for late winter eating, preserved as peach preserves and more.
Be Attentive
Fruit trees crave attention, some more than other. Again, research is imperative to see how much care specific trees require. All of them need mulching, pruning, fertilizing, and regular and frequent watering. You also must be diligent in protecting your trees from pests and diseases. Fall clean-up is essential.
What rewards your family will reap if you add fruit trees to your garden. There's no time like the present to get started.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission—but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting us!
SOME OF OUR POST THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU:
Thank you for joining us.
Also, we would like to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a short note or a comment. Blessings, ​Margarita & Stace
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm Margarita. A Christian, Wife, mother of three, & grandmother "Mimi" of three. I create blog post about our life on the farm. Archives
November 2023
Categories
All
The Goat Management Binder
$15.00
The Goat Management Binder This binder will help you keep your goats health records organized and more.  Remembering all the identifications and medical records for each goat is difficult so I quickly learned that I needed to write down our goat herd information. We created all the pages for our goat heard. This system works for us. I think our Goat Management Bind will help you with your recordkeeping. This eBook has 24 pages Print our the pages, fill in your goat information and place in a binder of your choice. When all of your goat information is kept in one place it saves time in case of an emergency. Homemaking / Home Management Binder
$15.00
Digital Homemaking / Home Management Binder I'm excited to share with you my Homemaking / Home Management Binder. This is a beautiful simple binder to write your Weekly task for you home. You can use every day over and over. You will get: Faith based / Proverbs 31 Women Weekly Cleaning Schedule Organizing your home Daily Chores Monthly Plan Meal Planner Grocery List Bill Tracker Savings Tracker Vacation Budget 20 pages 8.5"x11" letter size that matches any printer Unlimited prints (personal use) Instant download and get started PDF Printable Enjoy getting organized with our Homemaking / Home Management Binder ** THIS IS A DIGITAL PRODUCT. ** NO PHYSICAL PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. * You may print the files as many times as you like for your own personal use. * Sharing this product is not allowed. ** We do not accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations, but please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Instant Download Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. Farm/ Livestock Management Binder
$25.00
Farm / Livestock Management Binder In this binder you can log all your livestock needs and help you stay organized with all records. Such as: *Goats *Chickens *Horses *Medications *Purchases of Livestock *Sold Livestock Our Farm / Livestock Management Binder is 24 pages. Print our the pages, fill in your Livestock information and place in a binder of your choice. When all of your Livestock information is kept in one place it saves time in case of an emergency. Gardening In the South
$20.00
Gardening In the South E-Book Learn about Gardening in South Texas Zone 8 In our e-book we cover Fruit trees, Perennials & Pollinator, Garden checklist, What months to plant. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. I don't accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations. But please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Thank you for shopping with us! Margarita Common Goat Medications
$20.00
Common Goat Medications We give you goat medications that we use for our goats. Included: Common Goat Medications & Easy to Understand Dosages General Information on Injection Wormers Antibiotics Anti-Inflammatories & Hormones' Injectable Vitamins and Minerals Oral Treatments You will get: 13 pages - eBook Unlimited prints (personal use) Instant download and get started PDF Printable ** THIS IS A DIGITAL PRODUCT. ** NO PHYSICAL PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. * You may print the files as many times as you like for your own personal use. * Sharing this product is not allowed. ** We do not accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations, but please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Instant Download Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. Thank you for shopping with us. Crochet Cup Sleeve Cozy
$6.00
Only a few left! Pretty cup cozy for both hot and iced beverage cups. It will slide up over a standard size non handle travel cups or store-bought coffee cups. They are great at protecting hands from the heat and cold of the travel mug/cup. *100% cotton yarn. * Colors may vary due to stock so message me if you prefer something specific. *Machine washable and dryer safe on low heat. *All Cozy’s make a great gift for literally anyone! *If you don’t see one you love don’t hesitate to message me! I love creating new products. Thank you for visiting our store. Handmade Goat Milk & Honey Soap
$7.00
Handmade Goat Milk & Honey Soap 4 oz. bar. Benefits from goat milk & honey - it's moisturizing, clarifying, and naturally antibacterial. Goat milk & Honey Soap has always been a favorite, it smells divine, and there are loads of skin benefits. Goat milk & Honey Soap hydrates and nourishes dry skin. It doesn't leave your skin feeling dry. Ingredients: Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauretha Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Honey Titanium Dioxide. Due to the handmade nature of our soaps and fragrance oil added, all bars vary in color. |
Handcrafted items made with love.
Farm / Homesteading eBooks Faith eBooks Notary Public Service Goats when available |
New items coming soon.
|
Tailspin Farms
2273 FM 1681 Stockdale, Texas 78160 |
210-771-7205
Email - mcgoats@tspinfarms.com |