How to Ensure a Bountiful Harvest

Growing your own fruit trees is incredibly rewarding, but proper pollination is key to getting the best harvest. Whether you're planting apples, cherries, pears, or plums, understanding how fruit trees pollinate will help you make the right choices for your garden.

How Pollination Works

Fruit trees rely on pollination to product fruit. This process occurs when pollen from one flower is transferred to another, often with the help of bees and other pollinators. Some fruit trees are self-pollinating, meaning they don't need another tree to set fruit. Others require cross-pollination, meaning you'll need two different varieties of the same fruit nearby for fruit production.

Cross-Pollination: Ensuring Compatibility

For cross-pollination to occur successfully, trees must bloom at the same time and be within 100 feet of each other. Here's a guide to cross-pollinating apples and other fruit trees:

Apple Trees - Choose two different varieties from the same harvest window.

• Weathly is the best pollinator for the Mid-August to September group.
• Yellow Delicious is the best pollinator for the Mid to Late September to October group.
• Red and Yellow Delicious will pollinate each other.

Other Fruit Trees that Require Cross-Pollination

Self-Pollinating Fruits

Some fruit trees don't need a second variety to product fruit. However, they often yield better results when two different varieties are planted close together.

Space-Saving, Self-Fruitful Combo Trees

If you have limited space but still want a variety of fruit, consider an Earl May Combo Fruit Tree. These specially grown trees feature multiple varieties grafted onto one tree, allowing for self-pollination and extended harvests.

Popular Combo Fruit Trees

• Apple: Fuji, Gala, Red & Golden Delicious
• Cherry: Bing, Van, Black Tartarian
• Peach: Veteran, Red Haven, Gleason Early Elberta, Frost
• Pear: Anjou, Bartlett, Comice, Bosc
• Plum: Laroda, Beauty, Late Santa Rosa, Elephant Heart

These trees are perfect for small gardens and ensure cross-pollination without the need for additional trees.

Choosing the Right Fruit Trees for Your Garden

Selecting for success:

• Pollination Needs - Does your tree require a partner for fruit production?
• Bloom Time - Ensure varieties bloom simultaneously for cross-pollination.
• Spacing - Keep trees within 100 feet of each other for optimal pollination.
• Available Space - If space is limited, opt for a self-pollinating or combo tree.

Need Help Choosing the Perfect Fruit Tree?

At Earl May Garden Center, we offer a wide selection of fruit trees and expert advice to help you get started. Whether you want to grow a single self-pollinating tree, add additional fruit types to your property, or are looking for a set of cross-pollinating varieties, we'll help you find the perfect fit for your garden.

Why Choose Earl May Fruit Trees?

Earl May fruit trees are container-grown, well-branched, and full of healthy roots for quick establishment. Most of our trees are two years old, so the time to harvest fresh fruit is a shorter wait away!

Get More Guarantee

Earl May fruit trees are guaranteed for one full year from the date of purchase.

Bonus: Extend your nursery guarantee for an additional one year when you purchase one gallon of Earl May Plant Start on the same sales receipt as your nursery product.

Stop by today or contact your local Earl May Garden Center to learn more about our fruit tree selection and pollination tips.