WHAT SIZE FRUIT TREE SHOULD I PLANT?
When planning your fruit orchard, ask yourself two questions:
- How high am I willing to climb to pick the fruit?
- How much pruning am I able to do on a tall tree before I have to hire professional help? If you are short, like me, this is something you need to consider before you buy a tree.
“Plan Your Work And Work Your Plan” is always a good motto.
RELATED ARTICLE: DECIDING ON A PLANTING LOCATION
People often buy standard (full sized) trees because the dwarf and semi dwarf trees are more expensive. Many people don’t realize what they’re getting themselves into. Standard trees can produce enormous quantities of fruit. This is one of the most important considerations when planning your fruit orchard.
I am a veteran of the annual chore of bending, stooping, gathering, and hauling a garden cart filled with pears from the tree to the house and back again for another load. Enthusiasm wanes in a hurry when you are faced with harvesting and preserving several bushels of fruit that all got ripe at the same time.
RELATED ARTICLE: CHOOSING THE PERFECT FRUIT TREE
Most of us do not require enough jams, jellies, and fruit syrups for cooking daily breakfasts for eight or ten people or fruit for making six or eight pies at a time for family and hired farm hands as our Grandmothers did.
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DWARF VS. FULL SIZED TREES
Properly cared for, a dwarf tree will usually produce enough fruit for most families, especially since many trees require a second fruit tree of a different variety to be planted nearby for cross pollination. Having two standard sized trees might quickly become a burden. Don’t plant more than you can use!
RELATED ARTICLE: WHY YOU SHOULD GROW YOUR OWN FRUIT
NOTE: If you lose a lot of fruit each year due to wildlife damage, you might still need to plant full sized trees.
Use restraint! I originally wanted one of everything, including the less than ordinary additions to most gardens such as persimmon, pawpaw, fig, etc. The memories I had of my maternal Grandma’s orchard made me want to overplant.
HAPPY PLANTING! Susan
For more in-depth information on GROWING YOUR OWN FRUIT
Thank you for the advice on planning which trees to plant in your orchard. I am afraid of ladders, so the tip that I should consider a smaller fruit tree is very valuable to me. I want to plant an orchard in my front yard next spring so when I retire in a few years I will have a lot of fruit to can and preserve. I think it would be smart to find a reputable business in my area where I can buy some new fruit trees to reach my retirement goal.
Planting your own fruit orchard is a wise decision and will save you a lot of money over time. Yes, find a reputable business to buy your trees from. Its always good to look the trees over before purchasing. If you take them home in your car, just make sure they will fit before you buy them. Hauling trees home in a pickup is a good idea.