The #1 most important thing to know when planting fruit trees is if they will produce fruit on their own, or if they need cross-pollination. Many fruit trees require at least two varieties for cross-pollination (p.s. cross-pollination= excellent crop). Most apples except Braeburn, Gala, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Gravenstein. Most sweet cherries except Early Burlat, Lapins, Rainier and Stella, Most pears except Moonglow, Starkcrimson and 20th century, and most plums except Green Gage and Methley.

You can plant a fruit tree as early as the beginning of spring, after the frost on the ground has melted away. If the soil is waterlogged, wait until the soil has some time to drain. Select a site with direct sunlight. Think ahead, and figure out what the tree will impact when it’s full grown (power lines, houses, etc.) Growing fruit trees is no small commitment however; the first five years are the considered the “training” years, being the most important stage of the tree’s development. Fruit trees should be grown to have a single, upright trunk with well spaced, spreading side branches. The tree should be cone shaped so that the upper branches don’t shade out the lower branches. Those fast-growing green shoots that grow straight up are called suckers or water sprouts. They don’t produce fruit, and they shade out the spreading branches that do produce fruit. Rather than clip them off, you can tie them down so they grow outward and become productive branches. The most productive branches grow at an angle between horizontal and forty-five degrees.

Pruning Fruit Trees

I can’t really give you detailed instructions, but I can give the timing and purpose of pruning so hopefully you can figure it out. The purpose of pruning is to control the structure, shape and growth of plants and to promote good health. It is very important to start training a fruit tree when it is young. Good structure for most trees means a single trunk with well-spaced branches, which grow outward at a wide angle. The season of pruning greatly affects the growth and flowering of trees. Pruning in the winter when the trees are dormant will increase the rate of growth that spring. Pruning in the summer will decrease growth the following spring.

Pete Skenandore

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