Fruit from your own garden simply tastes wonderful. To ensure that the harvest is plentiful, you should give the young fruit tree a good start with the right planting time.

In a nutshell

  • plant frost-resistant fruit varieties in autumn to give them a good start for the coming spring
  • Plant frost-sensitive fruit varieties in spring
  • In principle, container goods can be planted all year round, with the exception of periods of frost, snow and ground frost
  • Bare-root trees should be planted promptly and not stored for long periods of time

Bare root fruit trees

Bare root means that the roots of the plants are exposed. They are therefore not surrounded by earth, as is the case with container goods. Offering bare-root fruit trees is the most original form of offering. As a rule, bare-root fruit trees are also cheaper than container goods. The growth of bare-root fruit trees only works without problems if the trees are in complete hibernation. Therefore, the planting season for bare-root fruit trees usually ends at the beginning of May.

Tip: With bare-root fruit trees, the roots must be protected from drying out by wind and sun at all times of the year. Damaged roots and/or breakages must be cut off before planting.

Since the roots of bare-root trees are exposed, they should be planted as soon as possible. If the young trees have to wait to be planted, you should immediately pound them into loose garden soil so that the roots do not dry out.

container trees and bale goods

Fruit trees in containers, also called container trees or container goods, are cultivated in a plastic container. In contrast to bare-root fruit trees, they have a solid root ball. Container trees are more expensive, but they are said to be easier to grow than bare-root fruit trees. Balled goods are cultivated in the open, cut out with a ball of soil shortly before purchase and packed in balling ropes. Baled goods are usually only available in autumn or early spring. Because these fruit trees have been cultivated outdoors, they are more robust than containerized crops, however, root mass is lost through digging, which in turn weakens young trees.

soil and soil temperature

In addition to the type of fruit and the type of supply, the soil also plays an important role when fruit trees are planted. If the soil is light and loose, then the planting time falls in late autumn. The soil temperature during autumn planting should be above five degrees Celsius so that the young fruit tree can still form new roots. In heavy soils, i.e. soils with a high clay or loam content, it is recommended to plant the tree in March, of course in a frost-free period.

Planting time of fruit trees

The ideal time to plant a young fruit tree is usually from autumn to spring. However, the months of December to February are not recommended for planting by some experts, even though the winter is mild. The exact time also depends on the weather conditions in your region. Due to frost, the planting season can end as early as the end of September, while in other regions the planting season can extend into November. In the case of fruit trees, which are naturally sensitive to frost and are therefore planted in spring, the planting time can also be postponed in rough or higher altitudes.

Frost-resistant fruit trees

Apple

Malus, apple tree

Bare roots:

  • general: late October to early March
  • ideal: autumn months

In the container:

  • general: basically all year round (exception: frozen ground)
  • ideal: October to December or until the onset of frost

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • wet soil: apples and plums
  • sunny location: apples and sweet cherries, apples and plums

pear

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to mid-March at the latest)
  • ideal: autumn

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: October to December or until the onset of frost

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • warm, dry soil: pears and cherries

plums

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring
  • ideal: autumn until the beginning of frost

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: autumn until the beginning of frost

plum

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to mid-March at the latest)
  • ideal: autumn

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: October to December or the beginning of frost

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • moist soil: plums and apples
  • sunny location: plums and sweet cherries, plums and apples

quince

Quince with fluff

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to March)
  • ideal: autumn

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: October to December

Notice: Some experts recommend planting quince trees in spring.

sour cherry

Prunus cerasus, sour cherry

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to mid-March at the latest)
  • ideal: autumn

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: October and November or until the onset of frost, alternatively: March / April (frost-free days)

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • shady location: sour cherries and figs

sweet cherry

Prunus avium, wild cherry, sweet cherry

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to mid-March at the latest)
  • ideal: autumn

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: October and November or until the beginning of frost, alternatively; March / April (frost-free days)

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • warm, dry soil: cherries and pears
  • sunny location: sweet cherries and plums, sweet cherries and apples

Heat-requiring, frost-sensitive fruit trees

Apricot trees (apricot trees)

Source: apple2000, Apricot tree05, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to March)
  • ideal: spring

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: April to May

fig trees

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to March)
  • ideal: spring

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: spring

Mixed culture plant neighbors (selection):

  • shady location: figs and sour cherries

kiwi

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring (October to March)
  • ideal: spring

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: spring

nectarine

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring
  • ideal: April to May

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: spring to summer

peach

Bare roots:

  • general: autumn to spring
  • ideal: April to May

In the container:

  • general: all year round (exception: periods with ground frost)
  • ideal: spring and summer

growth forms

Many types of fruit come in different growth forms. These are not only important for the distance between the individual trees or to the neighbor's garden, but also influence the lifespan. Since the properties of the individual varieties vary, the following information should serve as a general guide:

standard

Apple tree in the home garden
  • Trunk height: 180 to 220 centimeters
  • Total height: 500 to 600 centimeters
  • Lifespan: 60 to 100 years
  • Planting distance: 700 to 1,200 centimetres

half stem

  • Trunk height: 100 to 160 centimeters
  • Total height 450 to 550 centimeters
  • Lifespan: 60 to 100 years
  • Planting distance: 700 to 1,200 centimetres

bush tree

  • Trunk height: 40 to 60 centimeters
  • Total height: 300 to 400 centimeters
  • Lifespan: 30 to 40 years
  • Planting distance: 400 to 600 centimetres

spindle bush

  • Trunk height: 40 to 60 centimeters
  • Total height: 200 to 300 centimeters
  • Lifespan: 10 to 20 years
  • Planting distance: 100 to 400 centimetres

Tip: The spindle bush growth form is suitable for small gardens, the balcony or the terrace. In specialist shops it is usually offered as a columnar tree. Apples are also referred to as "dwarf trees" because these fruit trees grow to a maximum height of 150 centimetres.

frequently asked Questions

What are bare root trees?

Bare root trees are usually offered from October to March. In contrast to container goods, the roots of bare-root fruit trees are not surrounded by soil, but are "bare". Therefore, they should be set as soon as possible.

At what time of the year can I plant a fruit tree?

Frost-resistant trees can be planted in autumn until the onset of frost. However, the soil temperature should be above five degrees Celsius at this time of year. In this way, the young trees can still take root in the old year and "concentrate" on the development of leaves and flowers in the new year.

What should I watch out for with frost-sensitive fruit trees?

Frost-sensitive trees are planted in spring. They should be planted as early as possible, but no more (soil) frosts should be expected.

Category:

Garden plants