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Friday,November 9, 2007

Your Own Organic Orchard: part one

If you want the best organic fruit you have to start with the best practice.

Choosing your Tree

selecting varieties with a higher level of disease resistance is the fist step to starting an organic orchard.Growing organically means you have fewer options to fall back on if things go wrong.

Bear in mind the weather conditions of the area where you live when choosing which variety of fruit tree you purchase.Areas with average rain fall of more than 1 metre (3 ft) a year, are prone to plant diseases due to wet conditions.

In very windy areas consider making a windbreak to stop airbourne spores and pests from reaching your fruit crop, alder or holy make excellent hedges and harbour few diseases.

Most fruit trees must cross pollinate to bear fruit, plant them in pairs two different varieties which bloom at the same time.

Positioning

Most organic grown trees will tolerate a wide range of soils provided they are well drained and ideally have a PH range of 6.5 -6.7 although this is not essential.Always choose the sunniest position possible as warmth is required to promote the ripening of the wood, which is vital for bud development.Avoid hollows or slopes which may form fost pockets which will effect your fruit trees crop.

Ground peraration and Planting

Prepare the soil as you would for any organic garden, dig it over well removing any weeds, roots and large stones.Apply organic compost from the shop or your own home made compost.You can buy your fruit tree either potted or as a bare root specimen, bare root specimens must be planted in dormancy.While potted trees can be planted all year round and will start to bear fruit in three to four years.

Despite the years that pass before it produces fruit a younger container grown tree is more likely to adapt well to its new location than an older one.Bare root trees are cheaper and tend to be sturdier than the potted varieties.

Never allow newly planted trees to dry out, a length of perforated pipe can be buried into the planting hole to target water directly to the roots, but take care not to over water.

Companion Planting

Companion planting as a means of attracting pollinating insects is a great tool in the organic fruit growers armoury.Grow hyssop, sage or thyme nearby to attract bees and butterflies. Create a Haven for Butterflies
Planting lavender bushes and other flowers near your fruit trees will also encourage them into the vicinity.

The more pollinating insects there are on your plot, the healthier your fruit is likely to be. You can also use plants to deter pests try growing onions, garlic and leeks near fruit trees to deter aphids.

Look at a wide range of Garden Fruit Trees , Apple Trees , Apricot Trees , Aprium Trees , Cherry Trees ,Nectarine Trees ,Peach Trees ,Pear Trees ,Plum Trees ,Pluot Trees and Prune Trees from MyGardenCenterOnline

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