Choosing the best fruits, nuts & berries to plant can be confusing if you’re not prepared. You need to consider what hardiness zone you live in, when you want to harvest, how much space you have, how much maintenance they require, and what kind of wildlife they will attract.
HARDINESS
What USDA hardiness zone are you in?
If you want to be SUCCESSFUL when planting fruit & nut bearing trees and berries on your homestead then you need to take into account what hardiness zone you live in. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created a system so that we can determine which plants will grow well in our area. Their are 13 zones in this system. For example, Idaho hardiness zones include zones 4,5,6 and 7.
We live in the panhandle of Idaho which includes zones 5, 6, and 7. Zone 4 is mostly on the eastern boarder of Idaho. See this website to search your specific zip code.
Because northern Idaho has a shorter growing season than the southern states, we need to plant appropriate varieties of trees and berries to assure their survival. Each plant is described by their hardiness to help you choose appropriately.
Take a look at The Nursery at Ty Ty website. I love this website because you can input your USDA Zone if you know it, or your zip code and then browse to see which plants are perfect for your growing area. They will tell you if your choice is a perfect USDA zone match or will need special considerations to grow outdoors in your zone. In my opinion is it best to stick with plants that match your zone perfectly.
For example, we live in Zone 6. Braeburn Apple Trees and Arapaho Thornless Blackberry Plants are a perfect match for our USDA zone, but Baldwin Pear Trees will need special considerations to grow outdoors.
HARVESTING
If you are super excited and can’t wait to eat fruit from your own homestead, I can totally relate! Before we even bought our property I was already dreaming of picking blackberries with our kids and harvesting bushels of apples to make pies with!
How long before I can harvest my fruit & nut trees after planting?
Did you know that fruit-bearing trees take one to five years before they come into production? But with care most of them will keep on producing for many years – even generations. Almond trees take some time to start producing nuts. Typically a waiting period of 5 years, but could take longer depending on the species. Dwarf trees usually bear much sooner than standard, full-sized, trees, but a down side to them is that they will require more care as we’ll mention in the points below.
How long before I can harvest my berries after planting?
You might consider planting berries on your homestead first because typically they produce in the second season while you can expect to wait longer for trees to begin bearing fruit.
So, evaluate your goals and plant accordingly. I personally think planting a variety of both fruit & nut trees and berry bushes is best. This way you have an early reward from your labor and in the years to come a great variety of fruits and nuts on your homestead to enjoy with your friends and family.
SPACE
How much space do fruit & nut trees need?
Where space is limited, dwarf trees can be the answer. Dwarf trees, produced by grafting standard varieties onto special rootstocks, bear full-sized fruit but seldom grow more than 8-10 feet tall. Because of their small size, they are easy to prune and care for. As an added bonus, the fruit can be easily picked without climbing a ladder. And as many as 10 dwarfs can be planted in the space required by one standard tree.
How much space does it take to grow berry bushes?
Spacing for berries depend on the variety and whether you are planting in a hedgerow or hill system. Berries typically like full sun, so be sure to plant bushes away from buildings or other structures that may shade the bushes. You should plant the bushes at least 50 feet from shade trees, not only because they block sunlight, but because the roots compete for water and nutrients.
MAINTENENCE
How much attention will they require of you?
Pollination: Some varieties of fruit-bearing trees as well as berries do not bear well when growing alone because they have problems with self-pollination. They need a second, “pollenizer”, close by. Where we live in northern Idaho Spring weather can be cold and wet, which typically reduces the presence of bees and other insect pollinators. You can plant a self-fertile variety or plant two compatible varieties that can help pollinate each other to help fix this problem.
Another reason I love the Ty Ty website is because they tell you which pollinators match your chosen tree/bush/vine. Simply make your selection of fruit, scroll down till you see “Product Description”, “Pollination and Growing Zones”, and “Shipping Information”. Under “Pollination and Growing Zones”, you can read which pollinators, if they are not self pollinating, compliment your choice.
Dwarf Trees: As mentioned above, dwarf trees usually bear fruit sooner than standard tress. One down side is that if you choose to plant dwarf trees they will require more care than standard trees. There are two methods of creating dwarf trees. One method is created by using dwarf rootstock and a standard top. This method will require you to stake it down permanently to prevent them from toppling under the weight of the heavy crop. A second method is by using a sturdy, full-sized root system, then a hardy, compatible trunk section, then a dwarfing, trunk section, followed by a standard top. These are called interstem dwarfs and do not require staking.
Pruning: Pruning will keep your plants productive. It is the art of selectively trimming or removing parts of a living plant. If done properly it will promote the formation of flowers and fruit, eliminate dead and diseased wood, and control and direct the growth of your trees, bushes or vines.
So how much attention do you want to give your plants? Fruit trees and berries will steadily decline unless they are pruned and tended. Most fruiting plants need to be pruned while they are dormant. Take pruning into consideration when determining what to plant on your homestead.
WILDLIFE
What wildlife are attracted to them?
Northern Idaho, where we live, is teeming with wildlife. That is one of the attractions for homesteading here! The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are home to over 300 wildlife species. Grizzly Bears, moose, Woodland Caribou, The North American Lynx, the Pygmy Rabbit, and bald eagles are just a few of these beautiful creatures.
Be aware that wherever you live you may be attracting some magnificent creatures on your homestead if you plant fruit & nut trees and berry bushes. Grizzly bears and moose both eat berries. Read this article here if you want to learn how to react when you see a moose. Be careful, they can be aggressive creatures.
Take the necessary precautions when dealing with wild animals. As discussed in the article above, you may need to fence in your trees and bushes to avoid direct contact with them. They are beautiful to look at but don’t get too close!
BONUS RESOURCES
#1 Contact your local nursery to learn what grows best in your area. They should have in stalk appropriate trees and bushes that are best suited for your hardiness zone and unlike ordering online their plants will be acclimated.
#2. Find your counties local extension office. This is a government organized program that works with land-grant institutions such as some universities. The mission of the program is to “advance agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities”. “The educational offerings are in the areas of agriculture and food, home and family, environment, community economic development, and youth and 4-H.”
Scroll to the bottom of this wikipedia page and locate your state. On the extension website provided you may have the option to select your specific county. If your extension office is up-to-date and active, this can be a great resource to you. Here you could find classes and workshops on gardening, Master Gardener Programs, and other research that is related to your specific USDA hardiness zone.
So have fun choosing which fruits you will begin with! Get ready for freshness and a range of flavor that cannot be matched by store-bought fruit.
Varieties we want to begin with next year:
Apples: 2 varieties
Honeycrisp & Dolgo Crabapple Tree
Cherries: 2 varieties
Stella Cherry Tree & Black Tartarian Cherry Tree
Blackberries:
Navaho Thornless Blackberry Plant
Strawberries:
Tribute Strawberry Plant (not sold on The Nursery at Ty Ty)
