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If you’re a frugal homesteader like me, then the cheapest and best way to start your homestead orchard is with bare root fruit trees.
Bare root fruit trees are cheaper than container-grown trees, easier to plant and the first-year survival rate is much higher.
In this article, we explain what bare root trees are, how to plant them, and how to care for them after planting.
Bare root trees are young trees that are taken out of the ground during their winter dormancy so that their roots are exposed. This makes packaging and shipping easier and cheaper when it comes to selling fruit trees like apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, and various nuts and berries.
Bare-root fruit trees are ready to be planted immediately into the garden or into a permanent container while they are still dormant, and that means late winter or very early spring (January thru mid-March) here in the northeast.
Good nurseries will only have bare-root stock available during this time, so it’s easy to tell when this is the right time to plant!
Placing a fruit tree in the proper location is essential to ensuring that it will produce. Fruit trees need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If they don’t get enough light, they may not develop buds or set fruit. Also, if they don’t have enough light, the fruit won’t be big, colorful, or flavorful.
Bare root fruit trees are not impressive in appearance when they are first unpacked, but for many gardeners, myself included, their advantages outweigh the size and unattractiveness with which they arrive on a purchaser’s doorstep.
Note: Because bare root fruit trees arrive looking like dead twigs, it’s important to consider the reputation and guarantees of the nursery before purchase.
Planting bare root trees is just as easy as planting any other kind of tree, but there are a few things to consider.
Young fruit trees need at least a gallon of water each week once their leaves begin to sprout in the Spring. Good watering habits are important for your tree’s first two growing seasons.
When you plant a new fruit tree, it is vital that you prune it right away. If you don’t, the tree may not grow properly. The first pruning should take place soon after planting. You’ll want to prune the trunk and branches to keep its canopy in proportion with its root system. Pruning a newly planted bare root tree is simple, requiring only that you consider the health of the roots and the lateral branches.
Here’s a video that does a great job of walking you through the process.
I usually buy from my local nursery, but I have had really good luck from One Green World online. They are reputable and offer some unusual stock not found elsewhere. I’ve got my name on their list for Sea Berries when they’re restocked!
I already have apple trees, grapes, blueberries and raspberries., and am looking forward to adding peaches and pears within the next few weeks. I’m so excited to expand my garden and further add to my family’s self-sufficiency with more of our own food production.
Check out these articles if you are interested in starting your own permaculture garden.
Bare root fruit trees are the least expensive way to start a fruit orchard. Save money on trees by researching which bare root fruit trees are recommended for your area. Track down where and when they are available and buy locally. You’ll want to pick up your trees as soon as they become available in late winter and early spring.
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