Not too deep---not too shallow. Plant it "just right".
Learn about and avoid the pitfalls of planting fruit trees too deep or too shallow.
Grandpa loved to share his knowledge with everyone who asked!

Grandpa's Growing Tips

Grandpa was a fruit grower all his life, so he became a real fountain of backyard fruit growing knowledge, wisdom and common sense for his friends. Not only did he know how to grow the best fruit for the market, he knew what worked well for the garden orchard, too. Click on a subject in the green box on the right to learn more about a particular area of backyard fruit production. Click on one of the icons below to download handy reference charts. Usually requires EXCEL, WORD, or other programs in order to open properly. Beware! Ole Grandpa can get a little pithy when it comes to talking about planting, pollination, spring or fall planting, soil additives, trimming, training, fertilizing, critters, harvesting, mulching, dwarf or semi-dwarf, spraying, chemicals, pesticides, fungicides, organic, etcetera...even about Grandma too! If the answer isn't here, you can always Ask Grandpa! or send an email to AskGrandpa@GrandpasOrchard.com. We will try to get an answer to you that reflects Grandpa's wisdom and fruit growing philosophy.

Additional Information
Bareroot or Containerized
BYFG Benefits
How big a hole?
Planting it "Just right!"
Variety Selection
Soil and Site Basics
Soil Additives
UPS delivered my trees, now what!
When is the best time to plant?
Planning Your Orchard
Pollination Basics
Grandpa's fruit tree grades explained
Rootstocks and Spacing made simple!
Chilling Hours Explained
Download Additional Information

A Quick Planting Guide

Updated in 2012--- Grandpa's Quick Planting Guide that is included in every order shipped.

Apple Maturity Chart (pdf)

Updated for 2013! Use this guide to help determine approximate ripening times for almost all the apple varieties offered at Grandpa's Orchard.

Apple Pollination Chart---4 pages.

Updated for 2013! 4 page chart that includes almost all the apple varieties that are offered by Grandpa's Orchard.

Apricot & Peach Maturity Chart (pdf)

Use this handy chart to help determine approximate ripening times for apricot and peach only.

Cherry & Plum Maturity Chart (pdf)

Use this handy chart to help determine approximate ripening times for plums, sweet and tart cherries.

Cherry Pollination Chart (pdf)

Updated for 2013! Use this handy guide to determine which sweet cherry varieties will pollinate each other. Info on tart cherry also.

Chilling Hour Map-USA (pdf)

Use this Chilling Hour map as a REFERENCE ONLY. Chilling hours are quite variable within regions and this map may not reflect your region accurately!

Chilling Hours- Apple (pdf)

Use this handy guide to help understand chilling hour requirements for apples.

Chilling Hours-Pears (pdf)

Use this guide to help understand chilling hour requirements for pears.

Chilling Hours-Stone Fruit (pdf)

Use this guide to help understand chilling hour requirements for stone fruits--- peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, and cherry.

Pear Maturity Chart (pdf)

Use this handy chart to help determine the approximate ripening times for both European and Asian pears.

Pear-Asian Pollination Chart (pdf)

Use this handy chart to help determine the best pollinators for Asian or Oriental pears.

Pear-European Pollination Chart (pdf)

Use this handy guide to help determine the best pollinators for European pears.