Why Grow Your Own Fruit

• Convenience and self-sufficiency
• Pesticide Management
• High yields from one plant; lots of fruit for selling, donating, processing, storing and fresh-eating 

Classifications

• Space considerations: Note the required space for espaliered (pronounced es-pal-yay-ed), dwarf, semi-dwarf and full/standard-sized tree varieties
  • Espaliered: Not as much total yield but produces more fruit per square foot, great for small-space growers, flat 2-dimensional shapes, fruit in 3-5 years
  • Dwarf: 8’ in diameter, full-size fruit, smaller yield, yield fruit in 3-5 years
  • Semi-Dwarf: 12-15’ tall and wide, can produce up to 500 apples/season, produce reliably for 15-20 years, produce fruit in roughly 5 years
  • Full/Standard Size: Produce anywhere from 4 to 8 bushels per season (400-800 pounds) depending on species, on average 20-30 in diameter
  • Resource: https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/estimated-yield-for-fruit-trees

Pollinator Groups

Pollinator groups have to do with timing of blossom-set. Trees requiring a cross pollinator will need a partner tree of the same species, within the same pollinator group, but of a different variety

• Pollinator Groups
  Group A or 1: early

Group B or 2: early-mid

Group C or 3: mid

Group D or 4: mid-late

Group E or 5: late

• Self-Fertile or Self-Pollinating trees do not require a pollination partner but will still benefit and increase yield if provided with a second tree
• Resources
• https://www.orangepippintrees.com/articles/planting-growing/pollination-of-fruit-trees
• https://www.cumminsnursery.com/learn-trees/fruit-tree-bloom-dates/

Zone Requirements / Chill Hours

• A chill hour is equal to one hour that a tree spends within the temperature range of 32-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Trees will be marked accordingly.
• If sufficient chill hours are not reached, trees will leaf out later and have a prolonged blossom period. This longer lasting bloom time will open the tree up to disease.
• Figs, olives, and quince have the lowest natural chill requirements
• Followed by persimmons, pomegranates, almonds, and chestnuts.
• Cherries, apples, peaches, and plums required breeding to develop low-chill varieties for areas with minimal chill
• Cherries, apples, peaches, and plums require more chill hours
• Resources:
• https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=16468
• Low Chill: https://homeorchard.ucanr.edu/Fruits_&_Nuts/

Planting Basics

• Full sun, plenty of water, large canopy expansion so plan for mature size when planting
• Planting depth is determined by fruit species and size variety - note plant tag
• Soil pH: On average fruit trees love soil at pH 6.3-6.6 
  • To raise pH add crushed limestone
  • To lower pH add nitrogen or elemental sulphur
• When to Plant

Best planted in late fall, winter (if ground isn’t frozen) or early spring when tree has gone dormant. Roots will esta