Orchard Planning

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How to Plan your Orchard

1. Upon determining what varieties and types of trees and shrubs will grow in you area, be sure to acquire companion plants as required to facilitate pollination. More on this topic can be found here.
2. It is best to have a layout in mind before you bring your trees home. This will avoid any unpleasant surprises afterwards.
3. Site selection is very important.
   

• All fruits, berries and nuts need full sun for the best yields, but in geographic areas that get extreme heat and sun, planting your orchard so that it gets a few hours of shade in the afternoon can be beneficial. If this is not possible, shade cloths can help shield the plants as required. Less than maximum sunlight means a reduced harvest and more pest problems
  
• Good air drainage is essential. Cold air, like water, flows downhill. For this reason, fruit buds on plants set in a low spot are more likely to be killed than those on a slope.
  
• Frost pockets; low, wet spots; and locations exposed to strong, prevailing winds must be avoided. South-facing slopes encourage early bud development and can sometimes result in frost damage. Select late-blooming varieties for this location. 

Tree Size and Spacing Guidelines

Crop	Tree Height (Feet)	Minimum Spacing (Feet)	Bearing Age (years)	Pollination Requirement	Life Expectancy (years)
Almond	15 – 30	25	5	cross	40 – 50
Apple (standard)	15 – 20	30	6 – 10	cross	35 – 45
Apple (semi-dwarf)	20	18	3 – 4	cross	25 – 35
Apple (dwarf)	10	12	2 – 3	cross	20 – 35
Apricot	15 – 20	18	4	self	25 – 30
Cherry (sour)	30	20	4 – 5	self	15 – 20
Cherry (sweet)	12 – 35	25	5 – 7	cross	20 – 30
Fig	10 – 30	20	2	self	30 – 100+
Peach/Nectarine	15 – 25	25	3 – 4	self	15 – 20
Pear (standard)	20	20	5 – 8	cross	35 – 40
Pear (dwarf)	12 – 15	12	4	cross	15 – 20
Pecan	66 – 180	35	5 – 6	self	150
Persimmon	12 – 60	25	4	self	30 – 35
Plum	10	20	4 – 5	cross	15 – 20
Pomegranate	15 – 20	8	3	self	25 – 30
Quince	8 – 12	15	5 – 6	self	30 – 40
Walnut	50 – 75	35	8	self	60+

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Container Orchards

• In all, but the most temperate parts of the world, where the temperature does not dip to freezing temperatures in a normal yearly cycle, it is always recommended that citrus trees are planted in portable pots. 
• There beautiful and fragrant flowers will enhance any balcony, patio or garden area. 
• Citrus trees will need to be over-wintered in a warm location such as your home or green house, but will need to spend some time outdoors to be able to produce. Citrus trees that grow well in pots include key limes, lemons and smaller orange tree varieties. 
• Figs will also grow well in pots for a period of time, but will eventually grow too large for the pot and need to be transplanted into the ground. 
• Trees that are grown in containers are typically between 4 to 10 feet tall. It is possible to grow larger trees in containers, but you will need a very large container to accommodate the root ball. 

This young fig tree in its container was started via propagation.