Planting a fruit tree - low trunk, columnar tree or patio tree - 10 tips

'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' and especially if you grew it yourself

Lately we ate a lot of strawberries and currants from the vegetable garden, soon the apples and pears will follow. In our chicken run there are 2 low-stem fruit trees , an apple tree and a pear tree. Ideal because my vegetable garden is not very big. Growing fruit is actually not as difficult as you might think. How exactly do you do that? In this article I will explain everything to you. This way planting a fruit tree becomes child's play. Growing fruit does not only ensure a nice harvest. In the spring you can enjoy the beautiful flowering period and bees that buzz from one blossom to the next. Here we go!

The different types of fruit trees

TIP 1: Choose the right type of fruit tree to plant depending on the size of your vegetable garden

Anyone can grow fruit. You don't need a huge vegetable garden for it. The most important thing is to choose a fruit tree that 'fits' in your vegetable garden. There are 5 different types of fruit trees offered. To get an idea of ​​how big your fruit tree will grow, look at the terms patio tree, column tree and low trunk, half trunk and high trunk. These terms indicate the type of rootstock that is used for grafting. Just like grapes, fruit trees are grafted at the grower because it is known that ungrafted fruit trees often have poorer rooting , which means they grow less strongly and produce less harvest. Just like us, you naturally want strong fruit trees that bear kilos of fruit. That is why we only offer grafted fruit trees in the webshop. I will now explain to you exactly what the terms patio tree, column tree, low trunk, half trunk and high trunk mean.

Patio trees

Patio trees are also called ballerina or mini fruit trees. This is because the trees, yes what did you expect, remain very small. They grow to about 1.5 meters high. Perfect for growing in a pot (for example on your terrace or on a balcony) and require little maintenance. Keep it small by pruning it occasionally. This tree may be small, but the fruits grow to the same size as those of a low-stemmed fruit tree. Make sure you give the fruit trees enough water. If your tree has been dry, it will be the first to drop its fruits. What a shame! If you choose to plant your fruit tree in the open ground, you should water it mainly in the summer or on warm days in the year of planting. Later I will give tips on how and where to best plant a tree.

Columnar trees

A columnar tree is a fruit tree that grows vertically and produces hardly any side branches. As a result, a columnar tree takes up very little space. Ideal for growing fruit on smaller surfaces or in a (40-liter) pot. Because a columnar tree produces few to no side branches, pruning is not necessary. Do you have an empty spot next to your garden house? This type of fruit tree is ideal for making optimal use of small spaces.

Low trunk fruit trees

Low stem means that the tree is grafted onto a slow-growing rootstock, which means that the trees bear fruit faster and grow less tall. The advantages of this are that they are suitable for smaller (vegetable) gardens and that you can therefore grow more varieties in the same space. A low stem fruit tree grows to about 2.5 to 4 metres high, so you leave 2.5 to 4 metres between each low stem fruit tree. This is useful because then you can harvest easily, safely and without a long ladder. Low stem fruit trees therefore do not take up a lot of space. Ideal for everyone (including myself ? ) who thinks that their vegetable garden is too small for everything they want to grow. Low stem fruit trees live for about 3 to 40 years. In the webshop we offer 11 different types of fruit trees. Definitely take a look, there are some really nice types among them. Choose fruit that you like. Because the fact that these fruit trees are low-stemmed does not mean that you will have a smaller harvest. You can count on a harvest between 5 and 20 kg of fruit. Ideal to be able to grow a lot of fruit despite the fact that you may have a small vegetable garden.

Half-stem fruit trees

Half-stem fruit trees are grafted onto a slow-growing rootstock, just like low-stem fruit trees . Half-stem fruit trees grow to about 5 metres high, so you should also leave a 5-metre planting distance between half-stem fruit trees. For this type of fruit tree, you should therefore provide a little more space than low-stem fruit trees . A half-stem fruit tree quickly produces 50 kg of fruit. They can live for 60 to 100 years.

High trunk fruit trees

High trunk fruit trees are, as their name suggests, the tallest type. They can grow to 7 to 8 metres high. The recommended planting distance is again the estimated height: 7 to 8 metres. For these fruit trees you need a fairly large garden (or orchard). The rootstock of a high trunk fruit tree is at least 1.7 m, which is why we do not offer this type of fruit tree.

Planting fruit trees

And now for the real work. After finding out which type of fruit trees are suitable for your vegetable garden and choosing the type(s) of fruit you are going to grow, you are going to plant your fruit trees. I will now explain how to do this best.

TIP 2: Keep in mind that fruit trees get old

When planting fruit trees, you need to think a little more about the future than when setting up your vegetable garden. Most vegetables only stay in your vegetable garden for one or two seasons, while most fruit trees can live for 30, 40 years or even 100 years. The lifespan of fruit trees is of course also somewhat dependent on the care and size. The older a tree can get, the bigger it will become.

TIP 3: Want lots of fruit? Plant more than one fruit tree of the same species and increase your harvest

By allowing cross-pollination to take place, you play it safe

What, cross-pollination? Cross-pollination of fruit trees occurs during the flowering period, when the pollen from the male part of the flower is transferred to the female part. The transfer of pollen from one fruit tree to another fruit tree is called cross-pollination. That is why it is a good idea to plant, for example, 2 different types of apple trees so that the insects can find enough blossoms and can transfer the pollen from one tree to the other. Cross-pollination can only occur between the same type of fruit tree, for example a pear tree cannot pollinate a cherry tree. We have provided a number of classic but also special varieties for each type of fruit tree. For example, we have 17 types of apples available in the webshop :)

When is the best time to plant your fruit tree?

TIP 4: You can actually plant fruit trees almost all year round

The fruit trees that we offer in the webshop are delivered in pots. They have already developed a root system and therefore you can actually plant them all year round. The best planting period is in the autumn. It is then no longer so hot, it still rains occasionally and the fruit trees then still have enough time to take root . This way they can go into the winter with a strong root system and in the spring they can sprout for the first time and a few months later they may already bear the first fruits. But be careful! Never plant fruit trees in frost. Sometimes fruit trees are also offered with bare roots. We at Moestuinweetjes do not do that. For the simple reason that the roots would quickly dry out on the way and your tree would get off to a bad start.

How do you plant a fruit tree?

Soil preparation for planting fruit trees in open ground

TIP 5: Provide loose soil that contains sufficient nutrients

Regardless of which type of fruit tree you choose (mini fruit tree, columnar tree, low trunk, half trunk or high trunk), the planting remains the same. Loosen the soil well, use a spade for this, and ensure a good soil structure by adding compost , lava grit , basalt flour (and when growing on sandy soil) bentonite . Provide sufficient nutrition with fertilizer granules for small fruit . Make a hole of about half a meter in diameter and make a planting hole that is slightly deeper than your plant pot. Collect the soil in a bucket and mix in 1/3 coconut fibers or compost . This ensures that the soil has a better structure, moisture is retained better and the tree can root easily. Always plant your tree at the same depth as it was at the grower (the depth of the pot).

Planting distance

The distance between the fruit trees is the same as the estimated size of your fruit tree. If you choose patio fruit trees, keep a distance of 1 to 1.5 meters, low-stem fruit trees 2.5 to 4 meters, for half-stem fruit trees you keep a distance of 5 meters, and so on ... Columnar fruit trees are an exception, you can plant them closer together. Because Columnar trees hardly produce side branches, a planting distance of 0.5 meters is sufficient.

Support your fruit tree

After you have planted your fruit tree, it is important to support it. I use a chestnut pole and a tree band for this. Place your pole south-west of your fruit tree, so that your fruit tree does not blow against your pole and no abrasions occur and the new fine hair roots do not tear off underground. Hammer your pole about 40 cm into the ground. Then secure your fruit tree at a height of about 30 - 40 cm with a tree band . Featured products: https://www.moestuinweetjes.com/welkom/winkel/moestuin/moestuin-planten/fruitbomen/fruitbomen-accessoires/boomband-selfix-voor-fruitbomen/

TIP 6: You can also grow fruit trees in pots

There is nothing tastier than fruit from your own garden. But what if you live in an apartment or your garden is not that big? That does not mean that you cannot grow fruit. Patio or mini fruit trees can be grown in pots. You can also grow low-stem fruit trees in pots. Make sure your pot is big enough, about 40 liters is enough. Growing in pots does require some extra attention. If you let the potting soil dry out, your fruit tree will drop its blossom or fruits. And then it is of course game over. Therefore choose potting soil that contains a good structure. To ensure that your potting soil dries out less quickly, you can place 3 cm of hydro grains on the bottom and make your own mixture to fill your pot. For this, mix 1/3 coconut fibers with 2/3 potting soil . This ensures that the water is retained for longer. A second point of attention is nutrition, which is exhausted about 3 months after planting. You can also easily tackle that 'problem'. Sprinkle some berry fertilizer in your pot every 3 months (but not between October and March, when your tree is dormant). When watering, the fertilizers gradually dissolve. This way, your tree always gets what it needs to grow well.

Caring for fruit trees

In the meantime, your tree has grown well and you may have already harvested your first apples or cherries. How do you ensure that you can enjoy your fruit tree for years to come?

TIP 8: Give your fruit trees something tasty from time to time

In order to be able to eat deliciously tasty fruit yourself, your fruit tree requires a nutritious soil. Give your fruit tree some fertilizer for small fruit and strawberries every 3 months. This is a balanced fertilizer that contains everything your fruit tree needs. Do not give fertilizer when your fruit tree is dormant (from October to March).

How do you prune fruit trees?

Fruit trees are best pruned twice a year. With the exception of patio trees and column trees . Patio trees are pruned to maintain the small shape. Column trees are not pruned at all, unless a large side branch would develop, then you can cut that away.

TIP 9: It is best to prune low-stemmed fruit trees twice a year

By pruning your fruit trees, you ensure that the energy goes to the right place in your fruit tree and growth is stimulated. Fruit always grows on framework branches. A framework branch is a basic branch that grows on the main trunk. Make sure you have 5 or 6 framework branches. Side branches will grow on them that will bear your fruit. There are 2 types of pruning: summer pruning and winter pruning. Always prune just above a bud, so that your fruit tree can quickly grow back. Look for an outer bud, which is a bud that is on the outside of the branch. That will ensure that your branch grows along the outside, and that is exactly what you need.

Winter pruning (between December and mid-February)

Your fruit tree has grown considerably in the summer. It has been able to create beautiful branches where your first or new fruits will arrive next year. Look at your fruit tree from a distance. Do you see branches that grow quickly and straight up? Then it is a water shoot. You can prune these branches back considerably during winter pruning, keep 1 or 2 buds per branch. Do you see branches that grow inwards? You can also prune these away. These ensure that your fruit tree becomes less airy and that less sun can reach your leaves and fruits.

Summer pruning (between mid-April and September)

In the summer you prune your fruit trees because the energy then goes to your fruits. If you prune your fruit tree, your fruits will grow better and ripen. As you know, a fruit tree, just like all other plants in your vegetable garden, does photosynthesis. Therefore, do not remove all the leaves. The nut trees and fruit trees that bear stone fruits (peach, plum, apricot and cherry) are an exception, only prune these in the months of December-January. Otherwise it loses too much sap and bleeds to death.

Use good, clean pruning equipment

To ensure that pruning goes smoothly, it is best to use a good pair of pruning shears. Do you have larger branches that you need to prune away? Then use a branch shears. Featured products: https://www.moestuinweetjes.com/welkom/winkel/moestuin/materiaal/wijnbouw/wijnbouw-gereedschap/snoeischaar-felco-2-topkwaliteit-snoeischaar/ https://www.moestuinweetjes.com/welkom/winkel/moestuin/materiaal/wijnbouw/wijnbouw-gereedschap/fiskars-powergear-ii-takkenschaar-bypass-l57cm-l74/

Tip 10: Harvest fruit and enjoy!

Feel, smell and taste to know if your fruits are ripe for picking. A bowl of freshly picked cherries in the evening in front of the TV, what more could you want. Specific harvest tips per type of fruit can be found in our free app 'Vegetable garden planner'. Download the app via the App store or Playstore or surf to it via this link .

Finally

Hopefully, with these tips, I have convinced you to start growing fruit in your own garden. With these tips, you will definitely succeed. Enjoy the beautiful flowering period in spring and the delicious fruits in summer or autumn. If you found this article valuable and are considering growing your own fruit, consider purchasing your gardening supplies in our webshop . We are always ready with good quality, a friendly word of explanation (by phone, chat or email), your garden success is paramount. Photos from your vegetable garden or fruit garden are always welcome at webshop@moestuinweetjes.com or share them on social media with the hashtag #moestuinweetjes. Kind regards, Sarah