How To Garden >>> Fruit Trees

Planting a fruit tree is an investment for your future and those generations to come.  Most fruit trees need a minimum of intervention to produce good crops year after year.  Fruit trees are a fairly complicated area, but by getting to know your tree, and following some basic rules - you can maximise your fruiting potential.

PLANTING YOUR FRUIT TREE

Choose a tree - on the correct rooting stock - remembering the size of the tree is determined by the root stock (read the label for eventual tree size).  When planting a new fruit tree - the best time to plant is in winter - when the plant is dormant.  Dig in some organic matter to the planting hole and create a hole larger than the root ball.  Hammer in a stake before planting - then arrange the tree in the hole - remembering to keep the graft above ground, planting at the same level the tree was in the pot.  Keep the soil around the tree free of any competing plants or grass and mulch generously.  Give the tree a bucket of water from time to time in the first summer in dry weather - in successive years the tree should manage without additional water once its root system becomes more established.

It helps sometimes to thin the fruits after the June drop.   This leads to larger fruits.   Pruning can take place in winter for all trees apart from Plum and Cherry (which should be pruned in summer. In the initial stages prune to take out dead, diseased and damaged branches.  Prune for shape and get used to cutting above a bud - the tree will then shoot from that terminal bud in the direction of the bud.  Aim for an open goblet shape - with enough space to throw a hat through the tree (or fly a pigeon!).  Any branches that are growing into the centre of the tree can be removed to reduce crossing and congestion in the centre.

Do not prune out more than a third of growth in one growing season.  Otherwise this can lead to water shoots and the tree overcompensating for loss by throwing out hundreds of shoots.

HARVESTING YOUR FRUIT

When apples and pears are ripe - you can lift the fruit in your hand and when ripe the fruit will come away in your hand.

Pears ripen from the inside out - so it is important to test the fruit regularly to see if it is ripe.  A ripe pear will give a little around the top of the fruit.  Pears do not keep so should be enjoyed as soon as they are ripe.

As a general rule the later an apple is harvested the longer the apple will keep.  Many types of apple can be kept for months - by keeping them in a cold dark place and spreading them out on a tray.

Enjoy your fruit tree - and the hope of this year's harvest!

Sage.

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As a gardener - I look after a range of different fruit trees for my clients.  I can source and plant fruit trees for you - creating a future fruitful investment for you and your family to enjoy.  Contact me for advice and guidance on the correct fruit tree for your garden.  There is nothing like the anticipation of this years harvest - from your own fruit tree.