Starting a Fruit Orchard on Your Farm
Growing fruit trees or nut trees on your farm is a great way to be more self-sufficient and a great way to add items to your CSA, use the unwanted fruit to supplement feed for your animals, sell at your local farmers market or for personal use.
This guide will help you navigate the process of starting an orchard on your farm: from choosing good varieties of trees to planting them in the right spot and caring for them as they grow.
Start with the orchard basics and plan
A fruit orchard is a collection of trees that produce edible fruits. It's important to note that not all types of fruit are grown on trees. For example, berries can be easily grown in pots or containers and still taste delicious! Many orchards contain raspberry bushes or strawberries grown in a separate field on on the outskirts of the orchard.
Fruit trees need lots of sun and space to grow properly. They also require regular watering, pruning and fertilizing throughout their lifespans so they don't die prematurely.
Although these perennial trees are still prone to disease and damage from pests, they are generally stronger and require a bit less care than annual crops. However, the trade-off is that you’ll need to care for them all year round, as they don’t die off at the end of the season like annuals do.
Choose a good location for your fruit trees
The first step in choosing a location for your fruit orchard is to make sure it's in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Fruit trees need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, so you don't want to plant them too close to buildings or other trees that might block out some of that valuable light.
You also want to make sure the land you choose isn't too wet or swampy. If there's too much moisture in the soil around your fruit trees, they’re more likely to struggle with diseases and pests just like any other plant would.
Make sure you have enough space
When you're planning to grow fruit trees, make sure you have enough space. You want your trees to be far enough apart that they can grow properly and avoid disease and overcrowding. They also need room for the root systems to spread out and not compete with each other for nutrients in the soil.
Another thing you’ll want to consider is having enough room between rows of trees to mow the grass and tend to the trees.
Choose fruit trees that are suitable for your climate and area
There are a few things to consider when choosing fruit trees for your orchard. First, you need to make sure that the fruit tree will grow well in your area and climate. If a tree doesn't thrive, it won't produce any fruit!
You can find out what kinds of crops grow best where you live by looking at resources like this USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It shows which varieties of fruit trees do best in your specific geographic area.
Choose varieties that will do well in your soil type
You should also choose fruit tree varieties that will do well in your soil type, as well as the environment that they're going to be grown in.
For example, if you have sandy or rocky soil and live in a dry climate like California or Arizona, then you'll want to avoid planting trees that need lots of water like peaches and apples. Instead, try growing plums or pears which are less thirsty. Likewise if you live in an area where there is plenty of rain throughout most of the year, then choose fruit trees that thrive on moisture such as cherries or mulberries instead of citrus fruits like oranges (which require very little water).
Another important factor when choosing which fruits to grow is whether or not pests are common in your area — this includes insects such as aphids or birds like crows who might eat all of your crops before they can fully ripen! There are many pesticides available, as well as natural methods of pest and wildlife prevention, that can help you to keep your crop safe from insects and animals.
Get advice from experts if needed
If you're new to orchard management, it can be helpful to consult with experts. A nursery that specializes in fruit trees will have the knowledge and equipment necessary for planting and caring for them. They'll also be able to recommend specific varieties that work well in your climate and soil conditions.
If you aren't able to find a local expert who can help guide you through the process, look online for advice from other farmers who have established orchards on their farms. You may also want to talk with friends who have experience growing fruit trees; they may be able to give some valuable tips on how they've been successful at growing their own orchards.
, your state land grant university likely has an agricultural extension program. This is sure to be full to resources and blogs just like this article that detail orchard-growing tips, as well as best practices for your state or region.
Prepare the soil carefully to ensure that it's healthy and ready to take on all those new plants
The first step in starting a fruit orchard is to properly prepare the soil. The type of fruits you want to grow will determine what kind of soil you need, but generally speaking, you'll want something rich and fertile that can hold water without becoming soggy.
Preparing the soil usually involves adding organic matter like compost or manure so it will be healthy enough to support plant life. You might also want to consider getting some advice from experts at your local cooperative extension service if you're not sure how best to proceed with this step; they are often able to help farmers learn about new techniques for preparing their land for planting purposes.
Plant your trees!
Once you've chosen the type of fruit tree that best fits your farm, it's time to plant them!
Planting trees is a long term investment — you won't see any fruit for several years. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they grow and make sure they're getting enough water and fertilizer. You also want to prune them regularly so they stay healthy and productive throughout their life span.
Final thoughts on starting an orchard
Starting an orchard on your farm can be fun and exciting, but it's important to plan carefully so that you don't run into any problems.Be prepared for the long haul. An orchard takes years to grow, so don't rush into planting trees without thinking through all the details first.
Don't plant too many trees. It's best if you only plant one type of fruit tree at a time (e.g., apples) so that you can focus all your energy on caring for one kind of crop instead of having multiple types competing for water and nutrients in their infancy stages. If possible, choose varieties that are suited for your climate and environment — for example, if winters are cold where you live then choose apple trees whose fruit ripens later than other varieties (like Golden Delicious).
For more tips on orchard and crop management, check out our other articles. And, if you’re looking for a simple way to manage your orchard from your phone, laptop, or tablet, Farmbrite’s farm management software is a great option for orchard growers.