Growing fruit trees
Growing fruit trees is a complex task. On the one hand, it is challenging, requires patience and does not always go well, and on the other hand it is an investment with a particularly high return, since for that one-time purchase you will receive a green tree with flowers, shade and fruit for you and future generations.
What are the main groups of trees in Israel: The trees of the Land of Israel, especially the olive tree, are the most authentic and rooted family. These trees have inhabited the land for thousands of years, adapted as a glove to the dry conditions prevailing in it, to the soil, to pests and to the weather conditions. This family includes, as mentioned, olive trees, carob trees, oaks and more. In recent years, olive oil has become very popular all over the world due to its health properties and to meet the demand, thousands of dunams of different types of olive trees are planted all over the globe. In Israel, in addition to the various food needs (oil, pickling), it is customary to plant a mature olive tree in the yards of private homes as a symbol of roots.
Citrus is the top group. In the 1950s, the developing country's economy relied on citrus exports abroad and the Jaffa brand conquered European and US markets. The citrus family includes many types today, the fruit of various hybrids and genetic research. There are many kinds of oranges: sage orange, Washington orange, blood orange, "orange" (which was not a success) and more. The orange is the basic one in citrus, but there are also other sub-families: lemons, tangerines, pomeloes and more. The citrus family originates in China and was imported to our region about 300 years ago and has been acclimatized with great success. The fruits of the citrus family, especially the orange, are rich in vitamin C.
Another noteworthy group is the subtropical trees. These trees include many species that were imported to the country mainly during the 30s, 40s and 50s of the last century and the most prominent among them are mango, avocado, crumble, pineapple and more. These trees are adapted to a slightly warmer climate and have a slightly narrower temperature range than in Israel, but have managed to adapt impressively and within a few years, better plants have been created than those in the countries of origin.
There are many other groups of fruit trees and ornamental trees in the country, but of the fruit trees we reviewed in the previous paragraphs the most important.
Planting a tree is not enough to ensure its absorption and success. Routine care is extremely important, especially in the first years of the plant's life. Here are some important rules for planting and caring for a tree:
When planting, do not disassemble the root ball. Disintegration of the root ball will result in rupture of the mammals (the small roots through which the water is pumped) and loss of the water's ability to pump water from the ground. The tree should be planted when the top end of the root ball is with the ground surface and not higher or lower than it. Planting too deep will lead to rot and planting too shallow will expose the tree roots. When planting, put some compost in the planting hole. After planting, do not fertilize the tree until it is completely absorbed. Proper use of compost will allow you to grow the tree organically without making unnecessary use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. A good irrigation system should be installed and watered using it at short intervals and in relatively small amounts. In any case, if you do not know how to grow the tree you purchased, contact the nursery where the tree was purchased and ask for clear instructions for growing it.
