Is it better to plant a fruit tree in the fall or in the spring?

Let me first say that while I am a gardener (vicarious these days), I don’t really have experience with fruit trees however I cannot imagine it being a good idea to plant a fruit tree in spring, when the sap is running, it would make much more sense to plant in autumn/fall when the plant is in a dormant stage and has time to settle comfortably into its new home before nature demands it do any work. What kind of fruit tree is it?

Pretty much everything does better planted in the fall.

A peach tree, I see, my short-term memory is not my best feature.

I will check with my sister, the expert. She called me this morning and invited me to pick peaches this week-end. They are small but ambrosial. Warmed by the sun and sweet; it is important to let the juice drip down your chin.

@Yetanotheruser: Where do you live? What growing zone are you in? The drought will affect all the local fruit trees in my neighborhood this year, predominantly the apples.

I have two tomato plants in pots on my deck and I have been watering them heavily both in the morning and evening.

Fruit trees need a lot of rain – especially starting out.

Fall. No brainer.

@zensky: Do you have spring and fall where you are?

Yes, fall. Going into the rainy and dormant season will promote spring growth. Trees also don’t grow much the first year or two then take off like crazy depending on the species.
I planted Smoke trees 4 years ago and they have grown 5 feet in the last 2 after doing pretty much nothing the first 2.

@gailcalled Spring turns to summer very quickly and lasts til winter, which is harsh and brief. No real autumn.

However, I lived in North America for many years.

Do you have date palms and olive and lemon trees? (Figs or mangos?)

Exactly. Those grow best here; every other tree is one of the ones you listed, Gail.

@zensky: I have a fantasy of stepping out the door and picking ripe figs and lemons.

Come visit any time. My neighbour to the right has lemons, my neighbour to the left has figs.

We have an olive press here, too, so lots of olives/oil – and it’s the season in a couple of weeks. Reminds me to check out the secret tree with the huge olives I marked and hung an insect trap on…

And I believe it’s mangoes, with an “e” Source but I’d have to consult Mr. Quayle.

^^ That made me laugh.

They say it’s the best medicine.

^^ I was already feeling cheerful, just having come from a summer stock performance of “Kiss Me, Kate” in the round with a young and very enthusiastic cast.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

And I was just brushing up on my alphabet:

Letter B

Perfect pre-bedtime serenade. Thanks.

They were so damn clever. I learnt so much English from the Jim Henson (Z“L) gang.

Probably mid to late autumn, Gives the trees a chance to get used to it’s new home and establish some new roots while the autumn and early winter rains keep things nice and moist. Do peaches need to be planted in pairs like cherry’s?

@gailcalled I live in Aurora, CO, just east of Denver. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map it seems to be a zone 5.

@zensky I know a new tree will need lots of water. I will be watering it with a root feeder, and try to catch some snow this winter with this referenced cistern system.

@majorrich I believe they do need to be in pairs. We still have a good healthy bearing tree. Would that work, or do they need to be in pairs of the same age?

@Yetanotheruser: Wow. You might want to plant an orchard as an affirmation to life.

Depends if it’s bare root or balled in burlap. Bare root is shipped with no soil. Maybe some damp moss around the roots. Thet do best in the fall.. Balled in burlap have soil around the roots. anytime is fine for them.

@Gailcalled Everything I do these days is that.

@Adirondackwannabe, there’s a local nursery & garden center here that has trees in large pots, ready for transplant.