Selection and Care of Bare
Root Fruit Trees
Winter is the time of year to choose your bare root fruit trees. Many
nurseries stock a wide variety of trees
and it is helpful to go shopping armed
with some knowledge of what grows best in your area. The most important
consideration in choosing fruit trees is chilling hours. Fruit trees
need a certain amount of chilling hours, below 45 degrees, and between November 1 and February
15th, in order to produce fruit. The inland portions of our county have no problem
producing enough chill hours. If you live along the immediate coast, where the winters are milder, you will need to choose
low chill hour varieties, ones
that need 400 chill hours or less.
Some fruit trees require cross pollination with another tree to produce fruit. Be sure to
choose a self pollinating type or buy two compatible varieties. Your
nursery should be able to help you select what is best for you.
Fruit trees are grown on many types of root stocks. Some
are resistant to certain
diseases, some tolerate different growing conditions, and some grow to different heights. Often there is no choice, but a well stocked nursery will have trees on different
root stocks.
Plant your bare root trees as soon as you get them home. Dig
a hole big enough so the roots
are not cramped, but be sure not to plant the trees too deep. It is
important that the graft union is 2-6 inches above the soil line. Form a
basin around the hole and water thoroughly. Paint the
trunks with a white latex paint to
avoid sunburn.
If you have a limited space for your orchard, try planting several trees
in the same hole, or purchase multiple
budded trees. You can buy fruit trees that will produce plums, peaches,
nectarines and apricots on the same
tree. Trees can be planted as close as 30 inches apart
or try an espalier type of
pruning. Summer pruning will keep your trees from
getting too big and most importantly, keep your fruit within reach.