Seedlings of fruit trees are available in the fall and spring. Once we have decided on the species and variety of the selected fruit tree, it is necessary to find good quality seedlings. The quality of the seedling material determines the acceptance after planting, as well as the fertility and he alth during the further cultivation of each fruit tree. So what should you pay attention to when buying seedlings of fruit trees?
Choose seedlings of fruit trees very carefully
What to consider when buyingseedlings of fruit trees?
One of the more common problems novice gardeners have when planting a fruit tree is not knowing what to consider when buying a seedling. However, a few simple rules will help you avoid a possible mistake.
First, do not buy the first seedling on the edge. You should first make sure what varieties of fruit trees have a chance to grow and yield well in your area, and learn to evaluate the quality of seedlings offered in shops or nurseries. Here are some of the most important tips on what to consider when choosing a seedling:
1. The size of the tree. Think how much space you want or can allocate for the fruit tree so that it can fully develop.
2. Waiting for the harvest. You also have to think how long we want to work with the fruit tree and how long we want to wait for the harvest.
3. Form of care. It should be considered what options we have for the care of a fruit tree. Can we use a ladder for fruit picking and pruning, or would we rather stay on the ground during all treatments.
Usually, a smaller tree seedling is a better solution because it is much easier to lead. In addition, it blooms earlier and thus bears fruit earlier.
What determines the quality of a fruit tree seedling?
Identifying a goodfruit tree seedlingis not difficult at all. You just need a bit of knowledge and a lot of attention to detail.The price should not be too low, we should pay 10-20 PLN for a one-year-old maiden.
What to consider when buying a seedling? Well, first of all, branches. They should be strong, well extended and evenly distributed around the trunk.Avoid seedlings with a badly trimmed crown. Such a crown will consist of one or two strong branches, too long and surrounded only by side shoots. With too high a density in the nursery, the crown can be lit only from one side, which will make the branches develop only on this side, it is very difficult to correct it later.
Do not buyfruit tree seedlingswith squashed or broken branches. The root system should be well branched with numerous lateral roots.Both shoots and roots should be flexible, unbreakable.Most of the tree seedlings sold today are obtained by grafting fruit trees. It is therefore worth taking a close look at the vaccination site and make sure that it is properly done. We should also remember to choose a seedling that has been inoculated on a suitable rootstock, which is adapted to the conditions that will prevail in our garden.
When buying a seedling, you should find out what form of the crown will be the best for a given variety of seedling, or in what form it has already been partially formed, which will save us a lot of time and possible errors in the care of young fruit trees.
When and where to buyseedlings of fruit trees?
The question of when to buyfruit tree seedlingsis very important. Although the leafy seedlings and the seedlings in containers look very good and are eye-catching, from an economic point of view, it is worth waiting for autumn.In autumn, the seedlings lose their foliage and do not look so impressive, and they are sold without a container, i.e. with the root exposed. All this has an impact on lowering the price. The autumn buying date also has another important advantage, because the plants are then dormant in the fall and winter and will better tolerate transplanting to a new place (we have a higher probability that the seedling will catch on).
Therefore, if we buy a seedling with an open root, the best date for planting fruit trees is autumn - the end of September to the end of October (we do not plant later, because the seedling will not take root before frost) or early spring (from March to April). As a general rule, frost-resistant species are planted in the fall, and those more sensitive to frost are better planted in the spring. However, when we buy a seedling in a container, we can plant it from the end of spring until the end of October.
The best seedling is grown in the area where it is to be grown. She will be used to the soil type and climate from the outset.In addition, we are then more sure that the rootstock on which the given variety was grafted is also resistant to our climatic conditions. However, if for some reason we do not find a seedling in our area that will suit us, it is better to buy it in an area with a more harsh climate.
A neighborhood nursery is the ideal solution. A specialist garden shop has a wide range of seedlings, but most of them may come from different parts of the country, so be careful.
Note!When buying a fruit tree seedling, demand the so-called seedling records. It may not be put up for sale without the certificate or only with the name of the variety. We need to know as much as possible about the seedling in order to be able to cultivate it properly. "
Which varieties to choose?
If we are beginner gardeners and we are not looking for unique items or delicacies, choosing the variety of the fruit tree should not be a problem for us.It is because you should focus on the most proven and easy-to-grow varieties. When choosing a variety, it is worth asking for advice from a nurserymen who will certainly help us, or another gardener with extensive experience. When choosing a variety, it is best to take into account your local climate and the popularity of the variety in our area. So let's ask our neighbors what fruit trees grow best, and which species and varieties cause problems.
How to proceed from purchase to planting?
First of all, remember that the shorter the time between purchase and planting, the greater the chances thatfruit tree seedlingswill stick together. However, if we need to store a seedling, first of all, remember not to let it dry, especially the roots. How we proceed from the moment of purchase to planting is mainly to protect the seedling from drying out. It is best to cover the root ball with a foil bag to stop transpiration.If, on the other hand, we have to store the seedling throughout the winter, because we missed the autumn planting date, we have to pit it.
Topping up seedlings
1. It is best to plant the seedlings from the north side of the building, but away from the foundation.
2. Dig the furrows so that the spot of budding is buried about 10cm.
3. The seedlings should be planted almost vertically in the planting hole, but so that they are slightly tilted towards the south.
4. When covering the seedlings with soil in the pit, it is worth pouring water over it to fill all the free spaces around the seedling with soil.
Katarzyna Matuszak
