The backyard orchard should supply the family with various fruits throughout the year (including preserves). For a family of four, twocherriesare enough, including one early, the so-called a glass, and the second one that fruits later - juice. Onecherry , rather late, due to attacks of starlings. Twoplums- oneHungarianfor plum jam and onerenklodafor direct consumption. It is also worth planting a mirabelle as part of the hedge. Its fruit is difficult to buy and its preserves are excellent. If there is enough space, threepear trees- 'Favorite', 'William's Pear' and the late autumn variety 'Bera Hardy' should be planted, the fruit of which is easy to store in the winter months.Finally,apple treesA very early, Inflancka, or Papierówka, can be forgotten, because it requires spraying. It is better to settle for another, a little later maturing but resistant to frost and disease. There is a large selection of them, both Polish and Czech.
Tree distribution
Becausethe backyard gardenis rather small, it is worth planting trees as densely as you do inmodern orchardsFruitful apple trees, planted densely and tied to stakes look like tomato bushes. As they are pruned at a height of about 1.8 m, the amount of fruit is small, but all of them are good, because everyone has easy access to light.
In England, in home orchards, apple trees are planted densely and diagonally, tied to horizontal wires, like vines. This arrangement allows you to grow slightly taller trees, which gives a greater yield, and at the same time allows you to install a bird protection net.
To us, used to old orchards with thick, whitewashed trunks, this view seems at least strange.
If you decide to set up ahome orchardwith a high density of trees, you should always ask the gardener for advice. The matter is not that simple - the trees must be grafted on appropriate rootstocks and selected so that they have their pollinators, e.g.pear trees : Consignment Party and Conference.
In addition to trees, the home orchard should containfruit bushes , such as chokeberry, currant agrest, or seedless grapes. Strawberries and wild strawberries should also be present, bearing fruit throughout the summer, until the autumn frosts.
Bogusław Słoński
