I bought my first house four years ago, and I’m lucky that it has a decent size back yard and backs on to a creek. We’re in an average suburb, but the backyard makes it feel like we’re in some wonderful cross where the country meets the woods.
The yard was a blank slate of grass when we moved in, and I’ve spent the past few summers working on the landscaping. I’ve added some hostas, ferns, peonies and hydrangeas. I’ve also built a couple of small raised beds and experimented with different vegetables.
Now it’s time to get serious.
The vegetables have brought great joy, and I want to take it a step further. I want my backyard to be beautiful, but I also want it to produce as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Hence, I’m trying to come up with a bunch of home orchard ideas. Here’s what I’m thinking.
Apples
Apples are my favourite fruit, hands down. Apples are best adapted to colder climates, though some varieties have been developed to thrive in the warmth of the South. I’m in Zone 6, which means cold winters and warm summers.
It’s best to plant a few different varieties for best pollination. I don’t have room for multiple apple trees, but there’s one across the creek in a neighbour’s yard, so that should do the trick nicely. I’ll be looking for a variety that produces apples in the fall, as they bear the tastiest fruit in my opinion.
Pears
Last year I decided to plant a pear tree. I opted for a bare root version because I’m told it makes for healthier trees in the long run. It did quite well over the summer and fall, and I’m looking forward to seeing the buds come back in the spring. Pear trees usually take 4-5 years to bear fruit, so we still have a ways to go. The variety I got is supposedly self-pollinating, but it will be a few years before I know for sure.
Standard pear trees are quite large, so if you’re planting make sure you have enough room. Standards often grow 18 to 20 feet tall and 12 or more feet wide. I planted mine a little close to the fence so I’m going to have to transplant it this Spring while it’s still dormant. Is it crazy to think I might be able to do something like this? Some research will definitely be required…
Cherries
Cherry trees are definitely standouts when it comes to looks. I’m considering a Bing cherry tree. I’m told the cherries they produce are big and sweet and the flowers are quite lovely. There’s just one caveat. While I could likely find space in my yard (I’d have to use a semi-dwarf variety), in order to produce fruit, I need to have two trees. I don’t think there’s any way to get around it. I could plant the second one in the creek, but I can only put so much back there before I might be taking more than my fair share of space. But if I can find a spot, a Van Sweet cherry tree is considered an excellent cross-pollinator.
Blueberries
I’m so excited for blueberries! Last year I planted a single bush and managed to get a few berries. This year I’ll add a second one for cross-pollination and I’m confident I’ll start to get a lot more.
A word about blueberries – they’re very picky when it comes to soil. Blueberry bushes must have acidic soil — between 4.0 and 5.0 is ideal. How do you know if your soil is acidic? The safest bet is to test it. There are a lot of different testers out there but this Sonkir Soil PH Meter is quite good. If you find it’s not acidic enough you can amend the soil with elemental sulfur. If you’re planting in a container or raised bed you can simply use an acidic soil blend.
Raspberries
Raspberries are another perennial crop that can provide fruit quickly – and continue to produce for years and years to come. In fact, I’ve been warned that if you don’t watch it, they’ll take over your whole backyard before you know it. While they have a relatively deep root system, they only require 18 to 24 inches of spacing, so growing them in a small garden is possible. Just make sure you have a good amount of sunlight (at least six hours) and decent drainage. I’m going to try them in the back of the garden near the fence. I’m really hopeful they’ll work out because raspberry pie is my absolute favourite.
Grapes
Finally, grapes. I have a trellis in my backyard and ever since I moved in I’ve been dreaming of growing lush grapevines and having the grapes hang down. Last year I finally got around to starting. I planted two grapevines, one at the base of two of the four columns of the trellis. Last year they started to grow and I’m really hoping to get some fruit this year. I’m told it may take three years, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
What do you think? Does anyone out there have any advice or home orchard ideas? I’m setting myself up for a lot of work, but the idea of growing all these things right in my own backyard sparks a lot of joy!
For more garden inspiration check out these shade garden ideas.
