Whether you have room for a few fruit trees incorporated into your garden or a couple of rows of them, then to a degree, you have an orchard. And with just a few trees, or many, they will more than pay for the space they use in providing health promoting produce and in saving you money. ![]() Trees do need room to grow but once established they mostly look after themselves with only the need for some pruning, feeding and control of pests and diseases. If space is limited you could consider espalier or fan training trees to grow against walls or fences or fitting a few trees into a traditional garden layout. We are fortunate to have enough space for a decent size orchard and the area was already occupied by four well established olive trees that are providing us with lovely olives. The orchard measures 28 metres by 33 metres and we now have 42 trees planted which are about 3 metres apart in all directions. There are numerous fruit trees, with many varieties, which are suitable for the Mediterranean area, so choose carefully. Make a plan of you space and plant the most suitable trees for your soil and region, whilst utilising the space to fit as many trees in as possible. Also consider the possible harvests, for instance,some varieties of lemons will provide fruit all year round whilst a cherry will only fruit for two months and an apricot for one. Buy your trees from a recommended seller in your area, as purchasing an inferior fruit tree may not be apparent for two to three years. Before buying trees to plant, research the varieties that are growing locally, what is and what is not suitable in your area, the soil requirements and the pollination needs of each tree. For example, plums and apples need another variety close by for pollination purposes to set fruit. It is also worth considering the age of trees to buy, although this may depend on how much money you have available. Trees can be purchased as young, older or mature and each has advantages and disadvantages. Young trees have the advantage of allowing you to control their shape but it may be a few years before you start enjoying any fruit. Older trees, two to four years old, will fruit much sooner but their shape is less controllable and their cost may be three times that of a young tree. Mature trees, from seven to ten, will have an instant impact in your orchard and will fruit the same year but the cost, in comparison to a young tree can be ten times or more. Growing your own fruit organically, will ensure that you are not ingesting chemical residues that are found in the majority of non-organic fruit sold. Many of the chemical residues have penetrated the fruit and washing and peeling will reduce your exposure but cannot totally remove traces of residues present. The only way of being totally in control is to grow your own. The following information provides some general guidelines on trees that can be planted in the Mediterranean area, with details on soil needs, planting, watering, after care, pests and diseases, harvesting and nutritional benefits. General Information: Before providing guidelines for each tree it is worth generally considering how to plant and care for them. The traditional time for planting trees in Cyprus is October which ensures they benefit, during their settling in period, from the rainy season and milder temperatures. All fruit trees have a wide spread of roots to collect the moisture and nutrients they need to grow and remain healthy. It is therefore recommended that a hole, for young trees, of 100cm square and at least 50cm deep is dug. The under soil can at the same time be loosened by forking to assist drainage and well rotted compost or manure added, depending on each trees requirements, before refiling. It is also worth allowing the soil time to settle, for at least 10 days, before planting your young trees. 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 would, therefore, recommend a three metre distance where trees are spaced to fit as many trees as possible into the area you have available. Follow instructions for individual trees on planting, but in all cases; (a) create a watering circle by providing a circular soil ridge around each tree which is wider than the trees spread; (b) before planting insert stakes for young trees to protect from wind damage; (c) water in well and then follow instructions for individual trees regarding watering but all young trees will need regular watering until well established for about 2-3 years; (d) do not prune young trees until well established and (e) don't add any extra feed, if you have prepared your soil then it will be not be needed. ![]() ![]() Banana: Harvest September to March. A difficult tree to grow successfully unless you are in a coastal Mediterranean area as it dislikes extreme hot, cold or strong winds. The tree needs nine to fourteen months of frost free conditions to produce a flower stalk; v ery high temperatures will burn its foilage and high winds could blow the tree down. Prefers a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. Planted from a rhizomes, they will require very rich soil and lots of water. Remove dead leaves and fruited stalks in May. Bananas have very few pests and diseases outside tropical areas. Cherry: Harvest May to June. A difficult tree to grow successfully in the Mediterranean but it grows very well in the Troodos mountain villages where the cooler climate suits a tree which dislikes extremely hot temperatures. Prefers a pH of between 6.2 and 6.8. Cherry trees have a life expectancy of about twenty years. Water new trees two times a week for the first three weeks and then at regular intervals but stop watering from mid-Autumn until mid-Winter. Cut out suckers as they emerge and as low as possible. Once established, winter prune to maintain an open structure and to remove any weak or dead branches. Will need netting to prevent birds taking all the fruit. ![]() Date: Harvest from September to October. Dates do not contain much vitamin C but they are rich in iron and fibre. Very tolerant of most soil types and has a range in pH needs of 4.8 to 8.0. Very slow growing but can grow to large height. When young, prune in the winter to maintain your desired shape and size. You will also need to remove suckers which will be produced for the first five years after planting. Very drought resistant but does benefit from watering in very dry periods until well established. ![]() Grapefruit: Harvest from October to March. Prefers a pH range of between 6.0 and 8.0. Newly planted trees will need watering three times a week for the first two weeks and then weekly throughout the year. Mulch in winter and using well rotted compost or manure to the spread of its leaves but keep the mulch away from the trunk. Larger fruits will be produced if you thin out the number of fruits on the tree. Cut out any suckers as they appear and as low as possible. Once established, prune in February to March to remove deadwood and to prevent overcrowding but remove whole branches rather than just shortening. The most common pest which affects grapefruit is the Mediterranean fruit fly which results in leaf curl and grubs inside the fruit. These can be combated by regular spraying with a strong solution of ecological washing up liquid mixed in warmish water. ![]() Lemon: Harvest lemons all year round. Prefers a pH range of between 5.5 and 6.5. Place young trees in a bucket of water for an hour before planting. Newly planted trees will require watering deeply twice weekly for the first three weeks and then regularly throughout the year. Fertilise in the winter with well rotted compost or manure but keep it away from the trunk. Only prune to remove weak growth and to retain the shape and size desired. The most common pest which affects lemons is the Mediterranean fruit fly which results in leaf curl and grubs inside the fruit. These can be combated by regular spraying with a strong solution of ecological washing up liquid mixed in warmish water. ![]() Loquat: Harvest from April to May. Different varieties can produce either sweet or a sharper flavoured fruit. Both can be eaten raw but the latter, unless you like sharp flavours, is best used to make jam or jelly. Prefers a pH range of between 5.5 and 6.5. Before planting trees purchased in containers, remove the soil from around its roots with a hose and spread the roots carefully in the planting hole. Newly planted trees will require watering well, three times in the first week and then at regular intervals until well established, after which the tree is quite drought tolerant. Fertilise twice a year and only prune to remove dead or damaged wood. ![]() Medlar: Harvest from September to October. Prefers a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5. Only prune to remove dead wood and reduce any overcrowding of branches. Needs minimal watering but keep moist until established. Fertilising will assist in fruit production. Keep weed free and provide a deep mulch of well rotted compost or manure which will benefit the tree and keep weeds at bay. ![]() Nectarine: Harvest from May to July. Prefers a pH in the range of between 4.5 to 7.5. Soak newly purchased trees for six hours before planting. Newly planted trees will need watering weekly for the first two weeks and then at regular intervals until established but stop watering from mid-Autumn to mid-Winter. Prune to keep an open structure in the centre in early spring. Treat with an organic fungicide in early spring to prevent leaf curl. Provide a slow release organic fertiliser in spring, mid-summer and late autumn. In April thin fruits forming to allow remainder to become larger. Once established, trim branches in June when they reach 1.2m to encourage side branches to develop. ![]() Peach: Harvest from June to September. Prefers a pH of between 6.3 and 6.8. Soak the tree for six hours before planting. Newly planted trees will need watering weekly for the first two weeks and then at regular intervals until established but cease watering from mid-Autumn until mid-Winter. Prune to keep an open structure in the centre in early spring. Treat with an organic fungicide in early spring to prevent leaf curl. Provide a slow release organic fertiliser in spring, mid-summer and late autumn. In April thin fruits forming to allow remainder to become larger. Once established, trim branches in June when they reach 1.2m to encourage side branches to develop. ![]() Persimmon: Harvest from September to October. Prefers a pH in the range of between 6.5 and 7.5. Take care when planting as the roots are very brittle. Newly planted trees will require watering twice weekly for the first three weeks and regularly until established but stop any watering between mid-Autumn and mid-Winter. Once established the tree is very drought tolerant. Prune once fruit has set to reduce the size of the crop and permit larger fruits. Plum: Harvest from June to July. Prefers pH in the range of between 6.0 and 7.0. Dig the planting hole at three times the width of the root ball, twice as deep and refill leaving sufficient room for the root ball. Plant at the trees level in the pot. Newly planted plums will need watering three times during the first week and then at regular intervals until established but do not water from mid-Autumn until mid-Winter. Provide a mulch of well rotted compost but do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk. Remove suckers as they emerge. Once established, summer pruning to shape and to stimulate the following seasons fruit buds can be undertaken. The most common pest which affects plums is the Mediterranean fruit fly which results in leaf curl and grubs inside the fruit. These can be combated by regular spraying with a strong solution of ecological washing up liquid mixed in warmish water. ![]() Satsuma: Harvest from September to January. Prefers a pH in the range of between 6.0 to 8.0. Place young trees in a bucket of water for an hour before planting. Newly planted trees will need watering well twice weekly for the first three weeks and then regularly throughout the year. Only prune to remove any weak growth and to retain the shape and size desired. Apply manure in the winter but keep away from the trees trunk. The most common pest which affects satsumas is the Mediterranean fruit fly which results in leaf curl and grubs inside the fruit. These can be combated by regular spraying with a strong solution of ecological washing up liquid mixed in warmish water. |
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