Planting fruit trees 01-16-2010

by Farmer Dave
(Northern Californina)

Happy New Year gardeners
I am in Northern CA and it was a pretty dry fall and the start of winter. We had a prediction for rain so I got out and planted a few fruit trees before it really set in. Now that it is raining I have some time to write about it.

Planting some cherry and peach fruit trees. I also hope to plant some apple trees before spring.
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This year I am planting a few of the varieties I have been missing in my orchard and renewing my peaches. We have some older (about 28 year) peach trees which are still producing minimally so we have been planting a few new ones every year or two. I am planting a "frost peach" as they are not susceptible to peach leaf curl which is a problem in our area in wet springs. I am also planting a "Rich Haven" peach which comes on early and is a great peach if the curl isn't to bad.

We have a couple older cherry trees in our upper meadow but want some new trees closer to our house and some different varieties. I planted a couple "Stella's" which are a really nice fruit and self pollinating. I also planted a couple "Lapins" which are also self pollinating and I hear are a good tree, at least that is what the nursery woman said.

Planting the trees
This year I planted my trees in shallow holes just big enough for the roots, I gave them some rock phosphate and dolomite and a little compost. I plan to top feed them later this year and in the years to come. Sometimes I dig big holes and fill them with compost and manure but lost a few trees a couple years ago. My wife thought I killed them with kindness. Will see how these do.