Starting a Backyard Orchard

If part of your green dream is picking fruit straight from your own trees, you're not alone. Whether it's a delicious apple, a bowl of summer cherries, or lemons for those summer drinks, growing fruit is one of the most rewarding things you can do on a lifestyle block.

Our Your Backyard Fruit Bowl series covers over 40 different fruits grown in New Zealand. This overview introduces the key categories and links to detailed, practical guides for each crop.

Start with your site

Start with your site. Most fruiting plants need full sun and shelter from strong winds. Good drainage is critical. Avoid frost pockets unless you're growing hardier crops like currants or feijoas.

If you're planting trees, check your soil first. Many fruit trees prefer slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Improve with compost or organic matter before planting, and consider the mature size of each plant when spacing them out.

Different fruits have different chill requirements, so match your varieties to your region. Some stonefruit need winter cold to fruit well, while subtropical crops like bananas and avocados need warmth year-round.

This article is really helpful - Planning and planting an orchard

As is this one - Planting your fruit (and nut) trees