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Growing tree fruit is a form of permanent gardening
and requires more work than simply planting and harvesting.
Certain cultural practices must be followed to achieve good
yields of excellent quality fruit. Annual cultural practices
involved in the production of high quality fruit are pruning,
fertilization, irrigation, weed control, disease and insect
control, bird control, fruit thinning and harvesting. Each
kind of fruit has specific methods to achieve these practices.
It is important to understand and practice these basic principles
for full enjoyment of home grown fruit.
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Once you have made the decision to grow tree fruit
follow these guidelines for success.
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Plan Wisely
• Determine the kind(s) of fruit you want to grow,
eat and/or process
• Determine how much you want to harvest
• Properly space trees to prevent overcrowding later
on
• Consider dwarf and container grown trees
• Select kind and varieties adapted to your location
• Purchase top quality nursery stock
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Plant and Grow
• Select and prepare soil properly for maximum root
growth
• Plant according to proven instructions
• Perform cultural techniques in a timely function
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Table 1.
Space Requirement, Yield, Bearing Age, Pollination Requirement
and Life Expectancy of Tree Fruits
| Fruit |
Minimum
Distance Between Plants (Feet) |
Approximate
Yield per Plant (bushels) |
Bearing
Age (years) |
Pollination
Requirement |
Life
Expectancy (years) |
Apple
(standard) |
25 |
8 |
6 to
10 |
cross |
35 to
45 |
Apple
(semi-dwarf) |
18 |
4 |
4 to
6 |
cross |
20 to
25 |
Apple
(dwarf) |
12 |
1 |
2 to
3 |
cross |
15 to
20 |
| Apricot |
18 |
2 |
4 |
self |
25 to
30 |
| Almond |
25 |
40 -
50 lbs. |
5 |
cross |
40 to
50 |
Cherry
(sour) |
20 |
60 qt. |
4 to
5 |
self |
15 to
20 |
Cherry
(sweet) |
25 |
75 qt. |
5 to
7 |
cross |
20 to
30 |
| Fig |
15 |
25 lbs. |
2 |
self |
30 to
40 |
Pear
(standard) |
25 |
3 |
5 to
8 |
cross |
35 to
45 |
Pear
(dwarf) |
12 |
1/2 |
3 to
4 |
cross |
15 to
20 |
| Peach or nectarine |
18 |
4 |
3 to
4 |
self |
15 to
20 |
| Persimmon |
25 |
2 to
3 |
4 |
self |
30 to
35 |
| Plum |
18 |
2 |
4 to
5 |
cross |
15 to
20 |
| Pomegranate |
8 |
2 to
3 |
3 |
self |
25 to
30 |
| Quince |
15 |
1 |
5 to
6 |
self |
30 to
40 |
| Walnut |
35 |
50 to
100 lbs. |
8 |
self |
60+ |
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Protect Crop
• Observe plants for unusual growth patterns
• Watch for insects and have identified
• Note any unusual disease problems
• Use netting to prevent bird intrusion
• Practice sanitation and weed control
• Use natural means to protect tree and fruit when
possible
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Good advance planning will pay dividends in the
long run. Survey your yard or property to identify soil
conditions, exposure to sun, available space and climate
factors. Identify sources of shade, boundaries and pipelines.
Above all, start small and increase the size of your planting
once you develop a knowledge of caring for trees. You may
be surprised at the large quantity of fruit a few trees
will yield.
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