Orchard

An orchard is an intentional plantation of <a href="/facts/Tree/HVVn3srN">trees</a> or <a href="/facts/Shrub/X1gKVxL5">shrubs</a> that is maintained for <a href="/facts/Food/RgNq6NAK">food</a> production. Orchards comprise <a href="/facts/Fruit_tree/avWL8DgX">fruit</a>- or <a href="/facts/Nut_(fruit)/HvHpVkod">nut</a>-producing trees that are generally grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large <a href="/facts/Garden/HMvxMDLB">gardens</a>, where they serve an <a href="/facts/Aesthetic/FSD8f7oF">aesthetic</a> as well as a productive purpose. A fruit garden is generally synonymous with an orchard, although it is set on a smaller, non-commercial scale and may emphasize <a href="/facts/Berry/PW8Tvdgu">berry</a> shrubs in preference to <a href="/facts/Fruit_tree/avWL8DgX">fruit trees</a>. Most <a href="/facts/Temperate/6WPypCzC">temperate</a>-zone orchards are laid out in a regular grid, with a grazed or mown <a href="/facts/Lawn/8j5Yf84C">grass</a> or bare <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a> base that makes maintenance and fruit gathering easy.
Most modern commercial orchards are planted for a single variety of fruit. While the importance of introducing <a href="/facts/Biodiversity/GruakEzs">biodiversity</a> is recognized in forest plantations, introducing genetic diversity in orchard plantations by interspersing other trees might offer benefits. Genetic diversity in an orchard would provide resilience to pests and diseases, just as in <a href="/facts/Forests/RnMtb31v">forests</a>.
Orchards are sometimes concentrated near bodies of water where <a href="/facts/Climate/f57XrNFU">climatic</a> extremes are <a href="/facts/Microclimate/CGSzXfJ3">moderated</a> and <a href="/facts/Flower/7gI5Kefw">blossom</a> time is retarded until <a href="/facts/Frost/0zan2Azj">frost</a> danger is past.

Orchard open-in-new

Orchard