Every fruit farmer will need to establish a fruit nursery at least once in their lifetime. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but you can enjoy the fruits of your labor for years! However, it’s crucial to know how and when to plant them to get the most out of your tree.
When starting a new fruit tree, it’s essential to have the right conditions for your baby fruit trees to thrive. Prepare ahead of time so that when you plant your seeds or cuttings, they will be ready for success.
This blog post will give you a 5-step guide to help you in preparing your fruit nursery for the next planting season. But before that, let’s get to know the types of tree nurseries and the importance of laying a nursery bed.
Types of tree Nurseries
There are three types of tree nurseries: flat, elevated, and sunken. These nurseries might be open, in a greenhouse, or beneath a screen shade.
You can plant them on a flatbed or even on a sunken one for potted seedlings. This structure holds seedlings together, which helps preserve water, especially in dry locations.
For each of these types, consider the following factors;
- The needed quantity of plants
- The length of time that demand is expected to last
- Transport/market accessibility
Why is it Essential to Lay a Nursery Bed?
- It helps you get the most excellent quality seedlings.
- It helps the seedlings receive more attention and grow with more outstanding care, producing appropriate fruits for your climate.
- It makes the seedlings are easy to look after.
- It helps you forget the problem of tough soils
- It makes weed control straightforward.
- It helps you earn money using local resources.
Let’s now look at how you can prepare a fruit nursery.
How to Prepare Your Fruit Nursery for the Next Planting
You should use locally accessible materials such as hoes, jerry cans, winnowers, tins, and banana fibers, as well as poles, lumber, and nails. Follow the following steps for great fruit nurseries.
Carefully Consider the Location of Your Fruit Nursery
Most horticulturalists make the mistake of tucking nurseries away in a corner. Still, the best location is away from tall shrubs or tree branches that may cover your nursery with shade, bearing in mind that too little light will cause your seedlings to wilt.
Choose an open area and surround the nursery beds with netting to prevent pests from invading your fruit plants.
Some Factors to Consider for a Nursery Site
- Get an easily reachable site so that you can attend to it hassle-free as needs arise.
- The nursery should be near a reliable water source, such as a spring, a river, a well, or a piped water system.
- The site should be gently sloping and well-drained.
- The site should have a plentiful supply of suitable soil.
Remove any Existing Plants and Weeds and Compost Them
You must guarantee that your seedbeds are clear of weeds to ensure that your plants do not compete for water, space, or nutrients. Remove any visible weeds and turn over your soil using a digging fork a few days before planting for best results.
This will stimulate any underneath weed seeds to develop, making them easier to locate and remove and keeping your nursery bed free of weeds.
Dig up the subsoil and pile it separately for eventual use in the organic nursery mix.
Prepare the Soil Until it’s Okay and Smooth
Break down all of the clumps in your soil and fertilize them with well-decomposed organic waste. It’s better to do this when the soil is relatively dry – a simple test is to see if it clings to your boots; if it doesn’t, you’re set to go.
Start by raking through the soil until it looks like breadcrumbs, then remove any rocks or trash. Finally, put your organic compounds or fertilizer and fork it till you have a flat surface.
Using small steps, walk over the bed. Bring your feet together in a way that you can stomp over the entire area, gently squeezing it. Digging the soil up makes the surface uneven. You prime it by softly stepping it.
Time to Warm Your Soil
Some areas have lately had a lot of frosts, so it’s an excellent idea to heat your soil to improve the rate of germination. Cover your fruit nurseries with agricultural fleece or plastic covers for around ten days.
This will also aid in drying your soil’s surface, which may be wet due to melted snow or heavy rains. To avoid injury to sprouting seedlings, uncover after planting.
Prepare to Plant Your Seeds (Final Preparation)
Make sure you complete this a few days before you plant. Rake thoroughly through the topsoil and apply a recommended pre-seeding fertilizer to your nursery beds. This will help to strengthen the root system and promote healthy development.
Your flower plants will thrive in the spring if you have a warm nursery bed free of weeds and has fine soil.
Monitor your seedlings daily and water them regularly, aiming for a steady moisture level.
When Preparing the Fruit Nurseries, Keep the Following in Mind:
- Choose a location where you will heap the soil you will use without being washed away by rain.
- Decide what to do with excess topsoil and save it for later use in a covered shed.
- If you want your nursery bed to last, don’t build them on a shaky base.
- Check for suitable nursery beds using the seedbed construction guide.
Conclusion
Fruit tree nursery preparation that is successful does not happen by chance. So take advantage of the tips and reap the benefits. Also, remember that solid preparation is always the key to success.
In addition, to keep pests away from your fruit tree nursery, use Eyouagro pest control netting. Our UV-stabilized nets protect your fruits seedlings from damage from insects, birds, and harsh weather. They are also inexpensive and come with a warranty.
If you want to know more about the netting products for fruit nursery visit our website at www.eyouagro.com or send a request at info@eyouagro.com
