Growing fruit plants can bring a lot of satisfaction - your own fruit is usually cheaper and he althier. You can decide for yourself whether to use chemical plant protection products or to use ecological methods that are compatible with nature. However, so that cultivating the orchard does not bring too many problems,establishing an orchard on the plotmust be preceded by appropriate preparations - choose the right place for the orchard, prepare the soil, plan planting and choose the best varieties of fruit plants, those that they have tasty fruit, but will also grow well in the conditions you can provide them on your plot.
Setting up an orchard on a plot requires careful thought
Selection of the place and area of the planned orchard
The first problem that we will have to solve when we decide toestablishing an orchard on the plotis choosing a suitable place for growing fruit plants and determining the area that the orchard will occupy. This is the first and very important decision that will affect the success of the rest of the project. Therefore, it should be carefully considered and taken with due care.
When determiningarea and location of the planted orchard , I suggest that you take into account the following elements:
- what do you expect from the crops grown on the plot
- what plot area do you have and what part of it do you want to allocate to the orchard
- what is the location of your plot and what are the environmental conditions on it
By your expectations, I mean, first of all, what character you want to use your plot in. On the plot next toof the orchardthere may also be a part for growing vegetables, a decorative part and a seating area.
Usuallyfor establishing an orchardis allocated about 1/3 of the total plot area. If your plot area is approximately 300m², you will be able to allocate approximately 100m² for the orchard. Such an area allows for the cultivation of various species of fruit trees and shrubs and is sufficient for the needs of a family of 5. If your plot is larger than 300m², what part of it you allocate to the orchard depends entirely on your needs. If, on the other hand, the plot is much smaller - a compromise will be necessary. Of course, you don't have to give up growing vegetables or ornamental plants. However, it may be necessary to limit the variety of fruit plant species that you can cultivate inthe orchard you are planningThe solution to this problem may also be intensive cultivation, which involves the cultivation of tree varieties of small sizes (short and dwarf varieties) that can be planted at small intervals. Thanks to this, in a small area of the orchard, depending on your needs, you will be able to plant a lot of different trees and achieve a fairly large yield. Berry bushes (mainly red currants and gooseberries) can be led in the form of ropes against a wall or fence. Even strawberries can be grown on vertical structures!
The orchard part should be clearly separated in the plot area. If you plant trees in a chaotic manner, and grow vegetables between them, it will turn out that the maintenance of such a garden will be very burdensome. The yields you ultimately harvest will be low and of poor quality.
If the area of your plot is too small to separate an orchard, vegetable and decorative part, you can combine the orchard with an ornamental garden.With this solution, set up a lawn between fruit trees. Thanks to this, the orchard part will take on a decorative and recreational character.
The orchard planted on the plotmust harmonize with the ornamental and vegetable part. It is important that the individual parts of the garden not only fit together visually, but also do not interfere with each other in terms of providing plants with appropriate environmental conditions. The care of the plot will be easier if you plant plants with similar water, heat and light requirements in close proximity. A sunny and quiet position is ideal for most fruit trees. On the other hand, the berry bushes will not be disturbed by a slight shade.
Note! Remember that strawberries and wild strawberries, although they are fruit plants, should be grown in the part intended for the cultivation of vegetables! This is due to the small size of these plants and their care requirements. Like vegetables, they need to be grown alternately (avoid growing in the same place every year).
If your plot borders a road with car traffic, create a decorative part closest to the road. It will be an excellent showcase of your allotment garden, and at the same time, in the deeper part of the plot, crops will be slightly sheltered from pollution. Also pay attention to sunny conditions and the direction of the winds. Plan the individual parts of the plot so that taller trees or buildings do not cast a shadow on flower beds and the vegetable garden. Buildings or a hedge should protect the cultivated part of the plot from the cold winds blowing from the northeast.
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Fig. 1 Sample arrangement of plants on the plot.
When planning your plot, don't forget that your plot borders on other plots. Make sure that the plants grown on your plot do not interfere with your neighbor's crops.It may happen, for example, that in the place where you want to plant plants that require good sunlight, there is a shadow cast by a tree growing on the neighboring plot. The rules regarding the height of gazebos and plants that can grow on plots and the distance from the fence to be kept are specified in the POD regulations. The current version of the regulations can be found on the website of the Polish Allotment Association.
Selection of species and varieties for the orchard being established
Most of us would like to plant the most diverse species and varieties of fruit plants on the plot, and most of all those whose fruits taste best. Of course, there is no doubt that when choosing species and varieties for theorchard on the plot , you should take into account your own preferences as to which fruit you like best. However, in order for plants to produce a lot of tasty and he althy fruit, it is necessary to provide them with the right growing conditions. The conditions on your plot must meet the requirements of individual plants.
When choosing species forof the orchard you are establishing , pay attention to the following features of fruit plants:
- fruit taste and quality as well as yield size,
- fruiting regularity,
- fruit ripening date,
- self-pollination,
- growth rate and strength,
- environmental requirements (light, soil, water etc.),
- resistance to low temperatures and diseases.
Which fruit you like best is a matter of your preferences. What would be the joy of fruit that you refuse to eat? So choose what you like, keeping in mind, however, other factors that determine the choice of species and variety for the orchard. Unfortunately, you have to reckon with the fact that the plant that gives your favorites cannot be grown in the conditions prevailing on your plot or that such cultivation will be very difficult.A compromise will therefore be necessary.
When choosing a variety, also pay attention to the regularity of its fruiting. Some varieties tend to fructify alternately, that is, every two years. If you want to collect fruit every year, be sure to pay attention to this feature of the variety.
When planning planting in the future orchard , also pay attention to the fruiting date of the selected varieties. If you are planting several varieties of a given species, choose varieties that will bear fruit on different dates. Thanks to this, you will be able to eat your favorite fruit for a longer period of time. If you only plant one tree or shrub of a given species, try to choose a variety whose fruit ripens unevenly, which will also extend the harvest period. Also pay attention to the period during which the fruit can be stored after harvesting.
Sometimes, despite the best care, it happens that the tree bears no fruit at all or it bears very little fruit.The reason for this may be the lack of pollinator. If you choose a non-pollinated variety, it is imperative to plant it next to the pollinator. For good fruiting, pollinators need many varieties of apple, pear, cherry and plum trees. When your plot is too small to plant several varieties of each species, be sure to choose self-pollinating varieties. There is no point in counting on the fact that the pollinator will just grow at the neighbor's place.
Currently, it is recommended to plant small trees on plots. Thanks to this, it is possible to plant trees at smaller intervals and collect large crops even from a small plot area. Besides, it is easier to pick fruit from lower trees.
On the other hand, when choosing dwarf trees, it will be difficult to sit in the shade of a pear tree. Climbing the ladder can also be a kind of attraction during the harvest that we will not experience if we have dwarf trees. More and more people, whether it is longing or wanting to have a large tree for aesthetic reasons, are looking for older varieties that achieve greater growth.So you have to weigh the pros and cons.
In the case of the most popular apple trees in Polish orchards, the growth rate depends primarily on the rootstock. So pay special attention to the rootstock on which the tree is grafted. Although several dozen different rootstocks for apple trees have been grown, apple trees on the M9 dwarf rootstock or M26 semi-dwarf rootstock can be purchased most often in garden stores.
The case is slightly different in the case of pear trees. Most pears are grafted onto Caucasian pear seedlings and we do not have a choice of rootstocks of different growth strength. In this case, be guided by the strength and growth rate of the same variety that has been seeded on the rootstock. However, if you absolutely want a dwarf pear, look for a specimen grafted on a quince S. The best dwarf rootstocks for cherries are P-HL A, PH-L B, Gisela 5, and for plums - Hungarian Wangenheim or Pixy.
Perhaps you have just asked the question: why trees are grafted onto rootstocks at all? Well, thanks to this, we can obtain plants that better meet our expectations.Such trees combine the advantages of the variety you choose with the advantages of the rootstock used. You can choose a variety with a fast, lush growth, so you can easily lead and mold it. At the same time, the dwarf rootstock used will give you the certainty that the tree will not grow too much and will produce its first fruits quite quickly.
However, trees grafted on dwarf rootstocks have some disadvantages. They quickly begin to bear fruit (after just 2 years of cultivation), but also live shorter. The life of an apple tree on a dwarf rootstock is estimated at about 20 years, while a vigorously growing tree can bear fruit for up to 50 years. An orchard filled with dwarf trees will therefore need to be restored early. In addition, on very weak soils, dwarf trees will set a lot of small, not tasty fruits and will be completely devoid of growths that would allow the formation of tree crowns. In this case, it is better to choose a specimen grafted on a rootstock with a slightly stronger growth.
There are also grafted bushes on the stump-shaped rootstocks. We are talking then about the stump form or a bush grafted on a trunk. The most common are stalk gooseberries or red currants. Berry bushes in the form of a stem look more attractive, it is easier to collect fruit from them and cultivate the soil under the shrub. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to try growing such a form of currants or gooseberries.
Another element that is of great importance are the requirements of a given species and variety as to the environmental conditions on our plot. It is best to choose varieties with lower requirements and easier to care for. The plants' resistance to low temperatures in winter and spring frosts is of major importance here. If you live in cool regions of Poland (mainly in the east), it is better not to cultivate species that are poorly resistant to low temperatures or sensitive to frost, such as peaches, cherries and apricots.
The last and, in my opinion, the most important element that you should take into account when selecting plants for an orchard is their susceptibility to diseases of fruit trees. By choosing varieties that are not very susceptible to diseases, you will minimize the need to use plant protection chemicals, which can be expensive and have an impact on our he alth, and often also on the condition of cultivated plants. Unfortunately, it is difficult to choose a variety that is easy to grow, gives tasty and abundant crops, and is resistant to all diseases. Therefore, try to interview the owners of neighboring plots about what the orchard plants in the area suffer from and choose plants that are primarily resistant to diseases that have recently occurred most often in nearby orchards.
Choice of driving method
When planningsetting up an orchard on the ploton the plot, it is worth considering the most advantageous way of conducting them.Especially if the area you can devote to the orchard is very limited. We can keep fruit trees in a free-standing form or in rows. In the case of trees on dwarf rootstocks kept in a free-standing form, it is recommended to create the so-called slender spindle crown. I will explain how to achieve this in the section devoted to the care of a young orchard.
Fig. 2 Fruit trees kept as free-standing and arranged in rows
Trees and shrubs can also be placed next to a wall or fence, as long as these stands are well insolated. This way of running is, however, quite rare in allotment gardens. It is a pity, because it allows you to use the plot area very sparingly, creates good conditions for fruit ripening, and it is easier to protect plants against wind, frost and damage caused by birds in the garden.
