Fruit Trees and Plants

Fruit Trees and Berry Plants from Gurney's

At Gurney's, we believe the fruits grown in your home garden should taste better than what you'll find at the supermarket. We have a long history of working with plant breeders to find the most flavorful fruit varieties as well as fruit tree and berry plants that are disease resistant and easy to grow. We grow and trial fruit and berry varieties, and only select the best of the best to offer for sale.

Choosing the Right Fruit Tree

While you'll find lots of fruit trees for sale, how do you know what is the right variety for you? First consider your available space. Gurney's offers standard and dwarf fruit trees, as well as some that can be grown in containers. Many fruit growers prefer the Reachables fruit plants because they can be maintained and harvested without using a ladder. To grow fruit trees successfully, the variety you choose must be suitable for your grow zone. Use our zone finder information and recommendaions to check the first and last frost dates for your grow zone. Next consider how you want to use your fruits--including how many you'd like to grow, if you want them for fresh eating only, or if you'd like some for canning and preserving. Finally, let your taste buds decide on your favorite fruit tree variety.

Getting Started with Fruit Trees

To get the top performance out of your fruit trees and berry plants, make sure you give them what they need. Almost all fruit trees and berry plants need full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) and fertile, well-drained soil. They also need space to grow. When selecting fruit plants, note their mature height and spread. Some fruit trees are self-pollinating while other fruit trees require another tree for pollination.

With a little care and maintenance, including pruning and fertilization, your fruit trees will reward you with mouth-watering, sun-ripened fruits, sometimes in just a few years. Read on to learn more about growing your own fruit trees.

When to Plant Fruit Trees

Fruit trees can be planted in the spring or fall. Many prefer planting in the fall because the trees can put all of their energy into establishing their roots rather than growing foliage. Some fruit plants, such as raspberries and blueberries, would do best planted in the spring, while containerized trees are likely to bear fall planting better.

How to Plant Fruit Trees

Before planting, make sure your planting space receives full sun and has well-drained soil. You can improve the soil by mixing compost into the planting hole. Also, make sure your fruit tree has the space it needs at full maturity. Fruit trees perform best when they have plenty of air circulation and are not crowded.

Your fruit tree may arrive as a bareroot plant or a potted plant. If it's bareroot, soak it in water for about 15 minutes before planting. Dig a hole that allows the roots to spread. Many people dig a hole that is about twice the size of the container. The graft or bud union (swollen area on the trunk, about 4-6 inches above the roots of all fruit trees) must be 1-2 inches above the soil surface (after settling). Dwarf trees should be staked. After planting, water the tree weekly during the growing season. Read more on how to plant and care for fruit trees.

When to Prune Fruit Trees

Fruit trees should be pruned in early spring before the buds begin to form and while the tree is still dormant. At this time, the tree is less susceptible to injury from the cold and pathogens. The general rule is to prune less during the tree's early or juvenile years.

How to Prune Fruit Trees

When pruning fruit trees, use clean, sharp tools. Remove crossed or injured limbs and any branches that rub against each other. Avoid cutting short spurs from the main stem since these bear fruit first. Remember, the purpose of pruning your fruit trees is to allow more sunlight to reach the inner part of the tree, improve air circulation throughout the tree canopy, and encourage healthier, more abundant fruit!

When to Fertilize Fruit Trees

Fertilize fruit trees in early spring, before they begin their annual growth cycle. We recommend Gurney's Fruit Tree Food, an all-natural fertilizer formulated specifically for fruit trees. To fertilize trees, start about a foot from the tree's trunk and spread it until you reach the tree's drip line. Avoid fertilizing trees in the summer because this boost fall growth, making the tree more susceptible to winter injury.

How Long Will It Take for Fruit Trees to Bear Fruit

The length of time between planting fruit trees and them bearing fruit varies. Usually Reachables or dwarf fruit trees bear fruit sooner than standard varieties - sometimes within a few years. Standard-sized fruit trees may take up to five years to bear fruit, but they'll often fruit sooner. If your fruit tree is not producing fruit, check it's pollination requirements. Some varieties require another tree for pollination.