What Is An Orchard?

An orchard is a copse of trees that produces fruits such as oranges, peaches, and apples. Your orchard needs to be unique, and it is your responsibility to decide what you want for your orchard. You can have 2-3 fruit trees in a small orchard, while a large-scale orchard can have as many as 100-400 trees over an acre of land. 

It is essential to know your needs before you start your nursery & greenhouse in Fort Ashby, WV, and ask yourself some questions such as: 

• Do you want your orchard to provide for your family alone?
• Do you want to sell to the farmers?
• Do you want a big orchard where you can sell the produce to the general public?

WHERE TO PUT YOUR ORCHARD

You need to determine your goals before you create your orchard so you can have a great time. 

Are you thinking of providing for your family and friends? 

Do you want a large-scale orchard where you can cultivate your fruit trees and sell them to the general public?

It is essential to follow some guidelines to start your first orchard: 

• Do not set up your orchard under power lines and property lines. 
• Your orchard must have access to good soil, water drainage, and air ventilation. It will be a brilliant idea if you can plant your orchard on a slope. 
• Avoid sitting your orchard on low-lying sites; these sites preserve the coldest temperatures in the winter season and prevent their growth. On the other hand, planting your orchard on a northern slope will cause your fruit trees to bloom and produce more fruits.  
• Ensure you plant your orchard on the small hills that surround a valley. Avoid planting your orchard on the hilltops where the wind can cause damage, and it is essential to ensure rows of trees planted on hills should follow the contour system. 
• Avoid planting your fruit trees right against the home. Instead, ensure your site has an excellent drainage system. 
• Some fruits may require pollination to produce fruits. Therefore, you need to cultivate a different variety of the same fruit. 

CHOOSING ORCHARD LAYOUTS

It is crucial to figure out a suitable layout for your orchard. First, you need to find one design that aligns with you and your property. These orchard layout options are as follows: Single line, Square, Rectangular, Quincunx, Triangular, Hexagonal, and Contour or terrace. 

DECIDE THE TYPE OF FRUIT TO CULTIVATE

Fruit trees are to be planted in your orchard, and it is your responsibility to decide the kind of trees you need to plant. Once you decide about the best trees for your land, you can start your orchard. 

Tropical or subtropical weather conditions are excellent for citrus, while apples and cherries do well in cold weather. It is better to select trees that flourish in your zone and blossom in their growing season. 

Trees with shorter growing seasons can do well up north, and fruits ready for harvest around November thrive in the southern parts of the United States. You need to research the best fruit trees that work perfectly for your location. 

Be sure of the source of the fruit you want to purchase and ensure they are bought in the early period of the year, around April to May. You can buy your fruits in the fall if you have a short growing season or live in a location with a lenient winter season. The demand in your area determines the prices of fruits, and they are easily found at local garden centers. 

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SOIL

As you want to have a nursery & greenhouse in Fort Ashby, WV, you need to perform a soil test to determine if your soil can deliver the proper nutrients to your trees. If your soil is clay, and you need to plant fruit trees, you need to build the soil for each tree. It takes a longer time to get suitable soil, and it is a process that you must follow. 

Backfill the hole where you intend to plant fruit trees with enhanced soil, rotted manure, ground rock phosphate, rock potash, and compost. Whenever you want to produce an orchard around your property, ensure you use loamy soil rich in organic material and sand. 

TIPS FOR YOUR ORCHARD

• Ensure you prune the broken roots and keep the roots moist when you are working. Pouring a water mixture and compost over the seeds will reduce air pockets and keep them wet. 
• Use fences or repellants to curb the impact of animals that could cause damage to your plants immediately after planting.