Fall Planting #2

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When I decided to pursue my project of growing 3 citrus trees in 1 pot, I did a lot of research on high-density planting, so I would be successful.

Here are some of the important points I found:

1) Plant trees of the same species. In other words, citrus with other citrus, stone fruit with other stone fruit, etc.

2) If you are doing a backyard orchard and not a commercial orchard, you don't need a tree to bear 900 apples. Pick trees that with judicious pruning will produce what you need.

3) Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer to keep your trees from putting out alot of new growth too quickly.

4) Pick combinations of trees for successive fruit ripening. For instance an early variety that will ripen in May, one that will ripen in July and one that will ripen in September.

5) If the intent is to eventually put them from the pot into the ground, let them mature in the pot a year or so first. They will develop a solid root system and adjust easily.

More tips in my next blog...

photo by Loralei Dewe