So I'm quite pleased with my progress on what was most certainly one of the main jobs of this Winter... planting some fruit trees....
I now have 10 new trees, which I planted about two weeks ago now, and I'm happy to say that it's been raining A LOT over the last few days, so they are really getting a nice soaking and I'm happily imagining their roots burrowing down to find water and stabilise themselves....
I planted on the pre-existing terrace swales which had very handily been prepared by the previous owners, and a great place for a little fruit tree nursery.
Most of them were bare rooted trees and I planted in holes around this large with a little sunken water pipe (it gets HOT here in summer!)
Nine Trees planted in total....
- Two peach trees
- One apricot tree
- two cheery trees
- two almond trees
- one orange tree
- one lemon tree.
I also planted two Chestnut trees, but elsewhere on the land!
Below are just some of the trees I planted and roughly where, I think I got the locations right....
Lower Swale
Cherry tree
Note the mulch which is around every tree, mainly just some partially rotted straw I had!
Peach Tree
I've also got an apricot tree down here too!
Mid Swale
Peach Tree...
Almond Tree
Orange Tree
Upper Swale
Almond Tree
This one survived from last year!
Lemon Tree
Peach Tree
Cherry Tree
Final Thoughts.....
Getting them in at the right time of year is just the start, now I have to monitor them and hope they survive - winter shouldn't be a problem, mor spring, but summer is likely to be challenge as I'm going to have to give them a decent watering twice a week.
If I can get my shit together I'll be able to establish a localised irrigation system and with any should have sufficient water from the well to pump up to my IBCs to keep the trees watered all summer, the amount of rain we've already had this winter certainly bodes well for there being enough stored water to last all summer!
I think nine trees, with two having survived from the previous years gives me 11 fruit trees in total - that is certainly enough to start with for sure!
This is a long term gradual-growth project after all!