Having a home orchard with lots of fruit trees and plants and harvesting fresh, homegrown fruit in the summer is an ideal dream for many people. Picking and eating those beautiful ripe peaches, apples, pears, strawberries and grapes is such a sweet treat; however, wanting a home orchard and having a home orchard can unfortunately sometimes be quite different. It can be a wonderful decision when the recommended varieties are chosen in the beginning. But it can all turn into a nightmare if the wrong fruit plants are selected.Â
Much of the success or failure of having a home orchard lies primarily on your very first decision – choosing the correct variety.Â
kAm$:>A=J 8@:?8 @FE 2?5 3FJ:?8 ;FDE 2?J EJA6 @7 7CF:E EC66 7C@> ;FDE 2?J D@FC46 42? 36 2 >:DE2<6] }@E 5@:?8 E96 9@>6H@C< 2?5 >2<:?8 E96 HC@?8 D6=64E:@? 42? C6DF=E :? 2 G6CJ 325 :?G6DE>6?E] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 32D:4 8F:56=:?6D 7@C 7CF:E D6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mR` |2:?E6?2?46 #6BF:C6>6?EDÂ k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu:CDE[ A2J 4=@D6 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 >2:?E6?2?46 C6BF:C6>6?ED @7 E96 7CF:ED D6=64E65 7@C 92CG6DE] w2G:?8 2 9@>6 @C492C5 :D ?@E 2 D:>A=6 2?5 62DJ E2D< 2?5 42? 36 G6CJ =23@CD@>6 2?5 E:>6\4@?DF>:?8] |2?J 7CF:ED C6BF:C6 9:89 >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 >2J 36 5:77:4F=E E@ 8C@H 7@C E96 2G6C286 82C56?6C] p=>@DE 2== 7CF:E A=2?ED E2<6 E9C66 E@ 7:G6 J62CD E@ 86E 6DE23=:D965 367@C6 E96J AC@5F46 E96:C 7:CDE 4C@AD]Â Â Â k^Am
kAm%C66 7CF:ED =:<6 A62496D[ 2AA=6D[ A62CD 2?5 A=F>D C6BF:C6 2 DEC:4E 2?5 H66<=J DAC2J AC@8C2> E@ AC6G6?E 2?5 4@?EC@= 5:D62D6D 2?5 :?D64E A6DED] p??F2= ACF?:?8[ EC2:?:?8 2?5 D92A:?8 2C6 C6BF:C65 6249 H:?E6C] %C66 7CF:ED 2=D@ ?665 =@ED @7 DA246 :? 7F== DF? E@ 8C@H 2?5 36 AC@5F4E:G6] z66A :? >:?5 E92E =2E6 DAC:?8 7C66K6D 2?5 @E96C H62E96C AC@3=6>D 42? 9FCE 2 4C@A] p?5 :7 2== 8@6D H6==[ 566C[ DBF:CC6=D 2?5 4C@HD DE:== 92G6 E@ 36 <6AE 2E 32J 3642FD6 E96D6 DH66E 7CF:ED 2C6 E6>AE:?8 2?5 56=:4:@FD E@ >@DE 7C66\8C2K:?8 2?:>2=D] x? 46CE2:? 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ :E :D >F49 62D:6C 2?5 >@C6 4@?G6?:6?E E@ 8@ 3FJ E96D6 7CF:ED 7C@> 72C>6CD 2?5 C6E2:=6CD]Â k^Am
kAm$>2== 7CF:ED =:<6 3=F636CC:6D[ >FD425:?6D[ DEC2H36CC:6D[ 7:8D 2?5 3=24<36CC:6D E6?5 E@ 36 2 =:EE=6 62D:6C E@ 8C@H] %96J 2C6 ?@E A6DE\7C66 3FE 2C6 =6DD GF=?6C23=6 E92? EC66 7CF:ED] %96J 5@ ?@E E2<6 FA BF:E6 2D >F49 DA246 2?5 H:== AC@5F46 2 5646?E 4C@A 7@C 9@>6@H?6CD] p??F2= >2:?E6?2?46 DF49 2 ACF?:?8 W6I46AE H:E9 DEC2H36CC:6DX :D DE:== ?646DD2CJ 6249 J62C]Â k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mRa #64@>>6?565 '2C:6E:6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$64@?5[ :E :D :>A6C2E:G6 E@ 5@ C6D62C49 2?5 9@>6H@C<] u:?5 @FE H92E G2C:6E:6D @7 7CF:E EC66D 2?5 D>2== 7CF:ED 8C@H 36DE :? J@FC 2C62] s@ ?@E D<:A E9:D 4CF4:2= DE6A[ 2D E9:D >2J F=E:>2E6=J 56E6C>:?6 :7 E96C6 :D DF446DD @C 72:=FC6] %96 ECFE9 :D[ :E :D G6CJ 5:77:4F=E E@ 8C@H >@DE @7 E96 EJA6D @7 7CF:ED D@=5 :? 8C@46CJ DE@C6D 2?5 72C>6C >2C<6ED]Â k^Am
kAmp=232>2 4=:>2E6 4@?5:E:@?D] H9:49 2C6 9@E 2?5 5CJ :? E96 DF>>6C 2?5 >:=5 :? E96 H:?E6C[ 5@ ?@E ;FDE 2==@H 7@C E96 A6C764E @C492C5 7F== @7 723F=@FD 7CF:E] %92E :D H9J @E96C DE2E6D 2C6 <?@H? 7@C 8C@H:?8 46CE2:? 7CF:ED]Â k^Am
kAm!62496D E6?5 E@ 8C@H 36EE6C :? v6@C8:2j @C2?86D 5@ H6== :? u=@C:52j 2AA=6D 2C6 A6C764E :? (2D9:?8E@?j 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 8C@HD H6== :? DF??J r2=:7@C?:2] qFE 5@ ?@E H@CCJ[ 7CF:ED 42? 36 8C@H? :? p=232>2 2?5 36 8C@H? DF446DD7F==J] ~?6 ;FDE 92D E@ <?@H H92E ?2>6D E@ =@@< 7@C 2?5 H9:49 G2C:6E:6D H:== H@C< :? p=232>2] q6H2C6 @7 2?J E28 @C A=2?E ?2>6 E92E :D ?@E @? E96 C64@>>6?565 =:DE 7C@> tIE6?D:@? D6CG:46D]Â k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAm%CJ E96D6 C64@>>6?565 G2C:6E:6D @7 7CF:ED E@ 8C@H :? p=232>2i k^Am
kAmpAA=6i v2=2[ uF;:[ #@>6[ v:?86C8@=5[ y@?28@=5[ rF>36C=2?5 $AFC 2?5 vC2??J $>:E9]Â k^Am
kAm!62496Di #6592G6?[ $H66E92G6?[ rC6DE92G6?[ u:C6AC:?46[ r@?E6?56C[ v6@C8:2 q6==6[ y6776CD@? 2?5 #65D<:? k^Am
kAm!62CDi ~C:6?E[ z:6776C @C |@@?8=@H 7@C 2 D@7E6C A6249Â Â k^Am
kAm!=F>Di p& !C@5F46C[ p& #@25D:56 2?5 p& r96CCJÂ Â k^Am
kAmu:8Di qC@H? %FC<6J[ r6=6DE6[ p=>2[ {$& v@=5 2?5 {$& !FCA=6k^Am
kAmq=F636CC:6Di %:7E3=F6[ !C6>:6C[ qC:89EH6== 2?5 r=:>2I[ 3FE ?6H @?6D H@CE9 A=2?E:?8 2C6 p=2A292[ '6C?@? 2?5 *25<:?]Â k^Am
kAm$EC2H36CC:6Di r2C5:?2=[ r2>2C@D2[ t2C=:8=@H 2?5 r92?5=6CÂ k^Am
kAmq=24<36CC:6Di }2G29@[ z:@H2[ ~F249:E2[ pC2A29@ 2?5 pA2496Â k^Am
kAmvC2A6Di |FD425:?6D DF49 2D xD@?[ !2>[ s2C=6?6[ uCJ[ q=24< q62FEJ 2?5 $FAC6>6j ?6H6C G2C:6E:6D @7 3F?49 8C2A6D >2J 2=D@ 36 4@?D:56C65 H96? 564:5:?8 H9:49 8C2A6D E@ 92CG6DE]Â k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mRb uCF:E q:@=@8Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~?6 >FDE 92G6 2 32D:4 F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 7CF:E 3:@=@8J H96? D6=64E:?8 DA64:7:4 7CF:E 4C@AD] !2J 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 56E2:=D 2?5 8C@H:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED] |@DE 7CF:E EC66D 2?5 D>2== 7CF:ED C6BF:C6 4C@DD\A@==:?2E:@?] %96C67@C6[ J@F >FDE 3FJ 2?5 A=2?E EH@ 5:776C6?E ?2>65 G2C:6E:6D] ~?6 A=2?E >2J ?665 E@ 36 E96 56D:8?2E65 A@==:?2E@C]Â Â k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ >@DE v@=56? s6=:4:@FD 2AA=6D 2C6 E96 49@D6? A@==:?2E@CD 7@C @E96C 2AA=6D] |FD425:?6 8C2A6D 2C6 D@=5 2D 2?5 =236=65 2D 6:E96C D6=7\7CF:E7F= @C 76>2=6 EJA6D[ H:E9 E96 D6=7\7CF:E7F= 36:?8 E96 A@==:?2E@C 7@C E96 C6DE] *@F >FDE 3FJ EH@ 5:776C6?E ?2>6D[ =:<6 2 %:7E3=F6 2?5 2 r=:>2I 3=F636CCJ[ 7@C 4C@DD\A@==:?2E:@? E@ AC@5F46 2 7CF:E 4C@A] !62496D[ 7:8D[ A6CD:>>@?D[ A@>68C2?2E6D[ 3=24<36CC:6D[ DEC2H36CC:6D 2?5 D@>6 EJA6D @7 A=F>D 2C6 2== D6=7\7CF:E7F=[ D@ @?=J @?6 A=2?E :D ?66565]Â k^Am
kAm~E96C 9@CE:4F=EFC6 4@?D:56C2E:@?D 2C6 C@@EDE@4<D 2?5 49:==:?8 9@FCD] p== EC66 7CF:ED[ :?4=F5:?8 4:ECFD[ 2C6 AC@A282E65 @?E@ E96 C@@E DJDE6> @7 2?@E96C A=2?E] r6CE2:? C@@EDE@4<D 96=A 4@?EC@= D:K6[ 2==@H 72DE6C 7CF:E:?8[ :?7=F6?46 J:6=5 2?5 BF2=:EJ 2?5 AC@G:56 5:D62D6 C6D:DE2?46] pAA=6 EC66D 2C6 @7E6? =236=65 2?5 D@=5 2D 5H2C7 EC66D[ H9:49 @?=J >62?D D>2==6C E92? DE2?52C5] %96 EJA6 @7 C@@EDE@4< FD65 7@C 2 A2CE:4F=2C 2AA=6 G2C:6EJ 5:4E2E6D E96 >2EFC6 D:K6[ H9:49 G2C:6D 7C@> f E@ a_ 766E] r9@@D:?8 E96 HC@?8 C@@EDE@4< 42? >2<6 2 5:776C6?46 :? >2EFC6 D:K6 2?5 H96? E96 EC66 H:== AC@5F46 2AA=6D] (2:E:?8 E9C66 G6CDFD 6:89E J62CD 7@C 2 4C@A :D 2 3:8 562=]k^Am
kAmr9:==:?8 9@FCD 2C6 >@DE=J 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 8C@H:?8 A62496D 2?5 ?64E2C:?6D] %96 E6C> :D FD65 E@ 56D4C:36 E96 2>@F?E @7 4@=5 ?66565 7@C 2 A=2?E E@ C6DF>6 DAC:?8 8C@HE9 7@==@H:?8 2 H:?E6C A6C:@5] xE 244F>F=2E6D 36EH66? E96 E6>A6C2EFC6 @7 bd 568C66D 2?5 dd 568C66D u29C6?96:E] u@C E96 8C@H6C[ 49:==:?8 9@FCD 4@?EC@=D H96? E96 7CF:E 4C@A H:== 3=@@>] %96 36DE H2J E@ 6IA=2:? :E :D =:<6 E9:Di (96? 2 D:?8=6 A6249 EC66 3=@@>D G6CJ 62C=J[ E92E EC66 :D =:<6=J 2 =@H 49:==:?8 9@FC G2C:6EJ] %C66D H:E9 =@H 49:==:?8 9@FCD 2C6 ?@E :562= 7@C 46?EC2= p=232>2 3642FD6 E96J 42? 36 <:==65 3J =2E6 H:?E6C 2?5 62C=J DAC:?8 7C66K6D] p 9:896C 49:==:?8 9@FC G2C:6EJ H:== 5@ 36EE6C 3642FD6 :E ?665D >@C6 4@=5 H62E96C E@ DE2J 5@C>2?E 2?5 3=@@> @? E:>6]Â k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mRc #6AFE23=6 $@FC46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm{2DE=J[ 3J 2== >62?D[ <66A :? >:?5 H96C6 J@F AFC492D6 J@FC 7CF:E EC66D 2?5 D>2== 7CF:E 4C@AD] p=H2JD 3FJ 7C@> 2 =@42=[ C6AFE23=6 ?FCD6CJ[ 82C56? 46?E6C @C DA64:2=EJ 42E2=@8 D@FC46] |2?J @7 E96 G2C:@FD 49@:46D D9:AA65 :? 2?5 D@=5 3J =2C86 C6E2:= DE@C6D 5@ ?@E 8C@H @C 5@ H6== :? p=232>2] %96D6 G2C:6E:6D EJA:42==J 2C6 ?@E =236=65 @C ?2>65 AC@A6C=J[ H9:49 =62G6D E96 3FJ6C H:E9 ?@ :562 H92E E96J 2C6 86EE:?8 @C H92E D:K6 :E H:== 36] x? >@DE :?DE2?46D[ ?@?6 @7 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? @C E:AD 56D4C:365 2C6 @? E96 =236= @C 6G6? <?@H? 3J E96 D6==6CD] qFJ6C 36H2C6]Â Â Â Â k^Am
kAm%92EUCDBF@jD H92E E96 tIE6?D:@? @77:46 :D 96C6 7@C[ E@ 96=A A6@A=6 564:A96C :E 2==] uCF:E D6=64E:@? :D ?@E 62DJ] xE :D >@C6 5:77:4F=E H96? 2== @7 E96 724ED 2C6 F?<?@H?] u@C 2 4@>A=6E6 =:DE @7 7CF:ED 2?5 E96 G2C:6E:6D E92E H:== 8C@H H6== :? p=232>2[ :?4=F5:?8 >2?J 7CF:E 4F=EFC6 AF3=:42E:@?D E92E 8@ :?E@ >F49 56E2:=[ 4@?E24E E96 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? @77:46 2E ade\gad\`_d_ @C G:D:E FD @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^246D]65FQm246D]65Fk^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>mO $92?6 w2CC:D :D E96 r@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? r@@C5:?2E@C 7@C %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^6>mk^Am