A lot of conventional wisdom around fruit trees comes from commercial orchards. However, what we want and need from our fruit trees at home is different. We don’t necessarily need the maximum yield (which can be hundreds of kilos) all at once. We probably won’t be driving a tractor between them. We also have different tools available to us.
Efficient, Manageable, Variety & Prolonged Fruiting
Backyard Orchard Culture thinks differently and is all about keeping your fruit trees smaller and under control. When planting multiple trees together in a high density situation, there will be some competition – this will help to ‘dwarf’ the trees and control the size. It can also be more water efficient compared to a larger area.
Some of the benefits of duo and multi-planting fruit trees include:
- Efficient use of available space
- Potential for diversity
This can help with pollination and increases the variety of homegrown fruits in your tummy - Sensible cropping
- Longer harvest season, if you chose varieties that ripen at different times
- Restricted size makes all the work easier – spraying, pruning, netting and picking
Tips for success in high-density fruit tree planting:
- Start by choosing similarly sized trees with compatible requirements and comparable vigor.
- Pruning and training are KEY – winter, spring & summer.
Melbourne- based Deep Green Permaculture has a fabulous step-by-step guide. - Crop thinning will help – quality over quantity!
Click here for a video that is a great 6 minute overview. However, it is American so you will need to swap seasons and directions to suit the southern hemisphere.
More appropriate crop levels and an extended fruiting season reduces waste and surplus fruit. This will, along with smaller trees that can be netted will help when managing the insidious pest, Queensland fruit fly.