My new favorite way to grow fruit trees is with the backyard orchard culture method. You can maximize your space by planting three or four trees close together and keeping them pruned small. When you plant several varieties of fruit with different ripening times you can stretch out the harvesting time. Instead of two or three weeks of harvesting peaches, you can harvest peaches for six to eight weeks. The trees are cross-pollinated more effectively and you get more consistent production.
I have three varieties of peaches planted in one raised box. (I put them in the raised box because my yard has a problem with drainage.) There is an Elberta, a Babcock and a Hale Haven. I can't wait to harvest peaches. I keep thinking of homemade vanilla ice cream, fresh sliced peaches and hot fudge poured on top. If you haven't tried it, you haven't lived---groans of immense pleasure abound.
Last week when I was shopping at Whole Foods, they had a plant display in front of the store. Local trees for $7.99 each!!! A total steal. I bought cherry trees, 2 Rainiers and a Lapin. The Lapin is self pollinating and is also a good pollinator for the Rainiers. It will be a few years before they will set fruit but it's well worth the wait. There might be a cherry pie in my husband's future.
If you are interested in learning more about backyard orchard culture click here.
http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html
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