Chapter 1 – Planning your new orchard

You might be staring out your window as the last of the winter snows melt and thinking of what you want to do with that large, open sunny patch near the garden. Or perhaps you just want to punch up the landscaping in your yard.

The most important aspect of growing an orchard demands that you understand what types of fruit trees and berry bushes will grow best in your climate. There are some fruit trees that absolutely despise growing in frozen ground. While there are other types of fruit trees that need a hard freeze for hundreds if not a thousand hours each year.

Luckily many orchard providers these days are conscious of what grows in each of the growing zones. They often list it with each type of tree or bush. They are based on the averages for your growing zone.

If you are unsure of your growing zone, the US department of agriculture hosts a detailed map on their website that will help you out. A quick call to a county agricultural extension office can also help get you pointed in the right direction.

It is best not to tempt fate by trying to grow something that is not meant for your climate type. For instance I have grown fruit trees in zone 4 that were noted to only be able to handle the winters in growing zone 5. I thought with careful mulching and covering I had beaten the system. Three mild Minnesota winters later I was getting excited for my first harvest of sweet cherries. Then back to back brutally cold winters slammed the area, followed by a late spring of inconsistently cold weather. The trees lingered, but ultimately died.

If you absolutely have your heart set on a fruit tree that cannot safely be grown in your zone, you can always try to grow the tree in a large pot inside a four season greenhouse. You will need to be mindful of course to select a dwarf variety that can handle life in a pot.