Orchard spacing

Curtis B · #1 02/14/09, 02:47 PM

I'm geting ready to start planting my orchard this spring and I have gotten stuck on the spacing. I know the spacing for the different friut types for polination, but I can't seem to find the spacing to prevent cross-polination from different species.

How far apart for apples and peaches

How far apart for peaches and paw paws

and so on including nut trees

Any Ideas?

anniew · #2 02/14/09, 04:03 PM

Different ones won't cross-pollinate. Do your spacing according to the size of the tree...dwarf versus standards...most fruit tree catalogs will give you the spacing requirements.
Unless you are planting a VERY large commercial orchard you can mix the trees up and still get the pollination required. Larger operations would plant all peaches together, with maybe one row of x and one row of y for pollination, but in a small homestead orchard, the bees will find the same species as they generally stick with one species at a time...

homesteadforty · #3 02/14/09, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis B

I'm geting ready to start planting my orchard this spring and I have gotten stuck on the spacing. I know the spacing for the different friut types for polination, but I can't seem to find the spacing to prevent cross-polination from different species.

Different species will not naturally cross. Most fruit trees require two different varieties for best pollination.

haypoint · #4 02/14/09, 05:35 PM

Dwarf, semi-dwarf or standard?
You want room to drive a tractor and keep the grass mowed or is the orchard small enough to keep it mowed with a riding lawn mower or push mower?
There are many variables.

ET1 SS · #5 02/14/09, 06:17 PM

Apples trees 30 foot.

Pares the same.

Apricots, peaches, almonds 15 to 20 feet.

Walnuts 50 feet.

ET1 SS · #6 02/14/09, 06:20 PM

Also when it comes to an orchard. Your looking at square footage. Dwarf trees are smaller and fit in closer to each other. So for the same amount of acreage you plant more trees, if you have dwarfs. Also per acre dwarf trees produce 1/3 less crop.

So even though you have more trees, it still does not equal having regular trees.

Common Tator · #7 02/14/09, 07:46 PM

Our orchard was planted 100 years ago with apple. The standard then was 18 feet apart for standard size trees. Now you plant according to the size of the tree.

Curtis B · #8 02/14/09, 08:38 PM

The spacing between trees for polination and room to grow I knew. I wasn't aware that they would not cross pollinate between species. I was told the same thing about zuci and squash last year and I ended up with some really strange vegis, but technically they were the same species. Thanks for your help.

where I want to · #9 02/14/09, 08:40 PM

You can plant closer if you intend to keep the trees appropriately pruned. When I grew on a small lot and wanted a number of different trees, I planted them a lot closer and did summer pruning which kept them small.
The only tree that seems to need a grouping is some varieties of pear which don't seem to pollenate well and benefits from a closer pollenator.

Steve L. · #10 02/15/09, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis B

I was told the same thing about zuci and squash last year and I ended up with some really strange vegis, but technically they were the same species...

Zucchini are C. pepo. So are many other squashes (many pumpkin varieties are C. pepo, as well). All C. pepo varieties will freely cross, and C. pepo may also cross with the other common Cucurbita species (maxima, moschata, mixta).

However, you will only see "really strange vegis" if you save seed to plant in subsequent years. Is that what happened?

Since you won't be saving seed from any of your fruit trees, possible 'cross pollination' either within or between species is of no concern, whatsoever.

Backfourty,MI. · #11 02/15/09, 01:18 PM

We started what I call a small mixed orchard about 5 years ago. We have dwarf & semi dwarf tree's, 15 tree's total & we have them all spaced 20 feet apart. That way we have plenty of room between each. We have different types of apples, pears, cherry, plum & peach tree's. Last year we had a late Freeze that killed the blossoms all but 1 of the peach tree's & we finally got a few peaches! It was so nice to finally reap some reward even if it was a small reward.
This year I just ordered 3 Cornelian Cherry tree's. Can't find them locally but they sound like they will work out great just about anywhere.