Mission Endure 50: Planting Apple Trees

The weather in southern Illinois has warmed up a bit, and we have received and endless supply of rain over the last 2 weeks. We have been wanting to plant some fruit trees the last couple of years, but to be honest we have been underwhelmed with the quality of fruit trees we have seen at garden centers and big box stores. So, this year we decided to order a few bare root apple trees. We ordered them from Stark Brothers Nursery in Louisiana, Missouri. Stark Brothers has a huge selection of fruit trees and a very helpful website. We went ahead and ordered 3 trees, 1 Granny Smith, 1 Red Fuji, and 1 Jon-A-Red Jonathan. All 3 are Semi-Dwarf bare root trees and should grow to be about 12’-15’ tall and 8’-10’ wide. All orders were shipped and arrived in great shape. They are only about 4’ tall and bare root trees normally come as just a trunk with very few branches, and to be honest, at this stage of a tree’s life they look more like a small stick.

We planted two of the three behind our garden at the back of our yard. The trees will be well-watered there and should get plenty of sun. Plus the root system they will grow as they mature will help us anchor the hill behind the garden. The hill isn’t sliding away, but it does suffer occasionally from erosion. At this stage in their life the trees aren’t much to look at, they will grow into substantial fruit trees. In the foreground is the bare root Granny Smith bare root Apple Tree, and in the background is a Red Fuji Apple Tree planted the same day. The leaves and the mud on the plastic groundcover will get cleaned up as we start to work on the garden over the next month.

Mature Granny Smith Apple Tree

Mature Red Fuji Apple Tree

On the uphill side of the garden we planted a Jon-a-Red Apple Tree offered by Stark Brothers. It will also get plenty of water and sunshine. We will remove the grass around it later this week. We are having a wet week and wanted to get the tree in the ground to take advantage of the rain for now.

A small bare root Jon-a-Red Apple Tree

This is what the mature Jon-a-Red will look like when bearing fruit

It will probably take 5 years for our Apple trees to start producing, but the time will go fast and before we know it we will have lots of apples. We plan to plant some more Apples, Apricots, Pears, and Cherrys to round out our fruit trees. We look forward to growing our own fruit. It will be fun to watch them grow!

Planting fruit trees is a great metaphor for life. Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees as he traveled around the US. When he planted them they were only seeds. But, as time flew by they grew into large trees that fed many people. Whenever we plant a new tree or garden we are always excited to get the plants in the ground and on their way growing. It seems like it takes forever for them to produce. But, with a little Tender Loving Care and a dose of patience, in time they turn out to be a wonderful asset. They will help feed your family and friends for years to come. Be a Johnny Appleseed and plant a tree or garden this year!