Confessions of a Fruit Tree Addict

I love to grow fruit. Oh, how I love to grow fruit! Join me, won’t you, as I share the exciting new project I’m working on this year – companion planting around my fruit trees.

You see, I may have a slight addiction to fruit trees. In fact, my long-suffering husband, Bryan, might even say I have a serious problem. I can’t help it – I just can’t resist the siren call of the fruit tree sale, beckoning me to add yet another apple, peach, or pear to our little homestead.

It all started about 20 years ago when we moved out to our few windy acres in Nebraska. I dove headfirst into planting an orchard, ordering trees left and right. My husband would sometimes come home to find new saplings quietly nestled in the freshly dug holes, as if they’d always been there. I’d like to think I’m a clever, stealthy planter, but the truth is, I’m not the strongest hole-digger around.

As I’ve learned over the years, growing fruit trees takes a bit more work than just putting them in the ground and letting them go. They need pruning, pest management, and a little TLC to really thrive. And that’s where my new companion planting experiment comes in.

The Fruit Tree Guild: A Mini Ecosystem

This year, I’m focusing on creating what’s known as a “fruit tree guild” around my two Black Boy peach trees. A fruit tree guild is a permaculture method of planting a fruit tree in combination with other beneficial plants. The goal is to create a mini-ecosystem around the tree, with each plant playing a role in supporting the health and productivity of the whole.

According to the folks at Vomiting Chicken, some of the most commonly used companion plants for fruit trees include:

• Egyptian walking onions
• Comfrey
• Calendula
• Marigold
• Spiderwort
• Mint
• Horseradish

The idea is that these plants can help in various ways – some attract beneficial insects, others help retain moisture or suppress weeds, and a few even have the ability to “mine” nutrients from the soil and make them available to the fruit tree’s roots.

Putting the Fruit Tree Guild into Practice

For my Black Boy peach trees, I’ve assembled a veritable botanical garden of companion plants. I’ve got the Egyptian walking onions, the comfrey, the calendula, and the marigolds all ready to go. The spiderwort was a gift from my mom, and I’ve got some mint and horseradish thrown in for good measure.

Now, I’ll admit, this is all a bit of an experiment for me. As the folks at Today’s Gardens mention, there hasn’t been a ton of scientific research on the benefits of fruit tree guilds. But from what I’ve read, the potential is really exciting.

I’m hoping that by surrounding my peach trees with this diverse array of plants, I’ll see an increase in the health and productivity of the trees. Maybe I’ll finally get to enjoy the fruits of my labor (pun intended!) and actually harvest some peaches this year. Lord knows, I’ve been waiting long enough!

The Importance of Pollinators

Of course, as my friend Kristine pointed out, there’s one other crucial element to consider when it comes to fruit tree health – pollinators. Without bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, my fruit trees won’t stand a chance of producing any fruit at all.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a decline in the number of pollinators visiting my orchard. Ever since the local “honey lady” took her hives away a couple of years ago, my apple, plum, and pear trees have been practically barren.

That’s why I’m hopeful that some of these companion plants, like the calendula and the clover I’ve planted, will help attract more of those essential pollinators. Fingers crossed that the buzzing of bees and the flutter of butterfly wings will soon return to my little corner of Nebraska.

Lessons Learned from 20 Years of Orcharding

I may be a relative newcomer to the world of companion planting, but I’ve been honing my fruit tree maintenance skills for the past two decades. And let me tell you, I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.

For starters, I’ve realized that patience is key when it comes to growing fruit trees. It takes time for those saplings to mature and start producing a decent harvest. Some years, I’m better at staying on top of the pruning and pest management than others. But I’ve come to accept that there will always be ups and downs, good years and bad.

I’ve also learned that a little creativity can go a long way. When life gives you lemons (or in my case, no peaches), you’ve got to find ways to adapt. That’s why I’m so excited about this companion planting project – it’s a new challenge, a new way to try and outwit Mother Nature and coax the best possible bounty from my fruit trees.

A Fruitful Future

Who knows what the future holds for my little orchard. With the addition of these companion plants, maybe I’ll finally get to enjoy a bountiful peach harvest. Or perhaps the comfrey and horseradish will work their magic and breathe new life into my aging apple trees.

One thing’s for sure – I won’t be stopping anytime soon. As long as there are fruit tree sales to be had and seed catalogs to peruse, I’ll keep adding to my little slice of orcharding heaven. After all, a girl’s gotta eat, right? And what could be sweeter than sinking your teeth into a juicy, homegrown peach or apple?

So here’s to the journey ahead, my friends. Who knows what delicious discoveries await as I continue to experiment, learn, and (fingers crossed) reap the rewards of my fruitful labors.