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Common Questions 
How far apart do I make my rows?
This depends on what you wish to drive between them. If it's a tractor or ute (eg for mowing, harvesting, pruning or mulching) then leave between 4-5m. Otherwise if it's only walking, leave at least 2m. |
How close can I plant my trees?
For espaliered apples we'd suggest 2m apart, or at a minimum 1.5m. Look at our article on espaliering, and note how the branches grow to meet it's neighbour. |
Do I orient my rows North/South or East/West?
Grapes are more particular about orientation to sun compared to dwarfing fruit trees. They do well either way, but more important is the vehicle access and drainage if on a slope. Planting across the contour of a slope may pool water if in high rainfall area and vehicles do less well across the slope unless it is terraced. |
Can I grow apple trees in pots?
Our experience with our trees has always been best when planted in the open ground. They will however survive in a pot, preferably a large one, with an automatic watering system to safe-guard drying out. Don't use this method to grow a tree on for 3-4 years then transplant it out: this could be a bigger job than just starting afresh with a new tree. Read more about Potted Fruit in the article by Jim Arbury from "The Garden" Magazine. |
In what part of Australia can I grow fruit trees?
Fruit trees need some element of winter chill, so the more tropical and humid you are, the less likely that they will do well. Apples will grow inland as far north as Stanthorpe / Tenterfield and the Granite belt in QLD. Right on the coast, Nowra in NSW is probably the northern limit, but further north 5-50km inland might be that bit cooler to allow fruit trees to grow. If your area has poor winter chill, consider the Australian / NZ varieties like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Splendour, Braeburn, Lady Williams, Bonza, Huonville Crab, Australian Beauty. The best guide is what is growing around you - if neighbours have had luck growing fruit trees, there's no reason why you wont too. |
Can you send the trees to WA?
Because of quarantine restrictions, sending to WA is more complicated and expensive, so we generally don't. Quoting a WA quarantine officer:
"Usually if importing from the east an importer would bring in 10-20 trees or more of any one variety. They require apple scab screening for a growing season plus the second seasons spring flush which takes about a year. We put 16 trees/sq metre of bench space and charge $2.00 per sq metre per day. So if an importer brought in 8 trees it would cost $365 per year. With fumigation and inspection etc this would probably stretch to approx $400 which would be equivalent to $50 per tree.
People need to make an application to import well in advance, as the glasshouse fills up with commercial trees each year from the big nurseries."
See www.agric.wa.gov.au/quarantine. |
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