With a fruit tree, the expensive mistake is sometimes not the wrong variety but planting the right sapling where water sits. In Samsun, where water goes in the root zone after rain matters as much as the planting date.
Bare-root and potted saplings do not share a planting window
A bare-root sapling is planted in the dormant season, and the window is narrower. A potted sapling can be planted over a longer period, but summer planting needs more watering and more attention to stress.
Do not dig while the soil is sodden
Digging a hole while the soil is sodden can damage the structure of heavy ground. Waiting a few days until the soil is workable is often better than planting in a hurry.
A peat-filled hole can collect water
Digging a deep hole in heavy soil and filling it only with loose peat can make water collect in the hole. If drainage is the problem, you need to deal with how water moves across the site, not only with the hole.
Do not bury the root collar
Do not bury the root collar deeper than it should be. Take the nursery level and the graft union into account, and allow for the soil settling over time.
Do not measure the first year in kilos of fruit
Do not measure the first year’s success in kilos of fruit. A new tree building roots and structural shoots matters more for long-term yield. Depending on the species and the sapling, you may need to limit an excessive fruit load.
