I have several persimmon trees in my low, frost pocket areas, and so far I can’t recall them completely failing to fruit. However, that is where the pears get hit frequently. The bloom time for apples / crabapples will always be somewhere between pears and persimmons, and the crop failure rate for them reflects that.
I planted 2 Rut Rage's last year, fast growers....they both had blossoms this year, and one tree has a couple pears growing already at about 5 foot !. The other tree had blossoms all the way at the top. I'll probably have to get a ladder to see if it has pears as well.
If you aren't getting a decent rain every 10 days or so, I feel that new trees need to be watered their first year during summer. I might even water some in the second year if there was an extended drought that lasted for weeks upon weeks. However, after that I feel that most fruit trees should be okay on their own. When I have to water new trees on my ridges, I fill up big tubs in the back of my truck and then dip it out with buckets. This sounds like a lot of trouble, but if you are getting half way decent rains, you may not need to do it very often - and you might not need to do it at all.
I'd prep a site for the trees several months before. If you have a backhoe or posthole digger, dig up and amend the deep soil with lime, fertilizer, and organic matter. peat moss, manure, home compost, etc. Let the fertilizer and lime burn in. Then, a few months later your tree can get roots in deep quicker. Works good for me in heavier soils at home.
My trees are on top the hill above the bottoms. At least half the summers, if I dont water some will die. I dont plant a tree anymore that I cant reach with a hose. I have run water in a 1” black pipe a quarter mile to my trees. Every tree I have ever planted I cant water is dead. Some made it ten years - but they all ended up dying in the end.
All of my trees are planted on pine ridges too. I ended up getting a 100 gallon water bladder from Banks Outdoors to put in the back of my UTV and it works well. It is pretty expensive, but it has definitely helped with our summer droughts. I've had it for 4-5 years and the bladder has held up well. Only complaint I have is the tube is not very durable and only lasted 1 summer. I ended up getting a rubber tube from Lowes that is durable. Havent had a problem with the tube since.
banksoutdoors.com
I have that same bladder. Just such a pain to do it. I’ve watered a bunch of trees, just have a hate hate relationship with watering. HahaAll of my trees are planted on pine ridges too. I ended up getting a 100 gallon water bladder from Banks Outdoors to put in the back of my UTV and it works well. It is pretty expensive, but it has definitely helped with our summer droughts. I've had it for 4-5 years and the bladder has held up well. Only complaint I have is the tube is not very durable and only lasted 1 summer. I ended up getting a rubber tube from Lowes that is durable. Havent had a problem with the tube since.
WILD WATER® BLADDER - Banks Outdoors
The Wild Water 100 gallon Bladder is a new and easier way to fill your Wild Water® Trough, and transport water around your property for multiple purposes. Features: Flexible material allows it to be unloaded and then folded and easily stored away. 4 heavy duty D-rings to help secure the...
It is a pain, especially in the heat of our summers! I try to water early in the morning, but hell it's still hot here at 6 am in July/August lol
That's probably the smart way to water. My Tree plot is on the land I live on , I'm cheap and just fill up old milk jugs, and carry 25 of them over in a Kawasaki mule. Granted I only planted 5 new trees in the plot this year.....and give them at least 5 gallons each once a week. In the summer when it gets hotter I may water twice a week if there is no rain.All of my trees are planted on pine ridges too. I ended up getting a 100 gallon water bladder from Banks Outdoors to put in the back of my UTV and it works well. It is pretty expensive, but it has definitely helped with our summer droughts. I've had it for 4-5 years and the bladder has held up well. Only complaint I have is the tube is not very durable and only lasted 1 summer. I ended up getting a rubber tube from Lowes that is durable. Havent had a problem with the tube since.
WILD WATER® BLADDER - Banks Outdoors
The Wild Water 100 gallon Bladder is a new and easier way to fill your Wild Water® Trough, and transport water around your property for multiple purposes. Features: Flexible material allows it to be unloaded and then folded and easily stored away. 4 heavy duty D-rings to help secure the...
