Growing fruit trees in the upper midwest is not as difficult as you may think. At Gertens we offer Fruit Tree selections that can handle our ever changing climate and even our unpredictable winters. Here we walk you through the different fruit trees we offer.
The introduction of dwarf and semi dwarf trees makes it easy for homeowners to cultivate and enjoy fruit trees in their own yards. Dwarf trees (under 15' tall) bear sooner and are easier to prune and maintain. Expect fruit in 2-3 growing seasons.
Planting:
- All of our fruit trees prefer well drained moist soil.
- They love to be in full sun, which is 6 hours.
- Trees requiring cross pollinators should be planted at least 20' away from each other but no more than 100' away. This allows the pollinators (bees and more) a much better chance of hitting both trees and producing fruit.
- Dig the hole twice as wide as the pot and with the graft union about 2 inches above the soil line.
Plant the tree deep enough so that the graft union is two to three inches above the ground. This planting depth will keep dwarf and semi-dwarf trees from growing into standard-sized trees. Read more on planting a tree here.
Winter protection:
- Mulch the base of your tree 3 inches thick out to the canopy.
- Wrap your tree to ward off wildlife from munching on the bark.
- Fencing may be required where there are lots of deer.
Insect and Disease control:
- Clean up leaf, fruit and branch litter.
- Keep the tree healthy - it makes them less susceptible to insects and diseases.
- Maintain good soil health with compost or fertilizer.
- Proper watering. This depends on the age of the tree. Young plants to 3 years old need to be watered regularly. In hot, dry weather, more watering is required. If you are unsure, please ask our Gerten Experts.
If you suspect you have an issue with your tree you can email a picture or bring in a sample so our Experts can try and help with diagnosis and treatment. Treebarn@gertens.com
Pollinators for fruit trees:
- Apple trees require another cultivar pollinator with the same bloom time.
- Plum trees require a pollinator, use ‘Toka’. Note: ‘Mount Royal’ does not require a pollinator.
- Pear trees require a pollinator.*
- Apricot requires a pollinator.**
- Peach trees do not require a pollinator.
- Cherry trees do not require a pollinator.
*Pear Pollinators: ‘Gourmet’, ‘Summer crisp’, ‘Parker’ or ‘Luscious’ can be used to pollinate each other. ‘Seckel’, an Asian pear, is reportedly self pollinating but will do better planted with another cultivar. The Asian pear ‘Tawara’ will do better if pollinated with ‘Seckel’.
**Apricot Pollinators: ‘Moongold’ and ‘Sungold’ pollinate each other. ‘Brookcot’ and ‘Westcot’ can produce singly but the addition of an additional apricot (any other variety) will increase production.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!
