Planning for a Fruit Tree
Very few homes can accommodate a true orchard, and very few homeowners would want to. Large-scale fruit production can be pretty labor-intensive. One or two fruit trees, however, can be a great addition to your home landscape.
First, make sure that your landscape has room for a fruit tree. The planting area should have adequate sunlight and air circulation. Both are critical to maximum fruit production and reduced risk of pests and disease. Fruit trees also prefer well-drained soil. Fruit trees, such as a grapefruit tree, come in various sizes, based on geographic zones. Some varieties require more than one tree to be planted to ensure pollination.
If you've got the space, decide what you want to grow. When choosing what to plant, the supermarket may not be the best place to make your decision. Much of the fruit for sale there is shipped in from other parts of the country or world and may not grow well in your area. If you have a local farmer's market, look there for some ideas. Lowe's Garden Centers stock trees that are proven to be hardy in your region.
Some other things to consider:
- Fruit trees tend to attract bees and may drop unpicked fruit. Neither of those are necessarily bad features, but you may want to think twice before planting fruit trees in the front yard.
- Most fruit trees take several years to produce their first crop. After that, you should expect fruit each season.
- Your home-grown fruit may not be as attractive as what's in the supermarket. Most people who grow fruit at home are quite happy to accept fresh-picked flavor over appearance.
- For maximum yields of quality fruit, some maintenance is involved. Pruning is especially important to fruit trees.
- Crop yield and the health of the tree itself are greatly affected by pruning, but it must be done the right way at the right time.
- Timing and techniques vary by the type of fruit you're growing. Pick up a good book on fruit tree pruning to get the best results from your trees, or read our guide — How to Prune Trees and Shrubs.
Selecting a Fruit Tree
There are three basic types of fruit trees to choose from:
- Dwarf fruit trees produce regular-sized fruit on trees 5 to 8 feet tall. Dwarf trees yield a more manageable amount of fruit for home gardeners. Fruit is easy to pick, and the trees are simple to care for. Dwarf trees work well in containers.
- Semi-dwarf trees grow to about 15 feet if not pruned or trained. The fruit yield is comparable to a standard fruit tree, and you'll probably need a ladder to pick it.
- Standard fruit trees are full-sized trees, like the ones you climbed on when you were a kid. Because of their size and extensive root system, they can grow quite large and produce a lot of fruit.
Understanding Pollination
Without pollination, there would be no fruit. The plant tag should tell you whether the tree is cross-pollinating or self-pollinating.
- Cross-pollinating means another variety of the same fruit tree needs to be planted as well. Plant them within 100 feet of each other to ensure pollination. The bloom periods also need to overlap to be effective.
- A self-pollinating or self-fruitful tree can pollinate and bear fruit alone, although pollination by another variety will usually increase the fruit yield and quality.
Ornamental Trees
If it's fruit you want, make sure the fruit trees you select aren't purely ornamental, such as some cultivars of pear, cherry and plum. Some out-of-the-mainstream fruits — such as avocado, persimmon, olive, paw-paw, pomegranate and banana — can make interesting specimens and provide food. Many varieties of nut trees adapt well to the home landscape. Look for regional favorites, such as pecan, pistachio, English walnut, black walnut and almond.
How to Plant a Fruit Tree
Plant fruit trees as you would any tree or shrub. Keep adequate spacing between them to allow air to circulate and prevent pests and disease. See How to Plant a Tree or Shrub for step-by-step instructions.
Most states' Cooperative Extension Service agencies have great information on growing fruit for home use. Take advantage of this valuable local asset.
A note on growing new plants from seed you collect from your own fruit: It's fun and a great project for children, but don't expect the resulting plant and fruit to be the same as the one you got the seed from. Like any grafted or hybridized plant, when a seed is planted, the resulting plant will most likely show traits of both "parent" plants.
How to Prune a Fruit Tree
Regular pruning of your fruit trees is essential for a healthy treat and bountiful harvest. Pruning in the first year will determine how your fruit trees will look in later years. If — after planting — your tree is taller than 4 to 6 feet high, trim it down to that level. Any inward-growing or crossing branches should be thinned out. Also, trim off the ends of larger branches to encourage growth in the years to come.
Prune any branches that grow in below the bud union. The bud union, also called a graft union, is the point where a nursery grafts a bud onto rootstock. All fruit trees for sale in stores have one. Also, cut back any suckers (new stems growing out of the roots).
How to Thin Fruit
If your tree fruits the first year, you'll need to pick some of the immature fruit, spacing the remaining fruit about 8 inches apart on the branch to encourage proper ripening. You should continue this practice in the years to come to prevent the tree from producing too many lower-quality fruits.
How to Shape Trees
As your fruit trees mature, you'll want to shape them to encourage healthy growth. Some fruit trees, such as apple, pear and cherry trees, should be shaped to a central leader (the uppermost upright branch of the tree), while others, such as peach, nectarine and plum, should be shaped like a vase, with no central leader.
When to Prune Trees
Apple and pear trees should be pruned in the winter when the tree is dormant. Cherry trees should be pruned when the weather is hot. Peaches, nectarines and plums should be pruned in early spring, while plum trees can be trimmed any time of the year. Finally, a grapefruit tree should be pruned in late winter or early spring.