For beginners.....

Considerations before planting:

One of the questions I am most often asked is, "What do I need to do to establish a small commercial orchard?"  The success of an orchard is only as good as the planning and site preparation that goes into it.  One important factor you should think about is whether the location or the tract of land you have selected meets certain economic criteria and environmental criteria.

Economics

• Availability of money:   If you have to borrow money to start an orchard, is there a bank or some type of lending institution near you which understands and will be able to meet your needs?
  
• Availability of resources and supplies:  How far will you have to drive to buy your orchard supplies? How long will you have to wait for your orchard supplies?
  
• Cooperatives: Is there a group in your area with whom you can join forces to buy supplies or market your fruit?
  
• Professional groups:  Are there university personnel or private consultants near you who can make regular visits to your orchard or be easily accessible to answer your questions?
  
• Marketing: How do you plan to market your fruit?  Will the population in the area support your type of marketing strategies? The marketing avenue you select will determine your rootstock and cultivar selection
  
• Transportation.   How far is the orchard from packing houses?  Are the roads in good condition to transport your fruit? If you choose to have a pick-your-own operation, is your  location easily accessible?
  
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• The temperature parameters of a location are critical for fruit production. 
  
• The state of Vermont is at the temperature limits for apple production.  Trying to grow apples in Hardiness Zone 3 is very risky. 
  
• Other climatic consideration include:
  
• Spring frosts.  If the site is prone to spring frost, you may lose your crop before it begins to grow.
  
• Heavy winds.  Heavy winds may break the graft union or make your trees lean.  This breaks the roots and weakens the anchorage of the roots to the soil.
  

• Slopes: The ideal site should be on rolling or elevated land so that cold air can drain during spring frost.  A 4 to 8% slope is ideal.  A steeper than 10% slope may  make it difficult to operate machinery. Avoid areas at the bottom of the hill where cold air settles and frost pockets form.
  
• Slope  exposure:  A south facing slope receives more sun, thereby warming faster in the spring.  A north facing slope will be colder, warming up late in the spring. 
  
• Soil considerations:  Soils provide anchorage, nutrients, water, and the biotic environment in which the trees will live.  Deep,  sandy clay loam soils are best for orchard sites. 
  
• Before selecting a site, consult a county survey map.  Soil survey maps are available at most Soil Conservation Services in Vermont.  These publications are valuable in determining if your site has the requirements for a long-term viable orchard operation.
  
• Soil drainage is probably the most important factor in the longevity of an orchard.  If the soil does not have good drainage, there are some options available, such as tiling , but they cost money to implement. 
  
• If possible, use a backhoe to dig holes 5 to 7 feet deep so that the soil profile can be examined.  Poorly drained soils often have horizontal layers of light colored material.
  
• Soil fertility is important, but not as important as drainage.  Soil fertility can often be corrected by applying fertilizers and by increasing the amount of organic matter.