How to Plant Bare Root Fruit Plants
For a Bountiful Harvest
Bare root fruit plants are a great way to start or expand your home orchard. They are cheaper, easier to transport, and more adaptable than potted or balled and burlapped plants. They also offer a wider selection of varieties and cultivars to suit your taste and climate. However, bare root fruit plants require some special care and preparation before and after planting to ensure their survival and productivity. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of choosing, storing, planting, and fertilizing bare root fruit plants.
Choosing Bare Root Fruit Plants
The first step is to choose the right bare root fruit plants for your garden. Here are some factors to consider:
Climate: Choose fruit plants that are suitable for your hardiness zone and chill hours. Hardiness zones are based on the average annual minimum temperature, and chill hours are the number of hours below 45°F (7°C) that a plant needs to break dormancy and flower. You can find this information on the plant labels or online catalogs.
Pollination: Some fruit plants are self-pollinating, meaning they can produce fruit with their own pollen. Others are cross-pollinating, meaning they need another compatible variety nearby to pollinate them. Make sure you have enough pollinators for your fruit plants, or choose self-pollinating varieties if you have limited space.
Rootstock: Most fruit plants are grafted onto a rootstock, which is the lower part of the plant that provides the roots. The rootstock affects the size, vigor, disease resistance, and cold tolerance of the plant. Choose a rootstock that matches your soil type, drainage, and desired plant size. For example, dwarf rootstocks are ideal for containers or small spaces, while standard rootstocks are better for large orchards or windy areas.
Quality: Look for healthy, well-branched, and well-pruned bare root fruit plants. Avoid plants that have broken, dried, or diseased roots or stems. Check the plant labels for the age, height, and caliper (trunk diameter) of the plants. Generally, younger, taller, and thicker plants are more vigorous and productive than older, shorter, and thinner ones.
Storing Bare Root Fruit Plants
Once you have chosen your bare root fruit plants, you need to store them properly until you are ready to plant them. Here are some tips for storing bare root fruit plants:
Timing: The best time to buy and plant bare root fruit plants is from late fall to early spring, when they are dormant and less likely to suffer from transplant shock. However, you can store them for a few weeks or months if the weather or soil conditions are not favorable for planting.
Moisture: The most important thing is to keep the roots moist but not soggy. You can wrap the roots in moist newspaper, peat moss, or sawdust, and place them in a plastic bag or a bucket. Store them in a cool, dark, and humid place, such as a basement, garage, or refrigerator. Check the roots periodically and mist them if they start to dry out.
Temperature: The ideal temperature for storing bare root fruit plants is between 34°F and 40°F (1°C and 4°C). Avoid freezing or overheating the plants, as this can damage the roots and buds. If you store them in a refrigerator, make sure they are not exposed to ethylene gas, which is emitted by some fruits and vegetables and can cause premature flowering or fruit drop.
Planting Bare Root Fruit Plants
When you are ready to plant your bare root fruit plants, you need to prepare the soil and the plants. Here are the steps to follow:
Soil: Choose a sunny, well-drained, and fertile spot for your fruit plants. Avoid low-lying areas that are prone to frost or flooding. Test the soil pH and nutrient levels, and amend them if needed. Most fruit plants prefer a slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0, and a balanced fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can also add organic matter, such as compost, manure, or peat moss, to improve the soil structure, drainage, and fertility.
Hole: Dig a hole that is wide and deep enough to accommodate the entire root system of the plant. The hole should be at least twice as wide and as deep as the roots, and have sloping sides. Loosen the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole, and add some organic matter or fertilizer if needed. Make a small mound of soil in the center of the hole to support the plant.
Plant: Remove the plant from the storage material and soak the roots in water for a few hours or overnight. This will rehydrate the roots and help them recover from storage. Prune any broken, damaged, or diseased roots or stems. Place the plant in the hole, spreading the roots evenly over the mound. Make sure the graft union, which is the point where the rootstock and the scion (the upper part of the plant) are joined, is 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) above the soil level. This will prevent the scion from rooting and losing the benefits of the rootstock. Fill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the roots. Water the plant thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
Stake: Depending on the size and type of the plant, you may need to stake it to provide support and stability. Drive a stake into the ground near the plant, and tie the plant to the stake with a flexible and soft material, such as a rubber band or a cloth strip. Leave some slack to allow for growth and movement. Avoid using wire or rope, as they can cut into the bark and damage the plant.
Mulch: Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips, straw, or pine needles, around the base of the plant. This will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and add nutrients. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot and pest problems.
Fertilizing Bare Root Fruit Plants
Fertilizing your bare root fruit plants is essential to ensure their growth and fruiting. However, you need to be careful not to over-fertilize or under-fertilize them, as this can cause more harm than good.
We love Espoma products. Espoma Berry-tone is an organic fertilizer that is specially formulated for berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. It contains a blend of natural and organic ingredients, such as feather meal, alfalfa meal, and bone meal, that provide essential nutrients and beneficial microbes for your berry plants. Here are some tips and guidelines for using Espoma Berry-tone fertilizer on bare root berry plants:
Apply Espoma Berry - tone fertilizer twice per year, in early spring and late spring, after planting your bare root berry plants. Never apply fertilizer to frozen soils.
Use 1 cup of Espoma Berry - tone fertilizer per foot of branch spread for individual plants. Double the amount if the branch spread is three feet or larger.
Sprinkle the fertilizer around the drip line of the plants and water thoroughly. If the area is mulched, either remove the mulch temporarily and feed, or double the rate on top of the mulch.
Avoid placing the fertilizer directly on the roots, as this can burn them.
By following these steps, you can successfully plant and fertilize your bare root fruit plants and enjoy a bountiful harvest for years to come.
Happy Gardening!
- By Betsey Sorrell
