Beyond the typical flowers and plants, many gardeners in the Belleville area are looking to grow small fruit trees for small gardens this spring that will allow them to really enjoy the fruits of their labor. Planting fruit trees might seem daunting, but for many who have tried it, it is worth the effort.
Planting fruit trees brings trials as well as triumphs. Luckily, there are experienced gardeners and experts who can offer tips and tricks to prepare gardeners for a successful fruit tree planting season this spring.
This article focuses on common fruits in home gardens. Getting to know the fruits that are suitable for your small garden would be a big relief to potential gardeners. This article will also highlight how often these trees bare fruits, whether the trees must be pruned regularly or not and whether they attract animals or insects. These and many more you will learn if you read up this great article.
COMMON FRUITS IN HOME GARDEN
Small fruit trees are always good in pot so long as they are grown on a dwarfing rootstock. If you are unsure about the fruit trees to grow in your home garden, any specialist fruit tree supplier can help you select the right one for your garden.
To ensure good pollination, always check with suppliers to see if you need more than one tree. Some fruit trees are self-fertile, so you should get fruit with only one tree; such trees include cherries, apricots, and peaches. However, fruit trees like pears and apples need a partner nearby to ensure pollination. It is ideal if you have room for only one pear or apple tree in which three varieties can be grafted onto one rootstock.
Unfortunately, these small fruit trees attract a wide range of pest, so it essential to apply pest control method to deter all the insect and animal pests before they destroy your trees.
Below are some examples of common fruit trees in home gardens:
- Apples
- Cherries
- Plums
- Apricots
- Peaches
- Grapes
- Prunes
- Figs
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
You may not see fruit for years once you have successfully got your tree in the ground, although some trees planted in spring, could grow fruit within the first year or by summer. However, most trees won’t bear fruits until at least their second year of planting. Peach trees for instance can take up to three to four years before it will bear fruits.
Gardeners are advice to see the first year as a year of establishment and gardeners should also pull off any flowers during this period. It will direct the energy to the root system thus making the plant larger and stronger.
Do not expect the first fruit to look like what you see in the grocery store. There are funky fruits which are beautiful and taste more delicious.
The challenges vary depending on the trees, there is nothing like growing your own fruits as it is very rewarding.
DO THEY HAVE TO BE PRUNED REGULARLY?
There is a lot to be learnt when planting a small fruit tree for small garden about the care and maintenance. Fruit trees can be ordered as bare-root trees, leafless and with roots exposed, or even bought online.
The fruit trees in your small garden need six to eight hours of direct sunlight. During the trees first few years, it should be pruned regularly and receive plenty of water. Depending on the tree and the stage or season the tree is, the amount of trimming and watering will vary. Gardeners are advice to consult local garden centers or nurseries for best practices for each type of fruit tree.
Belleville Tree Care 