Have begun work on my 3-C orchard

[Kaleva]

3-C

Covid-19
Climate Change
CWII

I have marked out and tilled up 3 rows for raspberries, blueberries and haskap. The row for the raspberries is 2'X42' long, the row for the blueberries is 2'X40' long and the row for the haskap is 2'X30' long. The rows are 8' part from each other and other parts of the orchard and garden. The rasberry and blueberry rows run north and south while the haskap row is to the south of them and runs east and west.

To the east of these rows I have marked out 5 9'X10' plots where I plan to plant 3 plum trees in one plot, 3 peach trees in the next plot, 3 pear trees in the following plot and in the remaining two plots, 3 apple trees each and I'll be using backyard orchard culture techniques with the fruit trees. To the north of the house in a spot that gets plenty of sun, I'll plant a stand alone Russian Quince tree. As the raspberry, blueberry and haskap plants will cost me a pretty penny next spring, I probably won't get the fruit trees till the following year which would be 2022.

As the part of the yard where the orchard is located remains wet and soggy till early summer, I bought 6 cubic yards of screened topsoil for $156.00 delivered which I paid for with money earned babysitting. This should be enough topsoil to build up the raspberry, blueberry and haskap rows to a height of 7 inches. I do not need to build up the soil for where the Quince tree will be. I'll be getting unscreened topsoil from a friend of my wife's for free and which I have to get myself. That topsoil will be used for berms for the fruit trees an they'll be 4' wide X 4' deep X 1' high each. About 3 cubic yards.

Considering that this project is a considerable investment of my time and money, I bought a soil test kit from Lowe's to test the soil so i know if I need to make adjustments that would help increase the chance of success.

[Ohiogal]

1. I had to Google "haskap".

I’ve never heard of it. It’s a honeysuckle?

[Kaleva]

3. Another name is honeyberry

https://www.jungseed.com/category/652

[safeinOhio]

2. Been thinking about 3 plum trees

What type of plums will you plant?

[Kaleva]

4. As it's going to be well over a year before I get any, I haven't firmly decided yet.

In the meantime, I'll be doing research on what varieties do best where I live in Upper Michigan and have 3 separate varieties whose fruit matures at different times of the season so to extend the harvest.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

5. Sounds like a plan. Good luck and good weather conditions while the plants get established.

[MLAA]

6. Best of luck!

I just planted a little kale, spinach, romaine and onions in patio planters 🙂

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

7. spent $1200 on trees this year.

finally getting salable crop of peaches and pears this year.
planning to do the european thing of tethering down the branches for easy picking on the new trees.
more blueberries and cranberries.
imho, you are wasting your money buying soil for raspberries. they make soil. they dont need anything.

[Kaleva]

8. As i mentioned, the ground is wet and I need to raise the beds up.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

9. meh. raspberries love that.

cranberries would be good.

[Kaleva]

10. " In wet, soggy soils, the roots can rot within a few days."

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/ideal-growing-conditions-raspberry-plants-47418.html


"Plant raspberries in well drained soils or on raised beds."

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1996/6-28-1996/rasprot.html

"Raspberries need plenty of moisture but do poorly in wet . soils."

https://www.missoulaeduplace.org/images/horticulture/Publications/Fruits/Growing_Raspberries_in_Montana_Gardens.pdf

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

11. spent that money w these guys btw

http://norsefarms.com
some of the stuff was so well grown it was a chore to prune it back to an appropriate size.

and yeah. but i have a 50' hedge of raspberries from 3 quart pots. and that is after giving away enough plants to some guys who do school gardens that half the schools in chi have my raspberries.
if that was all it took to level it out you should prolly plant something else there.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

12. i guess your local rainfall matters.

it was so dry here this year, i didnt get a second crop like i usually do.
would rather have them grow slower than miss a second crop.

it's all a balance in the garden.