The growth of dwarf fruit trees.
Having an orchard of fresh fruit available to pick at my convenience has always been a dream of mine, and i'm sure that it is many of yours too. When I first moved into my unit, with barely any space of my own, I thought that my growing potential was very limited. I couldn't have been more wrong. On a trip to the nursery, I was amazed to find dwarf fruit trees! These little wonders completely solved my problem of being limited by space. I am currently living out my dream and have an abundance of fruit producing trees, including orange, mandarin, nectarine, apricot, mulberry and finger lime (although I think that this number will grow since I manage to find room for "just one more" every time that I go to the nursery).
So, why are they so small? Don't stress, they're not genetically modified. The tree's size is restricted as the tree is grafted onto a smaller, less invasive rootstock. This means that they can be planted closer together than usual, and you will end up with a large variety of fruit in a small space. The limited root size also allows you to plant dwarf trees in a pot. This is perfect for individuals like me, who are renting and need the convenience of a portable orchard for when the lease runs out. While the trees are usually half the size of their counterparts, they produce the same size fruit and surprisingly have good size yields once the tree is established.
There is currently a large selection of dwarf trees available, with more and more being produced each year. Ensure that you plan ahead. By doing this, you can choose varieties that fruit at different times of the year, meaning that you could get fruit all year round. The best way to find out what is available to you is to head down to your local nursery (not Bunnings) and find out what dwarf varieties they have in stock. The more nurseries that you visit, the more varieties you will find. You will also discover that there is a significant difference in price and tree size between nurseries so be sure to shop around first.
There are many other major benefits to dwarf varieties. The first is that with the right pruning, you can ensure that the crop is within arms reach. This is great for the grandparents or young children who do not want to be up high on a ladder to collect the majority of the fruit. Another major benefit is that two different varieties can be grafted onto one rootstock. This means that you can have one dwarf tree that actually grows two different types of fruit! This is perfect for those who are extremely tight on space but want variety.
A quick word of warning, some fruit trees need to be cross pollinated. This means that a second tree is needed to pollinate the first and develop the fruit. If you do not have enough room for two trees of the same variety, ensure that you thoroughly read the label and you get self-pollinating trees.
When caring for your tree, ensure that it is placed in a sunny, sheltered place. If you are planting in the ground, ensure that the soil has good drainage. If you are planting in a pot, ensure that your premium, organic potting mix never dries out and apply an organic fertiliser more frequently than usual. I would highly recommend using mulch whether you are planting in the ground or in a pot. This will drastically reduce the plants water consumption and its chance of drying out. If you follow these basics and are observant of your plants needs, you will discover what techniques work best in your micro-climate.
By having a mini orchard you are getting amazingly tasty fruit straight from your yard, with the added satisfaction of knowing that you grew it yourself. You are also lowering your reliance on the modern agricultural system, which is detrimental to society and the Earth. It doesn't get any better than that!
