🌳 Core Orchard Layout – Detailed Planting Plan (20 Trees)

• Ensure proper pollination (apples + pears + plums)
• Align bloom times
• Extend harvest season
• Keep layout clean, simple, and scalable
• Maintain “trees only” orchard design

• Honeycrisp
• Gala
• Fuji
• Granny Smith
• Golden Delicious (key pollinator)

• Bartlett
• Moonglow
• (Add compatible variety later if needed)

👉 Must be compatible pairs

Example:

• Methley (self-fertile)
• Santa Rosa (needs partner)

👉 Always plant at least 2 compatible plums

• Require cross-pollination
• Golden Delicious acts as “universal helper”

• Require cross-pollination
• Bartlett + Moonglow pair well

• Some self-fertile, some not
  👉 Always plant in pairs

👉 No tree should be isolated from a compatible pollinator

Honeycrisp Bartlett Fuji Methley Plum Golden Delicious

Gala Honeycrisp Moonglow Santa Rosa Plum Granny Smith

Fuji Golden Del. Honeycrisp Bartlett Methley Plum

Granny Smith Santa Rosa Gala Moonglow Golden Del.

• Apples, pears, and plums are spread out
  👉 Prevents clustering and improves pollination

• Golden Delicious spread through orchard
• Pear pairs placed within range
• Plums paired across rows

• Plums → earlier harvest
• Pears → mid-season
• Apples → late/fall anchor

• Repeat pattern outward
• Add rows without redesign

👉 Add 2 crabapple trees (outside grid)

Placement:

• Corners OR long edges

Benefits:

• Increased fruit set
• Better consistency
• Stronger pollination coverage

• Trees: 12–15 ft apart
• Rows: 15–18 ft apart

• Modified central leader
• Keep height ~8–10 ft

• Open center (vase shape)

• Prune yearly
• Thin fruit
• Maintain airflow

When adding more trees:

• Repeat pattern
• Add 1–2 new varieties
• Maintain pollination balance
• Keep species mixed

Best performing trees:
·

Pollination observations:
·

Plum performance:
·

Adjustments for next planting:
·