Get more home-grown fruit from your fruit trees! Follow along as our friend and plant hobbyist Macie covers her top tips for two of our favorite fruit trees - the Honeycrisp™ Apple Tree and the Bonanza Patio Peach Tree.
You'll learn:
- How to plant and care for Honeycrisp Apple and Bonanza Patio Peach trees
- The best spots in your landscape for maximum fruit production
- Tips for sunlight and watering
- How to fertilize and ensure pollination for your fruit trees
Watch the video above, and scroll down for the full transcript!
Transcript: How to Get More Fruit from Your Fruit Trees
I absolutely love the juicy crunch of a Honeycrisp Apple, and no store-bought peach can compare to the sweet taste of a peach picked right from your own backyard!
In this episode, I'll be sharing with you my top tips on fruit tree planting and maintenance, so that you can get the most out of your fruit trees. As always, my name is Macie, and this is Potting and Planting from FastGrowingTrees.com.
Today, we'll be working with the Honeycrisp Apple Tree and the Bonanza Patio Peach Tree, but these tips are applicable to all fruit trees, so if you have a different fruit tree, you can still follow along. And if you don't have a fruit tree, well - what are you waiting for?!
Not all trees are grown equally. FastGrowingTrees..com grows many of their trees by grafting to a well-established rootstock, not from seed, ensuring the tree is extra hardy and often able to produce fruit within the first year. Go to FastGrowingTrees.com today and pick up a fruit tree - with a little bit of work, you'll be harvesting fresh fruit in no time.
One of the biggest impacts on your eventual harvest is where you plant or place your potted trees. Be sure to plant at least three feet from sidewalks and driveways and six feet from buildings - while the trees may remain somewhat compact above the ground, they need room to spread their roots.
Most fruit trees need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day during the growing season. It's also important that you plant them where they won't be exposed to harsh wind, as that can have a negative impact on your harvest.
Not all soil is created equally, and most fruit trees love well-draining, moist soil. You may find that many places in your yard are more susceptible to water collection - avoid planting in those areas. Additionally, if your soil is thicker and more clay-like, you may want to remove some and replace with a well-draining soil.
If potting, use a citrus or fruit specific potting soil mix for the best results. After you've finished planting, make sure to mulch around the area heavily, avoiding the base of the tree. Not only will this help protect against unwanted weeds - it will help the soil retain proper moisture, too.
These peach trees are self-fertile and will produce fruit all on their own - however, apple trees need the help of another tree for pollination, so when planting your tree, it's important to plant another variety nearby.
While the goal of fruit trees is that they will one day feed you, first you've got to feed them to ensure healthy growth! It's important to apply a well-balanced fertilizer in the spring before the plant pushes out new growth, as well as in the summer and fall seasons. The best fertilizer may depend on your specific fruit tree so visit FastGrowingTrees.com to find out the best care practices for the tree you're growing.
Beyond fertilizing, I cannot stress enough the importance of watering properly. Over-watering can lead to poor growth and a below-average harvest. If your fruit tree is potted, simply test the soil with your fingers two inches down from the base of the plant. If the soil is dry, it's time to water!
If the tree is in the ground, water it once a week to ensure the soil stays moist. If the tree is dormant, you can water as needed.
That's all for today's episode of Potting and Planting with FastGrowingTrees.com. If you guys have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment or share your top fruit tree maintenance tips with other growers below!
