I got some new trees this year and I’m getting conflicting information on spacing. I have 18’ between rows, no tractor needed, I just walk the rows or use my lawn tractor and a small cart.
The rootstocks /fruits are:
Asian & Euro pears on OHxF 97
Euro & hybrid/ Jap plums on Myrobalan
Peaches on Guardian
Apple on G.890
I was told 14’ on plums except Oblinija which they said 16’ as it’s a spreader
Conflicting emails on the pears. One person said 14’, the other person said 18’
10-12’ on the G.890 apples
12’ on the peaches
I’d like to check in to see what you folks are doing on these rootstock/ fruit combinations.
A lot of these, including pears may end up as delayed open center, I may do some central leaders on the pears, but those might go open center as well…
OHXF 97 is a full size disease resistant rootstock. A full size pear tree needs a minimum of 18 feet. Depending on location, full size pears may need more space so roots can spread into a larger area. They usually need more room in arid climates.
Sounds like you are on the right track with rootstocks. I’m only 4 years in so i can’t be that helpful, but I planted on spacings between 12-14’ (backyard with landscaping component). 12 feels pretty tight already. Especially for the Rainier cherry I got which I suspect was on full size rootstock as it’s about twice as big as the other two cherries already. There will be lots of pruning in my future. 13’6” - 14’ feels good still for the semi dwarf pears, plums, peaches, apricots, though I don’t know how optimal it is for each of the species. If I planted one less tree I could’ve done 13’6”-14’ everywhere but I got a little greedy.