BCMG Orchard

One of the more popular garden areas within the Demonstration Gardens is the orchard. The brainchild and passionate project of Master Gardener Paul Dorsey, the orchard was planned and proposed in early 2017 with the first apples trees planted shortly thereafter. From that establishment year the orchard has grown to include more than 35 fruit trees, nut shrubs, and a wide variety of berries. It is maturing steadily and with each year come new and exciting developments.

The founding concept for the orchard was to create a living classroom for providing information to fellow Master Gardeners and all visitors on successfully creating and maintaining a backyard (or frontyard) orchard, or simply growing fruits.

Fruit trees form the core structure of the orchard and include many apple varieties, European and Asian pears, American and Asian persimmons, fruiting quince, pawpaws, crabapple, jujube, cherry, and serviceberries. All trees are carefully selected for disease resistance. Mini-dwarf, semi-dwarf, and dwarf rootstocks are chosen to assist in maintaining smaller profiles for both space and easier access. Additionally, trees are regularly pruned for space efficiency and ease of care and harvest. Various espalier techniques are practiced to demonstrate growing options, along with concepts such as high-density planting and using fruit trees as hedges.

Recently some less commonly grown fruiting plants have been added to the garden. These include natives such as clove currants and cornelian cherries and exotics like Nanking cherries, goumi fruit, sea berries, and che seedless.

Companion planting is practiced throughout the orchard. Comfrey is a favorite - a very deep rooted perennial that aids in making nutrients accessible to more shallowly rooted nearby fruits that also makes an excellent fertilizer. Pollinator friendly plants are planted throughout the orchard.

A small hugelkultur (a method of layering a garden bed using wood and plant debris covered with compost and soil) was created in 2021 and is now planted with a jujube tree, clustered mountain mint and comfrey. Current projects include both a food forest (a diverse planting of edible plants that mimic the layers and ecosystems found naturally) and a small meadow area.

Sustainability is a critical goal of the orchard. Gardening practices that first do no harm and aim to nurture and improve soil, conserve water, utilize IPM, and encourage pollinators and beneficial insects are emphasized.

Educational information and outreach are central to the orchard as a living classroom. Plants are labeled and signs include basic information. QR codes that link to more information are being added to signs. Presentations, current and planned, include: basic fruit growing concepts, soil health, tree selection and planting, winter and summer pruning, tree care and IPM, propagation methods, defining rootstocks, restoring neglected trees, information on individual plants, creating a hugelkultur, and food forests.

There is quite a lot packed into a small orchard! Please come visit and enjoy it with us as we work to make it a living classroom that is truly inspirational.

Visit the Maryland Extension Starting a Home Fruit Garden page for more information about growing  fruit trees  and small fruits in a home garden: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/starting-home-fruit-garden/

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