Authored by Jennifer Nicotero in Gardening
Published on 12-31-2008
Are you getting “stuck in a rut” and planting the same vegetables year after year? Why not get started planting fruit trees! Growing fruit trees is simple and easy. Surprisingly, fruit growing is easier and actually takes up less space than most gardeners think. The hardest decision you will make is choosing which fruit tree you want to start with.
You only really need about twenty square feet of sunny space to grow a pear, apricot, peach and dwarf apple trees. There are also various types of dwarf fruit trees that are the perfect size for small home landscapes. If you time and plan your fruit tree growing well, you could have several kinds of fruit that reach their peak and ripen at different times from early summer until late in the fall season.
Getting fruit trees off to a good start is more critical than when growing vegetables. Tree growing is also for gardeners who have foresight, discipline and patience to spend time on a crop that will not bear its’ fruit for three to seven years.
When choosing land to plant fruit trees in, many gardeners choose one that is slightly sloping. This sloping land is ideal because it offers a natural way for water to drain. You do not want the roots ever to be waterlogged. Tree roots need a good mixture of both air and water to flourish.
The best soil to use for many fruit trees should be deep and be able to drain well. If the drainage is not good and the area is prone to frost, do not waste your time and energy in trying to grow in that particular plot of land. No matter how well you till the soil, the tree will not do well.
It is wise to choose and prepare your land well in advance before the planting of your tree. The ground will need to be tilled thoroughly. Many gardeners recommend sowing a green manure crop a year before the planting of a young fruit tree. A green manure crop would most likely be buckwheat in the summer months or rye in the fall season. The key is to let the green manure plant grow to full maturity and then till it down into the soil. While this year ahead planning gives your tree a better chance to get off to a good start, it is not required.
Mulching the soil is also recommended for use as a weed deterrent. Mulching also builds soil while conserving moisture. Laying down a six inch think coating of straw mulch the year before, and every year after the tree has been planted, will supply many of the essential nutrients a growing tree needs.
After choosing the right area of land and preparing the soil, you can be well on your way to planting your first fruit tree. If you have the space and plan on growing many fruit trees, you will have plenty of choices depending on the area you live. From apple trees to peach trees, get ready to plant your first fruit tree and reap the harvest for years to come.
