TOP 10 Tips for Growing Fruit Trees

Fruit trees in the garden and pollination: the key to successful fruit production

A healthy fruit tree with large spring flowering does not guarantee that the tree will bear fruit in the fall. Successful pollination must take place to the full in order to produce a viable seed that leads to the development of mature fruits. Pollination can occur in several ways: some varieties of fruit trees in the garden self-fertilize, others are partially self-fertilizing, and others must be pollinated from another tree, usually of the same type but of a different variety.

When buying a fruit tree, ask about pollination features and tree requirements. Local recommendations are usually the best, as pollination can vary by species in different climates. If you are buying trees that need a separate pollinator, make sure the flowering time is the same as your trees in the garden.

Improve your chances of successful pollination

Plant two or more varieties of the same tree.

This is the most reliable way to ensure a successful harvest. Even self-pollinating fruit trees produce more fruit when cross-pollinated.

Fruit trees in the garden: attract bees to your garden

Bees are active pollinators and a valuable asset in any garden. Plant flowers in both early and late flowering varieties to ensure good fruit growth throughout the season. And bees should be attracted and kept as permanent residents by creating small bee houses next to fruit trees.

Avoid using insecticides

Toxic sprays kill beneficial insects, not just pests, so they should be avoided, especially during the pollination season.

Fruit trees available in three out of four compatible cross-pollinating varieties effectively transform cross-pollinator into self-pollinator.

Consider hand-pollinating your trees

When bad weather results in low bee activity during peak flowering, you can take a branch from one tree and sprinkle it between the branches of another tree, as if doing the work of a bee. This is more difficult with large trees or if you have many trees to pollinate.

Be careful when you take your new tree home

Bare root crops require careful handling, as they can easily die from various facts. When transporting a young fruit tree, be sure to keep the roots moist and protected from the sun.

Fruit trees in the garden. Reduce the number of fruits on the tree

If the size of the fruit from your tree is less than expected, it may be due to an excessive abundance of fruit on the tree. The tree has enough energy to be used primarily for fruit production, so thinning (removing some of the fruit) is necessary to produce larger fruits in some species, such as peach and apple. For best results, cut back on fruit trees early in the season, when the fruit is still very small.

Your tree has been unable to produce fruit for several years?

Healthy, productive trees sometimes take a break for a year.However, if a fruit tree produces an excess of fruits that were not harvested on time, then the next season it may take a break for a couple of years and not produce fruit at all. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the amount of fruit when the trees are producing a large amount of the crop, as discussed above.

Protect yourself from apple larvae

The apple grub is the most destructive apple pest found in home gardens. This insect is a fly that pierces the skin of ripe fruits and lays eggs there. After 5-10 days, a larva hatch from the eggs, which breaks through the fruit. These pests can be dealt with using sticky ball traps. Hang one trap for every 100 apples on the tree.

Are there other pests?

There are a variety of insect pests that can affect the yield of your fruit trees. Colonies of insect pests are often cyclical and can persist for one season, but do not appear the next year, and again declare themselves a year later. If this is the case, it is recommended that you keep annual fertility records of trees so that you can clearly identify problems that exist during the season, or problems that last longer than one season, and which trees are most susceptible to pest problems.

Fruit trees in the garden and shoveling leaves

Fruit tree leaves should not be used as mulch around the garden. If the leaves are still on the ground, cover the area with ground limestone. This will prevent the development of spores on leaves on the ground.

Fruiting prunes

All basic prune pruning should be done in late winter or spring. Take the time to check with your local garden store about pruning. Usually, in order for a tree to grow properly and rich in fruit, a certain pruning is required each year.

Water during the dry season

During extended periods of drought, your fruit trees are in great danger, as the plant has nowhere to take moisture and nutrients. So remember to water your garden at least once every two weeks during a dry season.

Fruit trees in the garden. Make a garden plan

Write down on paper when you planted specific trees and what varieties you planted so that when you decide to go harvest, you know exactly where and what variety you need at the moment. Do not rely on memory or plant information tablets to understand what you have planted and when - both may disappear over time.

Prepare your trees for winter

Taking a few simple steps after the trees are fully harvested in the fall will make your fruit trees feel great before spring.