For autumn planting, you should choose those fruit trees and berry bushes that take root easily and quickly. It is important not only to choose the right varieties, but also to follow the rules of agricultural technology for each crop, which we will discuss in this article.
If after harvesting and putting things in order you still have energy left, it’s time to start expanding and updating your garden collection. Many summer residents are afraid to plant fruit trees and berry bushes in the fall, considering unstable weather and possible frosts to be the main threat to newly planted plants.
In fact, from this point of view, spring planting is not much safer, because return frosts can come quite unexpectedly. But there are much more advantages to planting trees and bushes in the fall:
- during this period it is easier to determine the quality of seedlings - by the volume of young growth, the condition of leaves and roots;
- at the end of the season, nurseries tend to sell off the remaining planting material and reduce prices, which means you can purchase the desired plants at a profit;
- in autumn it is not necessary to monitor soil moisture; it is enough to water the seedling generously immediately after planting, the rest will be done by rain;
- the activity of the main garden pests at the time of planting is reduced; before the onset of hibernation they will not have time to cause damage to young plants;
- in this case, the root system of trees and bushes will develop until the temperature drops to 4°C;
- with the arrival of the new season, young trees will immediately begin to grow, without wasting time on adaptation, and will begin to bear fruit a year earlier than those planted in the spring.
In regions with a mild climate, almost all fruit and berry crops can be planted in the fall, and in the northern regions and the middle zone, cold-resistant specimens - winter-hardy garden crops and zoned varieties of heat-loving species - are suitable for planting at this time of year. Among fruit trees, these are pears, apple trees, plums, cherries, and among the variety of berry bushes, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries will best tolerate autumn planting.
Planting dates vary depending on the climate of the area and the weather in the current season. You can focus on general recommendations: for the northern regions this is the first 7-10 days of autumn, for the middle zone - the second half of September and the beginning of October, in the south planting can be done until the beginning of November. However, the decision should be made taking into account the situation “overboard”.
Pear
It is recommended to plant pear seedlings in September - the first half of October. Autumn planting is especially recommended in the southern regions, where spring begins early and is actively coming into its own.
It is best to select corners of the garden for pears that are oriented to the south or west. The pear does not like transplants, so it is important to immediately choose the right place for the tree. Groundwater in the selected area should not lie close to the surface of the earth.
The size of the planting hole on different types of soil will vary: when planting in loose fertile soil, a diameter of 70 cm and a depth of 50 cm is sufficient; on clay or poor sandy soil, the size of the hole should be increased, and the soil extracted from it should be mixed with humus, compost and peat, adding wood ash or dolomite flour for deoxidation.
It is not advisable to prune the pear when planting, because this culture reacts painfully to pruning. The procedure should be performed in early spring, strictly before the start of sap flow.
Apple tree
Planting of young apple trees should also be planned at least a month before frost - optimally from late September to mid-October.
For good fruiting, the apple tree needs a large amount of sunlight and a place protected from drafts, where gusts of wind will not interfere with insects pollinating the flowers.
The apple tree will develop best on light loam with groundwater no closer than 2.5 m from the surface. If your site has heavy clay soil, be sure to add low-lying peat or sand (proportion 2:1) before planting. Adding peat and humus (2:1:1) will help enrich poor sandy soil with nutrients and improve the structure.
The size of the planting hole depends on the age, volume of the root system of the seedling and the future height of the adult tree: for specimens of low-growing varieties, the hole is made about 50 cm deep and 90 cm in diameter, medium-sized ones will need a hole 1 m wide and 60 cm deep, and large varieties need more space - 70 cm deep and 110 cm wide. You need to prepare the hole in advance - about a month and a half before planting.
Plum
Stone fruit crops take longer to take root than pome crops, but it is also possible to plant them in the fall, especially winter-hardy zoned varieties.
In order for plum seedlings to take root properly, planting must be planned two months before the onset of persistent cold weather, that is, in the middle zone no later than the beginning of September.
You should choose a place for the plum that is well-lit and protected from drafts. The optimal type of soil is loamy or sandy loam, always fertile and loose with neutral acidity. Lowlands and areas with a high (closer than 1.5 m from the surface) groundwater level are not suitable for planting plum trees, because... the culture does not tolerate excessive moisture.
Cherry
Both autumn and spring planting are suitable for cherries, depending on the winter hardiness of a particular variety.
It is best to plant cherries “under the cover” of fences or buildings to protect them from gusts of wind, and at the same time ensure the accumulation of snow in winter - this is important for preserving the root system from frost. The site should be sunny, and the soil on it should be light and fertile with neutral acidity.
When planning planting, you need to check the long-term forecast of weather forecasters and make sure that there is at least a month left before the onset of frosty weather - that’s how much time the tree needs to take root and adapt. And with the approach of winter cold, young trees should be covered with earth or peat to a height of 30-40 cm.
Raspberries
The timing of autumn planting of raspberries depends on weather conditions, climatic zone and the selected variety. The daytime air temperature during planting should be at least 10°C. The time required for seedlings to take root is approximately 15-20 days - this is how much time is expected to remain before the onset of frost.
For planting, it is important to choose healthy raspberry bushes: the shoot of a high-quality seedling should be more than 5 mm thick and about 20 cm long; A well-developed root system is no less important.
A hole for planting is dug 30x30x30 cm in size, compost or rotted manure and fertilizers - superphosphate (30 g) and potassium sulfate (20 g) are added to the soil, which are thoroughly mixed with the soil. Raspberries require abundant watering after planting, water consumption is about 5 liters of water for each plant.
Gooseberry
Almost any elevated place on the site is suitable for gooseberries - when planted in a lowland where water stagnates, there is a high risk of root rot and fungal diseases. The shrub grows and bears fruit best in the illuminated part of the garden, but it will also thrive in slight shade, and prefers neutral or slightly acidic soil.
It is important to clear the selected planting site of weeds in advance, because Weeding around a plant with thorny branches will not be easy. The planting hole should be twice as large as the root system of the seedling. You can add humus or mature compost to the soil for backfilling, as well as mineral fertilizers - potassium sulfate and superphosphate.
Currant
Planting currants in the fall is considered preferable, because... allows you to get actively vegetating young bushes by the beginning of the next season. Most often, early ripening and winter-hardy varieties are chosen for this.
Currant seedlings can be planted until mid-October. At the same time, it is not even necessary to look for a special place - this culture feels good both in open areas and in partial shade, and can also grow along fences and garden paths. However, remember that the taste of the berries depends on the planting location: on bushes growing in shade, they will be slightly sour.
It is most profitable to plant different types of currants (red, white, black) close to each other - such proximity will have a good effect on fruiting.
The diameter of the planting pit should be at least 50 cm, and its depth should be about 40 cm. The pit should be filled with organic matter and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers should be added. During the planting process, the seedlings are pruned, leaving 2-3 buds on each shoot, and after watering and compacting the soil, the tree trunk circles are mulched with sawdust, straw, peat or compost - for additional nutrition and protection of the roots from the cold in winter.
When planning plantings, remember the compatibility of crops: do not plant an apple tree next to a cherry plum tree, or a cherry tree next to an apricot. Do not prepare the planting hole in a hurry - this must be done at least two weeks in advance. Our material will help you avoid annoying mistakes when planting in autumn.
