The orchard is the practice of plantation of plants for the purpose obtaining fruits. You can prepare an orchard in the backyard of your house. However, the orchard requires more care and maintenance than the gardens. While the preparing itself of the orchard, you should select the best varieties that are available. Therefore, you will have the least of the problems. Also, take into account whether the plants can grow, flower and bear fruits in your area or not.
Cultural practices for the orchard
While planting the plant you should remove any weeds that may exist in the ground. You should also select a place where there is adequate amount of sunlight for the plants. Add some fertilizers while plantation, check, and set the pH of the soil as per the need of the plants.
Once the plants grow, you should take proper care for them. There are a number of practices, which will make your home orchard better yielding.
1)Mulching:
The mulching is a very beneficial practice for the plants. It is the application of moss on the soil near the roots of the plants. This practice will hold the moisture in the soil for a longer time.
2)Fertilization:
Generally, the fruit plants do not need application of any fertilizers at the time of planting. However, when the plant starts growing, you should regularly apply fertilizers as per the requirement of the plants. This is particularly important if the soil is sandy or loamy in texture. Adding some organic matter like humus will help in improving the texture of the soil.
The fertilization also includes adjusting the pH of the soil. This you can do by using lime.
3)Watering:
Water the plants as per their requirements. A right amount of watering is necessary for the survival and good growth of the plants.
4)Pruning:
The pruning will help in the induction of the growth of more branches, leaves, flowers, fruits etc. In addition, it promotes the rate of growth. The right time for the pruning is the dormant season before the spring. This is because the plants can then prepare themselves for branching and growth. However, in pruning avoid removing the vegetative or the flower buds.
5)Artificial pollination:
If pollination does not occur naturally, you should artificially pollinate them. This you can do by brushing, or dusting the pollens, from a suitable source, on the flowers.
6)Harvesting of the fruits:
You should harvest the fruits at the time when they fully mature. Take proper care of while plucking the fruits and do not cause the plants any damage.
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