40 TIPS for EASY Fruit Tree growing - 35 years of experience

[@oldmcdonaldshomestead]

Thanks for all the information you put out. It’s been truly helpful. God bless

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it was helpful!

[@doggiefamily908]

You have so much knowledge. I remember asking you a few years ago about trying some temperate climate apple trees in my sub tropical central GA. You said don't bother, but I decided to try. Of course you were right, and none of them did well. Most of them are dead or barely alive.

[@Mashiamape22]

Why are they dead?

[@doggiefamily908]

@@Mashiamape22 they couldn't stand intense summer heat and sun I guess. Plus for most apple varieties there isn't enough chill hours here. The ones still alive are not doing the best. On the other hand figs, persimmons etc are growing like weeds.

[@llenic1253]

Can I ask which varieties you tried? (Before I insist on making the same experiment)

[@doggiefamily908]

@@llenic1253 cortland made three tiny apples in 6 years, before slowly dying. Winesap and red delicious never produced any fruit for me, so they are gone. The only one that did well this year, three years after planting was Mutsu. Gave me about a dozen good size apples. I also had Anna apple, which never produced any fruit (with low chill hours it blooms in February, and all the flowers get killed by frost in March)., one of the pri apples (I forgot which one), never had any fruit in 4 years. Golden Dorsett made small fruit. I'm keeping Mutsu, but I'm concentrating on figs and persimmons which do great here. No pests, frost doesn't kill the fruit. I'm also planting an Orient pear this year, it's supposed to be good for the south.

[@llenic1253]

@@doggiefamily908 I may try anna also, but I'm leaning toward a Gilbert gold. We're pretty hot in central California but not tropical, so I'll cross my fingers and give it a try. Bud break in Feb should be ok here, the almonds do.

[@bitethebullet8213]

your best video to date - so informative. well done!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Wow, thank you!

[@richarddufour7470]

Many thanks Stefan :-) GREAT summary of 30 years of hard earned experience :-) Best, Richard

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Merci Richard, je pensais passer pour récolter quelques boutures de ton mûrier illinois everbearing.

[@richarddufour7470]

@@StefanSobkowiak Il me fera grand plaisir d’en partager avec toi :-) Une amie a trouvé que la meilleure façon est de bouturer de morus est de procéder avec du bois semi-aoûté, à l’étouffée, vers le mois d’août.

[@lornabaker4039]

Thanks for your informative and engaging videos. I always learn from and enjoy them.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad you like them!

[@TinafromIreland]

Thank you for your videos! I never grew anything or had a garden, but your videos are teaching me the right skills. Getting ready to build an orchard with lots of fruits 🍇

[@WizardKingMinato]

Interesting. I was always told downwards branches leads to broken branches with weight of fruit. Super interesting.

[@midwestribeye7820]

Wonderful video as always.❤

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thank you so much 😀

[@victoriator8863]

Very informative and useful! Thanks!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MarkHoover-dv7mf]

Disease resistance is very good. I swapped out Bartlett pears for Moonglow, warren and Kieffer. Fireblight is nasty. Something also to consider, flowering time in many climates. Example, here in Missouri, peaches can get frosted off. So I made sure to get mid to late season trees to avoid that. Sunglo nectarine blooms are frost resistant too. Just something to consider. I've planted about 90 trees and 30 cherry bushes. Cherry trees can crack, but bushes don't. If you're looking at tart cherries, juliet bushes are nice.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

True, nice point.

[@lobodo988]

Thank you! I just bought a dwarf Chojuro Asian pear and I'll be using these tips! Best tip you told me: Put up a guard. We have lots of rabbits and they took out my young Honeycrisp apple several years ago, just chewed it up and killed it by girdling the trunk. I cannot let that happen to my Chojuro -- it wasn't cheap $$

[@rogerkenworthy6380]

Question - can you apply a lime wash to save young trees from rabbits etc ? Thanks Roger

[@Orangatangerine]

The only thing i disagree with is the when in doubt space them out. I personally go with the when in doubt double down. Which means i plant even closer together, with the plan on removing or transplanting every 2nd tree when they fill out enough to encroach on each other's space. More work in some ways, but the higher density seems to work well for me

[@MrToad-actual]

Thank you, Stefan.

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

Great information. Thank you.

[@reneebulkley1333]

THANK YOU!

[@GrandmomZoo]

Thank you!😊

[@carlac4407]

Thank you Stefan. I do love your tips and avoid mistakes videos the most❤

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Happy to hear that!

[@kathygarner419]

Stefan: What can I do to get rid of the yellow jackets that have invaded my apple trees. The yellow jackets are burrowing groves into my apples. Yellow Jackets have a nasty temperament and can bite and sting multiple times. They are attacking our late season Fuji apple trees and my husband. We don't want to kill the bees, but most of the sprays that kill Yellow jackets also kill other beneficial insects as well. Also, you suggest using leaves as mulch under your trees, what about those situations where those leaves contain fungal spores and viruses that are causing the trees to prematurely drop their leaves? We are fighting a particularly nasty case of these organisms on our newly planted peach and cherry trees. Your suggestions would be helpful.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Disease resistance is a great start as it saves so many problems afterwards. Then you don't have concerns about leaf mulch. You can always mow the leaf mulch to speed up its breakdown and reduce disease. Wasps often burrow into fruit that have been pecked by birds or have worms. I leave some ripe fallen fruit under the tree and the wasps will concentrate on those.

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci

[@cipriantodoran1674]

❤ the info! A very spot on video! Thank you!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tommyhundersmarck7018]

I have sandy soil, and I amend my holes with carbon (peat, compost or anything else i can get my hands on) for water retention and nutrient retention, since I dont have a drip irrigation, I dont have the time to go watering all the time.

[@purplebunnyz]

Binge-watching your videos! Question: how do you train the branches? Can you explain how please 🍎

[@StefanSobkowiak]

we just bend the branch down and hold it there with a piece of pre-bent wire (hook) that is attached to the trunk.

[@dvssayer5621]

Thank you for sharing. I have a plum tree in bloom, in November also one bloom on an asian pear! Why? And will it affect blooming in spring? I did summer prune it. Lots of blooms on the top of tree🤷‍♂️ is that normal!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

It will affect the branches that bloomed late. I would ease off summer pruning, focus on dormant pruning. Are you in the Southern hemisphere by chance?

[@patteemak2679]

Should I prune in the winter or during the growing season?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Usually best in winter, unless you want to slow the tree down.

[@raincoast9010]

Thank you.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You're welcome!

[@rickandmariaolson2597]

We're in the Kootenays in BC (zone 6B). The pigs have cleared enough area where we can start growing food for them. I've got an area at the top of the property that I want to start fruit trees. It would be really tight for dwarf trees (I might get 3 in) but I could get several cordon style trees in. Sine they can be planted 2 to 3 feet apart, would you do the companion planting the same, or would you do it differently? This is my learning experience for when they clear the bottom so I can plant a 20 tree orchard.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

If you go with cordon density just put your fruit trees and add compost and mulch yearly.

[@sheilabrennan5543]

Amazing info

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad you think so!

[@jennifersatchell3388]

I would love to get your opinion on the espalier technique for growing fruit trees

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Go for it. If you have a very narrow space it’s ideal.

[@GimmeADream]

I moved on to this property on PEI, 10 years ago and the small song birds were so plentiful. We had a few tent caterpillar nest among the cherry trees. The birds all but died two years ago of bird flu. But the tent caterpillers have exploded this year. We are cutting out and burning all our trees that attract them because over two years, they are all but dead anyway. Do you see tent caterpillar in pear, peach and plum trees?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Not in pear, some on plum but we don’t have peaches. Their fave is chockecherry.

[@tonycortese2165]

Hi thanks for all your helpful information. Are horizontal branches beneficial on citrus trees as well? Thank you

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I had to check the book I use as a reference on the technique and they don't cover citrus. There can be exceptions but I would guess yes they respond the same. Test it on one tree if you have a couple.

[@tonycortese2165]

Thanks for the reply. Wow I've watched so many of your videos it's like talking with a celebrity and to think you took time to research it for me, I'm honoured. Thank you so much.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

We're all learning.

[@overlordsshadow]

we added tree guards in saskatchewan that look exactly like that and the small rodents made nest in it over winter, at the cambium and killed the tree:(

[@JamesJones-gj1ii]

I have some apple trees that seem to be affected by cedar apple rust. I have removed the cedar trees in my yard but I believe some others are in the nearby area. What’s the best way to prevent ?? I have liberty and Jonathan planted

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Best is to plant rust resistant cultivars. Just check with the name if they have proven resistance to it. Since you’ll never get every host tree.

[@johnskillen6208]

is it possible to have soil to rich. we are well on way for our plot . we are the ones digging and mixing cow manure deep , also mounding up 4 to 5 feet above ground level . about half done the plot . size is 50 by 80 .

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You can have very rich soils but problems arise when imbalances of nutrients occur. You mention using manure it’s often not got enough carbon unless you layered it with carbon layers (wood chips, leaves, old hay).

[@johnskillen6208]

@@StefanSobkowiak we are mixing and breaking up clay and mixing 10 feet deep . orchard will also get run off from cow winter and

[@StefanSobkowiak]

10' deep!!! Wow, that is an experiment in progress. Fruit trees don't usually need such rich soils, preferring gravelly loams.

[@justpatty7328]

Question: Is there recommended method for planting fruit trees in dark, rich and heavy clay soil?

[@jesse4530]

I add a heavy wood chip/leaf mulch layer to the planting spot in spring to plant in winter. It makes digging way easier. I have alot of clay.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Be thankful you have dark clay. I really depends on the drainage especially of the clay. If it holds water on the surface at some time (ok if it happens when the soil is frozen) the I would suggest mounding or berming and planting on top to get better drainage.

[@janew5351]

How to treat Justaberry with white powder on leaves at the end of the branch?

[@MrBrznak]

try spraying diluted milk with water , the higher ph of the milk helps with the mildew, repeat if it rains

[@janew5351]

Thx MrB

[@basilsmith62]

+, 33 совет логичен, НО, сладкими плодами дерево кормит микробиоту, что даёт "лучшую жизнь" дереву. Вы наверно слышали про Эффективные Микроорганизмы? И при их разведении/размножении добавляют сладкое: сахар, старое варенье, милассу. Тоже самое делает дерево, сбрасывая свои плоды. Стоит над этим подумать, Земля-Матушка мудра.;) На самом деле всё проще и сложнее одновременно. Дерево "желает" - в этом году не хочу сильно расти. И Вселенная говорит ей: "ОК", и куча тли нападает на него, исполняя его желание:) Но чаще дерево исполняет желание человека, ведь сейчас мысли его ОЧЕНЬ хаотичны. Достаточно часто замечаю, причины того или иного роста/ослабления растений, связанных с моими "пожеланиями", правда осознаю их только когда дерево "исполнило" его:) П.С.: куры в помощь, не зря же их Боженька сотворил;)

[@BeckyDshome]

What can i do about grasshoppers galore~ 🥵 they’re eating EVERY!‼️

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Get some turkeys, they’re velociraptors on grasshoppers.

[@sheilabrennan5543]

The only problem here with long grass is snakes and tics

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Long grass can be roller crimped using even a lawn tractor. It keep the grass lower and holds moisture.

[@melodyscamman244]

Much of what I learn from you deviates from what I learned in the 1970s, but your methods seem to produce a far greater return on investment. One trick I would recommend to all is to plant lots and lots of MINT. This'll help deter field mice and moles and seldom chokes out other plantings... (Greek Oregano will however).

[@lobodo988]

Sounds great! I have lots of spearmint and I cut it up including the stems which have a LOT of flavor and dehydrate it for tea. I have so much, I can drink "free" all day, which has saved me a fortune replacing the simple afternoon Cokes. Mint tea is the taste you never get tired of.

[@gardenofseeden]

I need a plum curculio predator

[@aldas3831]

Use feromones.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Me too.

[@GypsyBrokenwings]

....All pests, so predators have food. I have yet to find a predator for Japanese beetles!

[@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress]

So I do this too - so it is not a ding - just wondering so I can do better also - but why talk in almost a yell? it is hard to listen to - and doing it for every tip doesn't allow an increase in volume for a big point .... it is all the same hyper energy --- again - I do this when talking on the phone or transcribing and am trying to stop - but I fall back into the habit - but still - I am not posting on youtube

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I guess as I get older I don’t hear myself so I speak louder. Age.

[@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress]

@@StefanSobkowiak I wish that was MY excuse LOL I do it and I'm mid-aged .... I'm still trying to figure why so I can better change it :)

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You can always just lower the volume of the whole video during editing.

[@kingjames4886]

all I have is frost pockets and poor drainage... don't tell me where I can fruit tree!

[@kristingoettlicher3503]

Lol. Yup my whole orchard is in poor drainage.

[@Blynn-md4dx]

My 2 sites are totally different. One is an old pecan orchard(12 trees) the is on a hill. Now planting apple, pear, and chestnut in there. 2nd is old house site that is full of gravel and clay. This is the site I 'officially' started planting fruit trees on years ago. Finally learned what likes it(fig and pear mostly) .

[@kingjames4886]

one thing steve says that makes a lot of sense is you gotta find what grows for you. for me it seems to be stone fruit. I think it's too wet for the pears where I am despite what I read saying they're more tolerant of clay soils.

[@TaxEvasion777]

@@kristingoettlicher3503 willow trees help

[@Wyndham21044]

When he says he maintains 6 arces by working 4 hours a WEEK implies he has no employees. I rhink that is deceptive AT 0:43

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Correct, no employees.

[@Wyndham21044]

@@StefanSobkowiak I have seen your videos where you employ French speaking people on your orchard Again Seems deceptive

[@StefanSobkowiak]

We occasionally get interns, volunteers or people completing their stages (for school). We monitor time of maintenance vs projects. Projects are any task that improves the orchard or expands it rather than maintaining what we've already put in.

[@Wyndham21044]

@@StefanSobkowiak now you are being plainly deceptive

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I guess then it depends what you classify as maintenance.