Plan and plant a backyard orchard-part 1

This is the first of a planned series of vidoes looking at how to plan and plant a backyard orchard. I intend to put up half a dozen Vids looking at different aspects to form a mini series over the autumn. Please pile in with any criticisms, questions, comments and learning needs and I will try to answer. Pleae also chare any good sources of information you have come across and add youyr owbn videos, lets maye YouTube work collaboratively to help eveyone who wants to grow their backyard or neighbourhood orchard.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• backyard
• neighbourhood
• community
• pear
• apple
• plum
• peach
• fruit
• grow
• graft
• plan
• learn
• share
• orchard.

[ProfKSE]

Stephen, Are you famous yet? :-) Has anyone ever stopped you on the street and said, "Hey! You're that apple orchard guy on Youtube!"

[stephenhayesuk]

@ProfKSE not on the street, but at least once I have been recognised by a patient in clinic who'd seem ne om the tube. And I was once on TV for 30 seconds when TV chef Rick Stein tried some of my apple juice at a farmer's market.

most viewers seem to be in the USA

[mxbites]

I planted a semi dwarf Fuji and a semi dwarf Goldrush tree which both bloom at the same time. I want to plant a third apple tree to insure against loss of one of the other two. Should I plant another Fuji another Goldrush or shall I plant a completely different early blooming apple like Cox's Orange Pippen or Gala. Also, should I train these trees to the central leader or the open center"Modified central leader system. I love your videos thank you so much for what you do.

[stephenhayesuk]

@mxbites Thanks. Its a matter of debate as to whether open centre, pyramid or a compromise called 'delayed open centre' is best. There are arguments both ways.

I would't plant Cox, its a very poor cropper. Ifyou like Cox, I recommend Kidd's Orange Red, which has most of the flavour of Cox but is very much easier to grow We are eating our Kidd's with pleasure at present, late December.

better to plant a different variety for variety, your choice.

[morningdove3202]

We have almost 2 acres in zone 7 (Maryland, USA) and we have planted 15 dwarf fruit trees. Everthing from apples, to pears, peaches, cherries, and plums. We have one standard apple tree that produces nice green apples, and I've been making apple butter and fruit leather..... I've heard that dwar fuit trees don't live as long as standard trees...is this true?

[stephenhayesuk]

@morningdove3202 Sound great!

Fruit trees on dwarf rootstock don't live as long as standard on seedling or M25 or similar stocks, but its 30 years against 70+ so I wouldn't worry!

Why don't you post some videos of your backyard orchard and post them here as responses? Seriously, my subscribers would like to see how you make fruit leather, I read it in a book but haven't tried it yet, sounds a great way of preserving fruit for the winter.

[5Language]

Can this be done in a tropical country like The Bahamas?

[mxbites]

Stephen, thank you so much for your speedy reply to my apple question. As someone who has a passion for home fruit production in general,I have found your videos and knowledege to be a wonderful resource. Again,thank you for your help and I am sure I speak for many when I say thank you for your videos.

[andrewnorris2]

Great proposal, Stephen, a back yard orchard. I shall certainly be following with enthusiasm

[DarthBARC]

I am excited for this series. I have been wanting to planet some apple trees in my backyard, but I just moved to where I am right now and so it has been a weird schedule for me. Keep up the great work and after this series and some information I should be able to grow apple trees!