Information

Planting a Container Tree

  1. Dig a hole two times the pot width and one and a half times the depth.
  2. Tip the pot in the container and gently shake it loose.
  3. Add good loose soil or potting soil to the hole.
  4. Place the potted tree in the hole so the top is slightly below the surface.
  5. Fill in around the plant with soil and water immediately.
  6. As the water settles the soil add more until hole is full.
  7. Lightly firm the soil with you hand or foot and water again.
  8. Water regularly depending on weather until tree is established.
  9. If tree is very tall and slender or in a windy area, triple stake the tree. Leave a little room for movement on the tree ropes. Stake for maximum of one year only.
  10. Add 3″ of mulch around base of tree if desired.

Pollination of Fruit Trees and Small Fruit

Fruit Tree Pollination

Most hardy fruit trees require cross pollination by another cultivar from the same group.

  • Apple: Require cross pollination for fruit set. All apples, crabapples and applecrabs are closely related and can be used to cross pollinate each other.
  • Apricot: Produce more reliably when pollinated by other Apricots or Nanking Cherry.
  • Plum: Require cross pollination by another plum cultivar or native plum species.
  • Pear: Require cross pollination by another pear cultivar or Ussurian Pear seedling.

Small Fruit Pollination

Most hardy fruit shrubs are self-fertile and do not require cross pollination by another cultivar.

  • Blueberry: Many are self-pollinating, however planting multiple cultivars oftena result in larger berries and better yields.
  • Cherry: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production.
  • Currant and Gooseberry: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production. If currants are grown near gooseberries, yields can be even greater.
  • Grape: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production.
  • Honeyberry: Require cross pollination by another cultivar or by Sweetberry Honeysuckle.
  • Raspberry: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production.
  • Saskatoon: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production.
  • Strawberry: Self-pollinating; only one variety required for fruit production.

Watering and Fertilizing

For plants that are in containers (planters, hanging baskets, etc.) that are in soilless mix:

  • Overwatering kills!
  • Allow the plant to dry out somewhat before watering.
  • When you water the plant, water to the drip through point (from the drainage holes).
  • Most plants use a medium strength fertilizer:
    1 Tablespoon 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 per gallon of water every watering, then use clear water every third or fourth time you water.
  • Some plants (Supertunias, Superbells) use a heavy strength fertilizer:
    2 Tablespoons 20-10-20 per gallon of water every watering, then use clear water every third or fourth time you water.
  • In planters and hanging baskets that require medium and heavy fertilizing, fertilize with heavy fertilizer (Supertunias or Superbells mixed with other plants)

For plants that are in the ground, that are in soil:

  • Allow the plant to dry out somewhat before watering
  • Fertilize in sping with 20-20-20