Growing Fruit Trees Naturally and Regeneratively

Are you interested in growing fruit trees without using chemical fertilizers?

Recently, I chatted with Lindsay Engers from Chiltern Heritage Orchards in the UK, and he shared how to care for fruit trees naturally. Whether you're just starting or have been growing for years, you'll find helpful tips here.

By the way, this is a quick summary of our latest episode of the Orchard People podcast. We’ve pulled out the highlights to give you a taste of the conversation—but there’s so much more in the full episode. Scroll down to watch or listen and hear the full story in context.

Saying that, let's dig in!

What Is Natural Fruit Tree Care?

Growing fruit trees naturally is about helping the tree. It's not just about avoiding chemicals. Natural fruit tree care means building good soil, pruning wisely, and creating a healthy environment.

As my mentor Norm Herbert taught me, "Organic growing isn't the same as neglect."

Lindsay says that using the natural microbiome in the soil and on leaves is key. This is part of what we call regenerative growing, which is more than organic farming. It looks at the bigger picture, including the environment and local community.

Regenerative vs. Organic Growing

Regenerative farming is about more than just being organic. Lindsay explains that while his farm is certified organic, it also uses ecological methods. This means using the natural microbiome (a microbiome is a team of tiny living things like bacteria and fungi that live on, and in the soil surrounding, the fruit tree) in soil and applying products like rock dust and seaweed sprays instead of commercial fertilizers.

The Benefits of Regeneration

In Lindsay's view, regeneration also means using old techniques and growing rare fruit types. Lindsay's farm started out as a small perry and cider orchard but now grows hundreds of different kinds of rare heritage apples, pears, and plums. For instance, he grows 'Ten Commandments' apples, 'Warden' pears, and 'Winter Crack' plums.

Add lesser known fruits such as quinces, medlars, and azeroles to the mix!

This diversity helps to keep the orchard healthy.

Natural Nutrient Management

A key point is moving away from synthetic NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilizers. He says there is plenty of nitrogen in the air (roughly 79%) and trees can get access to it with the help of soil bacteria.

He highlights the role of Azotobacter in snatching the nitrogen out of the air and bringing it into the soil.

The question is... how do you get these beneficial soil bacterial to help you? How do you boost their populations and appetite so they are grabbing the nitrogen from the air and releasing other nutrients from the soil... here are some simple tips.

Simple Tips for Natural Fruit Tree Growing

Use Rock Dust: Applying volcanic basalt dust provides slow-release nutrients to trees. Lindsay suggests spreading a handful around each tree annually in the autumn under the edge of the canopy where the tree's active tree roots are.

Use micorrhizal fungi products: Inoculating the roots with a product like Rootgrow, when planting new trees, facilitates strong root development.

Learn how to test, and improve, your soil health in this article Bringing Life to Your Soil: How to Improve Soil Quality Naturally.

Plant Cover Crops: Growing perennial cover crops or using organic matter like leaves helps protect soil and maintain its health.

Explore more about The Benefits and Disadvantages of Cover Crops in Your Orchard.

Use Homemade Foliar Sprays: Lindsay sprays his fruit trees with a seaweed-based foliar spray about 4 or 5 times a year, after fruit set. This gives the trees a boost of nutrients and stimulation, and the fruit tree doesn't need to rely on expensive synthetic fertilizers from the garden store. You can also make your own DIY fruit tree foliar spray.

The Role of Grazing Animals

Grazing animals, like sheep, can be great for your orchard. They naturally fertilize the soil and keep it healthy.

Saying that, as a home grower, you may not be raising sheep! Still, using organic matter will improve your soil.

So instead of buying a flock of sheep, you can buy rotted sheep manure, bring in compost from elsewhere, or make your own compost.

Final Thoughts and Resources

Growing fruit trees naturally helps both the environment and the quality of your fruit. Lindsay's tips offer easy ways to move towards sustainable practices. For more details, check out Lindsay's website, YouTube channel, and Instagram.

Ready to Dig Deeper? Check Out the Full Podcast Episode!

Want to learn more? Listen to our full podcast episode. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter at orchardpeople.com for more resources.

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Playlist: Orchard People: A Podcast on Growing Fruit Trees

Happy growing! Choosing natural methods helps your trees and supports a thriving ecosystem.