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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 |
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. |
