friut tree planting question

[the funny farm6]

How far apart should you plant friut trees? These are regular size trees. Apple, cherry, pear, and peach. Possably plum room permitting. I am trying to figure out how many I can plant.

 

[SSDreamin]

Others may say different but, for layout purposes, I use 25 foot, all the way around, on a regular sized fruit tree.

 

[pinkfox]

20-25 ft is generally "standard" for standard/full sized fruit trees

 

[Denim Deb]

I'd say around 20 feet. I know when I worked on the fruit farm, I used to mow the orchards. They had a strip under the trees where they had put down weed killer. That strip was about 4 ft wide. So, on either side of the aisle, there'd be 4 ft, 8 ft total. Then, the mower was a 12 ft wide bush hog, so 20 feet.

 

[okra]

The distances between trees recommended is mostly that aimed at commercial growers, to maximise size, yields and allow access for tractors, but many trees can be planted a lot closer, as long as their size is controlled by pruning. When growing your own, it is more important to utilise the space available to provide a variety of fruit, harvests over a longer period and yields that are adequate for your needs. Closer planting will reduce the trees ability to grow large and will make it easier to prune, net against birds and harvest. We have planted 40+ fruit trees which are about 10 foot apart and they are all growing well and hopefully will be fruiting within the next couple of years.

 

[FarmerChick]

go wide for yourself. having that room to work, harvest etc around the trees is a great addition to the good fruit you will get.
at least 20

nothing worse than planting something too tight. best to give on the wider side

 

[the funny farm6]

I will go 20 feet and see how many I can fit. I don't have a lot of room.

 

[FarmerChick]

you are better off with less choices and making that room.

pick the top fruits you love...go from there
put them in order...plan...and if you don't have room for the last (which is lowest on the list) eh

 

[brandylorton]

Atleast 20 to 22 feet required for the planting of the trees . Here the logic is the roots of the plants are going to get developed and are going to expand so it will have to be a little of space there for the expansion.

 

[sunsaver]

The distances between trees recommended is mostly that aimed at commercial growers, to maximise size, yields and allow access for tractors, but many trees can be planted a lot closer, as long as their size is controlled by pruning. When growing your own, it is more important to utilise the space available to provide a variety of fruit, harvests over a longer period and yields that are adequate for your needs. Closer planting will reduce the trees ability to grow large and will make it easier to prune, net against birds and harvest. We have planted 40+ fruit trees which are about 10 foot apart and they are all growing well and hopefully will be fruiting within the next couple of years.

I second this motion. Recommended spacings are usually based on root length and have nothing to do with how rich the soil is or how well the plants will do. For example, asparagus roots can be layered on top of eachother with the crowns as close as four inches apart, not the recommended one and half feet. Intensive gardening is the only way to be somewhat self-sufficient on an acre or less. Humus-enriched soil, mulching and pruning, espailer techniques, dwarf varieties; all can be used to maximize fruit production in the home orchard.