Planting Your
Fruit Tree
Assess your Space. Your available space is a key factor in growing fruit trees. For smaller spaces, a berry hedge, grape vine or strawberry patch might be the perfect fit. However, don’t dismiss fruit trees, most of the trees we carry are semi-dwarf and only grow between 12’ and 15’ at maturity. Ask our nursery professionals about mature sizes and whether or not your tree requires a pollinator to set fruit.
Selection. We carry a large variety of fruit trees and berries for your consideration. Have fun and choose what your family loves. There is no point growing food you aren’t going to eat.
Planting. Wet and compacted soil excludes oxygen and is not good for growing fruit. Roots require oxygen, therefore, your soil must be well drained and amended! It is easy to enhance your soil’s organic make up, help drainage, and break up your clay soil by adding amendments, like Nature’s Blend or Cotton Boll compost. Mix at least half compost into each hole you dig and add a couple of inches of mulch on top.
Growing. Follow good cultural practices for a healthy tree and the planting instructions from our nursery professionals. Adequate moisture is essential to good fruit production, and 1 inch a week during the growing season is usually just the right amount. Pruning is also important for fruit production, and pruning young fruit trees yearly will ensure that sunlight makes it to all the branches, allowing for ample photosynthesis and flower/fruit production. Good pruning also limits dead or decaying matter in your fruit tree. Pruning also helps develop a strong branch structure to support a good harvest and allows you to reach most of the limbs for harvest. Each type of fruit tree has its own individual pruning requirements. Our nursery staff can provide you with this information so you can learn to care for your fruit trees and have a great yield!
Selection. We carry a large variety of fruit trees and berries for your consideration. Have fun and choose what your family loves. There is no point growing food you aren’t going to eat.
Planting. Wet and compacted soil excludes oxygen and is not good for growing fruit. Roots require oxygen, therefore, your soil must be well drained and amended! It is easy to enhance your soil’s organic make up, help drainage, and break up your clay soil by adding amendments, like Nature’s Blend or Cotton Boll compost. Mix at least half compost into each hole you dig and add a couple of inches of mulch on top.
Growing. Follow good cultural practices for a healthy tree and the planting instructions from our nursery professionals. Adequate moisture is essential to good fruit production, and 1 inch a week during the growing season is usually just the right amount. Pruning is also important for fruit production, and pruning young fruit trees yearly will ensure that sunlight makes it to all the branches, allowing for ample photosynthesis and flower/fruit production. Good pruning also limits dead or decaying matter in your fruit tree. Pruning also helps develop a strong branch structure to support a good harvest and allows you to reach most of the limbs for harvest. Each type of fruit tree has its own individual pruning requirements. Our nursery staff can provide you with this information so you can learn to care for your fruit trees and have a great yield!
Pollination Requirements
Apple. Two or more different varieties are recommended for pollination. However, a good rule of thumb is that early bloomers pollinate other early bloomers, mid-season bloomers pollinate other mid-season bloomers and late season pollinate each other. If you only have room for one tree in your yard, choose a 4-in-1 apple tree. These have four different varieties grafted onto one semi-dwarf rootstock, and so pollinate each other. There are also some varieties that are self-pollinating and/or designed to grow in compact, limited spaces. *Note: Crabapples will pollinate apples as well, but bloom times must coincide.
Apricot. While Moorpark and Sweetheart varieties are self-fertile, plant two or more for better production. Other varieties, Moongold and Sungold, require a pollinator.
Peach. Most of the peach varieties we carry are self-fertile (don’t require another tree for pollination). Elberta and J.H. Hale are NOT and need a mate. It always boosts production and is good insurance, however, to have more than one tree.
Pear. Two or more different varieties are required for pollination and maximum fruit production. Choose a 4-in-1 pear if you only have room for one tree- again, this is four different pear varieties grafted onto one rootstock. We also carry a 2-in-1 Asian Pear tree.
Plum. Two different varieties are recommended for production and pollination in European varieties (Damson plum). Japanese plums require another tree for pollinating.
Sour Cherries. Sour cherries are almost entirely self-fertile. They are used for cooking or baking.
Sweet Cherries. All sweet cherry varieties (except Stella, self-fruitful) require a pollinator of a different variety. We recommend a reliable pollinator for Bing or Black Tartarian.
Apricot. While Moorpark and Sweetheart varieties are self-fertile, plant two or more for better production. Other varieties, Moongold and Sungold, require a pollinator.
Peach. Most of the peach varieties we carry are self-fertile (don’t require another tree for pollination). Elberta and J.H. Hale are NOT and need a mate. It always boosts production and is good insurance, however, to have more than one tree.
Pear. Two or more different varieties are required for pollination and maximum fruit production. Choose a 4-in-1 pear if you only have room for one tree- again, this is four different pear varieties grafted onto one rootstock. We also carry a 2-in-1 Asian Pear tree.
Plum. Two different varieties are recommended for production and pollination in European varieties (Damson plum). Japanese plums require another tree for pollinating.
Sour Cherries. Sour cherries are almost entirely self-fertile. They are used for cooking or baking.
Sweet Cherries. All sweet cherry varieties (except Stella, self-fruitful) require a pollinator of a different variety. We recommend a reliable pollinator for Bing or Black Tartarian.