How Do I Plant Fruit Seedlings?

You can plant fruit seedlings by choosing an appropriate location to grow them and removing nearby weeds that can fight the young plants for space and sunlight. Choosing the best location involves taking into consideration the species of plant and its specific needs. In addition, weed removal is not limited to vegetable gardens; competing plants can sometimes kill a young tree by shading it. Have an idea of how long you are willing to wait for your first crop of fresh fruit, since this also depends on the species. As the plant matures, look for signs of disease or pests, either of which can easily kill a seedling.

Fruit seedlings generally need more sunlight than a full-grown plant, so keep this in mind when choosing a place to plant them. If there is little to no sunlight, the plant will either die or become weak and look as if it is clinging to life. A good rule of thumb is to allow a seedling 14 to 16 hours of light every day; basically, the entire day. Sunlight needs differ based on the plant, however, so consider checking with a nursery or searching the Internet for directions on growing your specific plant.

After you have chosen a spot, brush away all other plants and weeds to give the fruit seedlings room to grow. Ideally, low competition is best but not always possible without frequently removing invading plants by hand. Most gardeners recommend untangling the roots of a plant before placing it in the ground, but a young seedling might not have many roots to mess with.

The term seedling usually refers to a plant grown from a seed rather than a cutting. Growing fruit trees from seed takes much longer than growing it from a cutting, however. A seedling might take a decade to begin producing fruit, depending on the variety. With a cutting, the same kind of fruit tree might take only a few years. Consequently, planting seedlings is not the best route if a gardener wants to produce fruit quickly.

Disease and pests are potential problem for all plants, including fruit seedlings. Different plants are more susceptible to certain threats. Read about your particular fruit plant on the Internet or visit a nursery to ask questions regarding common symptoms of an attack. In general, brown or black leaves, white spots or many small bugs are usually not a good sign.