Starting an orchard?

[Messiah Jones]

 Got some acres. Want to start an orchard and see it produce before I die. The Burgess catalog had a "Super 10 Fruit Tree Collection" so I ordered it. I also ordered some almond and pecan trees. Supposedly these are bundled so that you get the right amount of variety so that they can produce. - I have chickens and ducks. The trees will be planted on the tops of water holding swales. - I jumped the gun ordering them because tis the season. What lives I shall enjoy and what dies I shall return. That's where I'm coming from. So what can I do to encourage these trees to live? The reason I mentioned the birds is because I have an abundance of "duck water" and chicken poop compost. But I've read that it can be too "hot". - Next year I will start the garden. - But I have to get trees going if I am to see them fruitful in my lifetime.

 The trees I'm planting are... Jonathan Apple, Red Delicious, Yellow Transparent Apple. Red Haven Peach, Hale Haven Peach, Barlett Pear, Kieffer Pear, Early Blue Plum, Early Richmond Cherry, and Stella Cherry.

 They are all zoned for my area. I have a Westardly facing hill. Low on the hill but full sun all day. Zone 6A.

[Dino412]

Wildlife will feast on fruit tree saplings. Protect them well. Stay away from the gimmicky rabbit and deer repellents. What has always worked for me is pulverized lime dust, as all manner of bugs and wildlife hate it and its good for the soil. you can cover the whole sapling, leaves and all, all year round. I also have chickens and use the poop mixed into compost but you gotta let it breakdown first. Asparagus thrives in chicken compost! You can use the compost for anything just don't let any of it touch the plant itself. I have tried plum trees and they need to be sprayed for insects or the fruit is gone before its ripe. same for peaches. I only have apple trees now and never spray insecticide on them and they turn out well. I also have 4 chestnut trees that do well with no help from me.

[Messiah Jones]

 Like post... I can use this. Thank You.

[cvasqu03]

Y'all are making me jealous.  Back in the old country, our house had a small "patio."  It's what you guys would call an enclosed backyard.  In it my dad planted an apple tree, then a pear tree, then a banana tree.  Later he added some plum tomatoes, and possibly some other stuff I don't remember. 

Unfortunately ever since moving to the US we've almost always rented.  I always wanted to plant an orchard once I got my own place.  It sounds awesome. 

Good luck guys.

[PAX]

The nuts will need to pollenate or they won't produce. In your "package" see if they include pollinators. You'll need some bee activity too. PAX

[Danjal]

The nuts will need to pollenate or they won't produce. In your "package" see if they include pollinators. You'll need some bee activity too. PAX

And most fruit trees need pruned correctly to hear fruit. Every type is different.

MJ, if you want fast results, get peaches and nectarines. A lot of citrus fruits are fast growing but aren't cold hardy. Grapes and raspberries can grow fast also.

[Lafayettegregory]

peaches and nectarines sound good- But my experience in the South East, is that it takes a lot of attention and lots of insecticides. Better have a warm climate for citrus.  Satsumas are more cold hardy but still cannot take extended hard freezes or early freezes on the blossoms.  I prefere plums, pears, Native grapes, Raspberries blackberries, Blueberries strawberries and apples. I have only one tall bush Blueberry now and get about 9 Lbs of fruit form it. More if I keep the birds away. ---I usually share 
 OH.... Don't forget to plant Figs!!!!! If it cold in your area just plant on a south facing stone /brick wall. Turkey figs will be very prolific! They make excellent preserves/jams.

[cvasqu03]

This reminds me, back when I was looking to buy a house (back when it was an actual possibility) I looked into fruit trees I could plant here in Florida, and despite this being the citrus capital of the world (yeah, I'm exaggerating, so sue me), they are not recommended or even encouraged for private owners.  Apparently the citrus canker epidemic has left lingering effects which only the big growers have been able to deal with.

Among the trees we do see a lot around here are avocado trees and mango trees.  Mango trees unfortunately attract so many mosquitoes that my brother and SIL would be dying.  We all get stung, but when those two are around, it's like they're mosquito magnets.  My step dad was the same, he used to say it was because he had "sweet blood."  Anyway, that's what would discourage me from the mangoes.  I've recently started liking avocados again though. 

There are actually books that will tell  you specifically what type of fruiting plants will work well where you live.

[mogunner]

You can buy some trees and bushes cheap through the Missouri Dept of Conservation, they run sales every year.

https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-seedlings/order-seedlings

[CavemanSteve]

You might consider a mycorrhizae/fertilizer when planting. Basically a fungus in a  tea bag you toss in the hole. Really gives a boost to root establishment and longer term fertilizer uptake. Pretty darn cheap to do. The one we use is called MYKO Start 60, but I see it is only labelled for the west coast. I'm sure you can find sonething similiar.

[Lostinspace]

Any poultry manure will be "hot" as birds excrete urine in their poop.  It's best to mix the poultry manure in your compost pile and not use it for at least 6 months.  As for the fruit and nut trees.  Nuts will take a few years.  At the home I grew up in the pecan trees are just now to the point of getting a decent crop of pecans after nearly 40 years of being planted. Fruit will usually produce in 2-3 years.  You didn't mention how tall the trees were?  If they're just a foot tall then I would go to a local nursery and buy some 6' tall or better as soon as they arrive.  Here's an old trick.  Once the orchard is finished producing turn the birds loose in it and they'll eat any bad fruit laying on the ground and fertilize it at the same time while not over fertilizing it.  We raised both ducks and chickens and at the end of the year we turned them loose in the fenced in garden to eat whatever was left.  After a couple of weeks the plants and old veggies were gone and the garden fertilized for the spring.  All we did was run the tiller over it once in the spring and plant, no fertilizer necessary. 

[Messiah Jones]

 Got saplings on the way. Ordered some fungus like Cavemansteve said, and scored an auger Bobcat attachment at an auction... for my Bobcat that doesn't run. I'm hoping this will all come together. The only deer protection that has ever worked for me was taking a "cattle panel" and bending it into a circle and metal zip-tie ing it. At $20 a piece that doesn't compute. So I'm going to try the pulverized lime thing mentioned above by Dino412.

 I traded a VEPR 7.62X54r for this Bobcat so it better run. I saw it run 2 years ago but it looks pretty rough. My neighbor happens to be a Bobcat mechanic. But my POS dog recently attacked his beagle so I'm not sure how close we are anymore. 🙄

 I realize older trees have a better chance of survival but I'm trying to get to a point where an entire 3 acre section is covered. So I will be adding every year until I'm too old to plant. I'm hoping for another 30 years of life. We'll see. In that time I'd love to see a "food forest" develop. In a few years from now I'd like to mess with bees as well. All things I wish I could've started a decade ago.

 And thank you guys for the chicken poop advice! That helps too. I know nothing but want to try everything. Also looking into black soldier fly larvae and worm farms. Need some hobbies I guess.

[Dino412]

MJ, I am always fighting off the deer from destroying the garden, and my trees. Even thou the pulverized lime will stop them from eating your tender saplings, they will still stomp, and rub them to death. What works best for me is some cheap plastic orange construction fencing that is about 5 feet tall. Place it around your saplings using either wood 2x2's or rebar. You could also look into the rolled wire mesh used in concrete to form a cage for the saplings. 1 roll could do about 10-12 trees and is reusable. Do this in conjunction with the lime and you should have no problems. Good luck.

[Messiah Jones]

 Never thought the orange fence could stop them. I'll look into it... Thanks again.

 Might be able to get that at work. Can't get $3 gloves, but $150.00 boots are plentyfull.   

[Lafayettegregory]

https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode209/
 When it comes to deer control see the above show. Pay special attention to the University of Georgia research and control measures. The two fence method seems to work for lots of people in my area.