#Backyard Orchard

Most people think you need acres for an orchard—but thanks to dwarf rootstock, I’ve packed 20 fruit trees into my backyard! ✅ Compact trees = more varieties in less space. ✅ Easier pruning, picking & care. ✅ Faster fruiting than standard trees. ✅ Perfect for backyards, even small ones! Dwarf trees make homegrown fruit possible no matter the size of your space. Who else is building a backyard orchard? 🍎🍑🍐 #BackyardOrchard #DwarfFruitTrees #GrowYourOwnFood #HomegrownFruit #SmallSpaceGardening #FruitTreeTips #TasmanianGardening

When we bought Our home 5 years ago we had 5 fruit trees, we have planted 26 fruit trees since. We have apples, apricot, cherry, pluerry, peach, plum, fig, pear, and pomegranate trees. #orchard #miniorchard #fruit #fruittrees #backyard #backyardgarden #organic #growyourownfood #homestead #abisthriftyways

Are you dreaming of your own orchard? 🍑 🍋 Our 1950’s neighborhood sits on an old former citrus farm. Most of the former grapefruit and lemon trees have died (they don’t live as long as typical trees) so we planted new ones! If you have a patch of unused lawn—front or back—consider using that space. Growing up, my parents planted two peach and an apple tree in our front yard in the city and we always had people ringing our bell asking if they could have a peach or two and my parents always said yes (and they didn’t have a fruit cage for the birds I don’t know how they kept them away 😆) Not only does a backyard orchard make you feel like you’re in the country even tho you live in the city, the long-term investments having fresh, seasonal produce is fun! I’m thankful for @sweetlifegarden who was over helping me with the yard when our landscape designer @collectivedesignbuild was over and said “Make this your orchard!” after seeing all our fruit trees were clustered on one side of our yard. Head to your local nursery to buy a fruit tree, make sure you will enjoy your harvest so buy what you eat! Worried about birds? A fruit cage keeps your harvest safe and looks charming tucked into the landscape. 👇Comment “link” for details on the fruit cage and other options I’ll DM you (if you don’t get a message you have to follow me to receive it depending on your message preferences.) #backyardorchard #ediblelandscape #growyourownfruit #orchardinspiration #gardenlovers

The most productive tree in my backyard orchard… hands down, mulberry. I just lay out a blanket and shake the tree and it rains fruit. It’s one of the easiest harvests I get all year. If you’re thinking about adding fruit trees, this one’s worth it. More on fruit trees in my new fruit book, The Florida Fruit Garden. Comment ORCHARD and I’ll send you the link. #mulberry #fruittrees #backyardorchard #floridagardening

It’s gonna turn into more than you think. #orchard #fruit #trees #garden #fyp

Growing cherry trees in your backyard garden is rewarding, but they require proper care. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to growing sweet cherries (Prunus avium) or sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) at home. --- 1. Choose the Right Cherry Variety There are two main types of cherry trees: Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium) – Need cross-pollination (require two trees). Best for fresh eating. Sour Cherries (Prunus cerasus) – Self-pollinating (one tree is enough). Used for jams, baking, and preserves. ✅ Dwarf cherry trees are ideal for small backyards. --- 2. Select the Best Location Sunlight: At least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Space: Standard trees need 25–30 feet apart, while dwarf varieties need 10–15 feet apart. --- 3. Planting the Cherry Tree Best Time to Plant: Early spring or fall (when the tree is dormant). Dig a Hole: Twice the size of the root ball and deep enough for roots to spread. Planting Depth: Place the tree so the graft union (bulge near the base) is 2 inches above soil level. Backfill Soil & Water: Cover the roots with soil, press gently, and water well. --- 4. Watering & Mulching Water regularly in the first 1–2 years (1-2 inches per week). Mulch around the base to retain moisture and prevent weeds (keep it 2 inches away from the trunk). --- 5. Fertilizing & Pruning Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) in early spring. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead branches and encourage strong growth. --- 6. Pest & Disease Control Use netting to protect cherries from birds. Watch for aphids, cherry fruit flies, and fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Use neem oil or organic pesticides if needed. --- 7. Harvesting Sweet cherries: Ready 3–5 years after planting. Harvest when dark red, firm, and sweet. Sour cherries: Ready 2–3 years after planting. Pick when fully red. --- Bonus Backyard Gardening Tips ✔ Choose self-pollinating varieties (like Stella or Montmorency) if planting only one tree. ✔ Train cherry trees on trellises for small spaces. ✔ Store fresh cherries in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for long-term use.

SMALL ORCHARD INFORMATION: at Crowded Table Farm one of our orchards is small. The trees are about 10 feet apart. We have one full row of peach trees and 3 rows of apples. One apple row is our harder storage apples such as Gigi, an other row is the applesauce making apples such as golden delicious, and the last row is our eat-right-now apples like pink lady and John a gold. We wanted an easy manage orchard where we didn’t have to drag a tall ladder to pick prune and thin. Watch video for the resource book we learned from. Also, the orchard is also our chicken run. There’s great shade in the summer heat as well as the calcium, potassium, nitrogen, magnesium that chicken poop contains is so good for the trees. They also eat any bad fallen fruit and insects.

Three years ago I planted this Pink Lady apple tree along with 12 other fruit trees for my goal of creating a backyard orchard that provides fresh fruit every single day of the year! Im thrilled to say I’ve achieved that goal and I have a full series on my YouTube channel showing every step of my process from planting to pruning. Follow the link in my bio to learn more about that process. #apple #fruittrees #homegrown #orchard #garden #gardening

Our espalier orchard this year was such a thrill. These trees were all planted in 2017, our first season growing here. Planting a fruit tree is the perfect way to live a slow and humble life. There’s no guaranteed bounty. No certainty that they will start fruiting in a set amount of time. I sorta love the unknowns and humility they foster in me, settling into the discomfort of feeling completely out of control and still hoping for the best. Add in the beauty and nuance and love that John pours into these trees, and you’ve got edible artwork. These trees are growing on the north and east sides of the garden, living fences in front of - and protected by - our deer fence. He prunes them a few times a year, and is meticulous with thinning fruit and proactively managing for pests. If you’ve ever tried, you know growing unblemished fruit is hard (unrealistic, really). But this year, year 7 for many of our fruit trees, both of our plums produced, and three of our 8 or so apple varieties fruited too. It’s easy to forget just how magical spring and summer can be when it’s turned so quiet outside. The hush of winter hasn’t landed here yet, but the garden is a shadow of its summer self. Grateful for these snips of audio to remember the nuances of the garden throughout this year. #seedtofork #fruitorchard #espalierorchard #espalier #espaloerfruittrees #foodgarden #successionplanting #organicgardening #ediblelandscaping #ediblegarden

🍑Meet our top 5 fruit tree picks for starting your backyard orchard. Get all 5 trees for under $100! Reg. $59.99, now just $19.99 each - there’s no better time to start your backyard orchard! Save this weekend Friday Feb. 21st - Sunday Feb 23rd🍏 🍑 July Elberta Peach – Sweet, juicy, and full of flavor! This self-pollinating tree produces golden-fleshed peaches with a red blush—perfect for fresh eating or baking. 🌞 12-15 ft tall & wide. 🍏 Fuji Apple – Crisp, juicy, and packed with flavor, this homegrown classic extends your harvest into fall. 🍂 Best planted near other apples for cross-pollination. 20 ft tall & wide. 🍑 Double Delight Nectarine – Stunning pink blooms in spring, rich & sweet fruit in midsummer. 💕 A prolific producer with exceptionally juicy fruit. Self-pollinating, 12 ft tall & wide. 🍷 Santa Rosa Plum – The gold standard of plums! Sweet, juicy golden flesh with a hint of tartness from its purple-red skin. 💜Self-pollinating & thrives in many climates. 12-15 ft tall & wide. 🍊 Blenheim Apricot – A SoCal favorite! 🌞 Aromatic, sweet, and perfect for fresh eating, drying, or canning. This heirloom variety delivers a prolific summer harvest. Self-pollinating, 15-20 ft tall & wide. 🍑🍊 Which ones are you growing? Tell us in the comments! ⬇️ #gardentips #bareroot #fruittrees #backyardorchard #urbanharvest #howtoplant #gardenhack

POV: You discover a fruit tree in your own backyard and it feels like uncovering a little piece of magic. 🌿🍎 In many cultures, apple trees symbolize prosperity, abundance, and good fortune…a sweet reminder that the right home doesn’t just give you space, it gives you stories, traditions, and unexpected treasures waiting to be found. ♥️

🌳🍑 Skip these fruit tree mistakes if you want to harvest LOADS of homegrown fruit from your backyard 👇 After 10+ years growing fruit trees in a Perth backyard (zone 10b), I’ve turned a small suburban block into an abundant urban food forest — and I want to help you SKIP years of frustration! Here are just a few 👇 🌳 Buying bigger trees to “save time” (root-bound or roots cut & more!) 🌳 Believing what is sold at the nursery WILL suit your climate..(trust me it is not always the case - nurseries sell plants to those with slightly cooler or warmer climates than yours *especially stonefruit with chill hour needs) 🌳 Not having a labelling system (plants die & pollinator info is lost) 👇 🌳 Or not checking if a tree needs a pollination partner (resulting in fewer fruit & smaller sizes). *Apples, pears, plums and kiwifruit are some common trees that often require pollinators but there are others. 🌳 Planting grafted plants without understanding the rootstock (unmanaged rootstocks can take over your tree) 🌳 Being scared to prune or not pruning at all (can cause many problems! Including netting struggles and pest issues) 🌳 Expecting instant results in a system that rewards patience (throwing quick fixes and creating more problems and inbalances) 🎥 In my latest video, I break down 24 backyard fruit tree mistakes no one talks about — and how to avoid them....so you don’t have to learn them the hard way. 👇What advice would you share with new fruit tree growers? #growingfruit #backyardfruit #fruittrees #ediblegarden