Fruit Trees

[golfpro]

I was thinking about planting fruit trees. When is the best time to do so and what kind would you recommend

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Well first off, how many are you looking at planting? My favorite time to plant is now til April.

 

[golfpro]

I was thinking between 4-8. I am have about 1/2 acre field and was going to plant them in it.

 

[TS_13]

I am going to plant mine as soon as they lose their leafs.

 

[Football Hunter]

soon as they lose their leaves

 

[PickettSFHunter]

How much care will you be able to provide these trees?

 

[golfpro]

As much as needed. How much water will they need during the summer months. I am completely new to fruit trees. I do work on a golf course and we have been planting smaller trees for the last couple years.

 

[Football Hunter]

All depends on how much it rains

 

[PickettSFHunter]

If I could just do 8 trees and could care for them well, I would go with all apples. I know alot will say pears but Im partial to apples lol I would put in 2 Dolgo, Transcendent, or Brandywine Crabapples for good fruit and pollination. I would then go with Disease resistant cultivars of apples with drop times timed so you will have fruit for an extended period. An example would be 2 Libertys (mid-September), 2 Freedom(1st part October), and 2 Goldrush(November). That would be a good plan.

 

[BowGuy84]

What specific care do apples require Steven?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

What specific care do apples require Steven?

Pruning, Training, Cages, Gravel or Mulch, most varieties need spraying but I try to go with diseases resistant varieties to avoid that as much as I can. Alot of folks prefer pears because you can just stick in the ground, cage, and keep weeds off them and they will usually be ok.

 

[golfpro]

Thanks for all the input. Steven what about Chinese Chestnut, I read on another website that all wildlife love them.

 

[Football Hunter]

Thanks for all the input. Steven what about Chinese Chestnut, I read on another website that all wildlife love them.

Ive heard deer do for sure!Have 8 in the ground,keep in mind CCs will be LARGE trees.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Deer do love Chestnuts. They can be kept smaller and more bush-like with the right pruning but you would have to be very intensive about it in later years.