How to Grow Fruit Trees in Washington

Apple trees grow in Washington.

Some fruit trees grow naturally in Washington, including apples and pears. Although Washington does have a summer season, its summers sometimes stay cooler than many areas, so growers should choose fruit trees that do not need an incredibly hot summer to ripen.

Things You'll Need

• Fruit tree starter plants
• Shovel
• Water

Instructions

Apples and Pears Are Best

1. Choose a variety of fruit that grows well in Washington and buy starter plants. Washington State University recommends apples or pears as the easiest types of fruit trees to grow in Washington Local nurseries have starter trees that grow well in the local climate. Washington State University recommends jonagold, melrose, gala, chehalis and liberty apples or rescue, orcas and bennett pears. It also suggests Asian pears, especially ichiban and shinseiki.

2. Choose a sunny planting space for the trees. Fruits usually ripen in the heat of the summer sun, so choose an area that gets as much sunlight as possible. Full sun is especially important in Washington, because it can have cooler summers than other states.

3. Space the trees apart adequately. Washington State University recommends spacing gala apples, which many farmers grow in Washington, four feet apart from each other in rows spaced ten feet apart. Follow planting instructions on starter plant tags to figure out how far apart to space other varieties. In general, bigger trees and trees with larger root systems need more space.

4. Plant the trees. The University of Minnesota recommends digging planting holes that are at least one to two feet wider than the start trees' roots. Do not plant the roots too deep underground, because they need enough aeration. Plant them so that the top of the roots are at the surface of the ground.

5. Water young trees regularly. Until the trees' roots grow deep enough to harness adequate water from the ground, they need plenty of watering. The University of Minnesota recommends five to seven gallons of water per week for young trees.

6. Prune any damaged limbs off of young trees. The National Gardening Association also recommends pruning young trees in a way that supports strong branches and prevents branches from leaning on each other or shading each other. As trees get older, prune them to keep the trees balanced and uncrowded. The National Gardening Association also recommends pruning trees before they reach their maximum ideal size and shortening some stems each year to increase fruit production.

7. Spray trees annually with horticultural oil to prevent pests and mold. Fruit trees in Washington are vulnerable to pests and molds, especially during spring after a winter of heavy rains.

Tips & Warnings

• In general, fruit trees are ready for harvest when their fruit comes off easily without having to be violently yanked off.

References

• Washington State University: Choosing Fruit Trees for the Home Orchard
• Washington State University: 2009 Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Gala Apples in Washington
• University of Minnesota: Planting and Transplanting Trees and Shrubs
• National Gardening Association: Pruning Fruit Trees
• National Gardening Association: Apple Tree Care