Question:
I want to plant a few fruit trees that would suit my yard. However, I've been told I must have two trees close to each other to cross-pollinate. Does that mean I need to have identical trees, or will an apricot tree pollinate an apple tree?Answer:
- Pollination concerns are one of the several things you need to consider when planting a few trees or planning a home orchard. This discussion does not apply to citrus and other sub-tropical fruits.
- Not all deciduous fruit trees need a second tree for pollination. An apple tree can't pollinate an apricot or any other type of fruit tree, just another apple variety. Today, many varieties are self-pollinating such as peaches and nectarines.
- There are self-fertile cherries and those cherries that require a second variety.
- So, choosing suitable varieties can become very confusing. I would make a list of those varieties you like to consider. The nursery professional at your favorite garden center is the perfect resource to help you trim the list and suggest some alternatives.
- Also, the varieties found in gardening books are outdated, as there are excellent new varieties for a home orchard.
- Here are some other things you should keep in mind: the ripening dates, the watering needs, and the ultimate size of the trees.
- The ripening dates should be staggered so you can have a different fruit to enjoy from June through September.
- The size of semi-dwarf fruit trees is misleading as they are too big to plant in today's garden. They often will reach a height of eighteen feet with a ten-foot spread. Instead, you want to plant Ultra Dwarf or genetic dwarf varieties growing under ten feet tall.
- Finally, all fruit trees are not watered the same. Established Asian pears, pears, and apples are watered often, while cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums, once every three weeks, once the rainy season concludes. It also means that the area under the canopy should be kept unplanted.
- So, it would be best if you grouped your trees according to their watering requirements. Ultra Dwarf or genetic dwarf varieties can be grown in containers, but they're watered more frequently than those planted in the ground.
- Many garden centers pre-plant their fruit trees in paper mache containers. These trees do not need to be planted in the ground right away. Fruit trees arrive mid-January through mid-February.