Great project. Do you have a disc to smooth the plowed area down and cover your seed? Or a tiller attatchment to pull behind? 20 trees will fit in less than half an acre at 16' spacing, assuming semi-dwarf apples and pears, standard peaches. You'll be able to plow under cover crops between the rows for a couple of years, it really doesn't matter which ones you plant if you're just improving the soil.

Organic is a bit harder than conventional- you have to spray more with less effective approved compounds. But there's definitely a big market for the product. It takes 3 years to get your certificate, and you need to get started on that.

Good luck!

I do not have a disk - but I have been looking for one in my price range. I did plow-up the back yard to correct drainage around the house, I then used my grader bucket and extended the teeth. This acted like a cultivator. It broke it up enough to plant grass. So maybe my "clay" soil is not as bad as I think?
I do have a large Troy tiller, but it is a walk behind type.

Space is not an issue. I am just wondering if there is a benefit to planting in a clump of trees?
Or can I just plant a long line along my fence down the property. Do the clumped trees offer protection?

I would prefer a cover crop that does not require frequent mowing - but is adding benefit to the trees.

These trees are for personal consumption. I am not looking to be certified organic - I just want to take the approach of using nature the best I can. I still plan on typical sprayings as needed.

I walked out to the area where I want to plant my trees.
I dug 6 inches down.

filled a mason jar half full of dirt.
Added tablespoon of washing soap.
Shook it up good.

I was surprised how much sand quickly fell out.
I can also see some silt now forming.
I guess I need to wait until morning.

I am guessing it is about equal parts of all three...
better then I thought.

Of course, you can grow them in one 350' row if you like. Some would say plant them closer than 16' but I look at the branches from the mature trees touching any closer than that. The real advantage to multiple parallel rows (I have 5 rows of six near the house) is easier watering, less walking when spraying, not having to move the truck so many times when harvesting. The discing/mowing will be easier if you're not too close to that fence (if you plan to make passes between the trees).

Sounds like you may have sandy loam, pretty ideal. I'd advise digging down deeper to see what's under that 6".

Look for an old disc at equipment dealer or farm auction. There are lots of them sitting around rusting, get one with 3-point hitch so you can pick it up. It's 100 times faster and easier than a tiller, you'll enjoy it. That two-point is designed to flip sod. I'd plant wheat this spring, till it under and plant soybeans this summer, till them under and plant ryegrass this fall.

The comment about mowing gave me pause- do you have a shredder (bush hog) yet?

I have a 5 foot mower for the back of my tractor - not an issue.

I am going to dig deeper now and see what the soil is like.

I am not worried about the distance, since I will be planting more on my property. so I can just plant in a line.

The remaining property will be grapes for wine..

I have now plowed the area twice.
I am trying to break up the sod, since I do not have a disk.

You don't have to break up the sod if you have no roto-hoe attachement but you will have to control weed growth with herbicide or some kind of newspaper or landscape fabric covered with mulch. Planting is a bit of a pain, but I've established trees just fine even though I was unable to break up huge pieces of sod- even for the roots of trees! The roots grew between the air pockets (contrary to common literature I've seen roots do this many times).

It's actually easier just to leave the sod alone (no plowing) and pull it aside while planting the trees shallow and then putting the sod back and killing it with herbicide or mulch so it fertilizes the establishing trees. Too late for that advice though.

You're lucky your horse pasture isn't completely compacted. Almost any soil compacts under the relentless pounding of horsehooves, even though their presence can enrich soil over time.

Where'd you learn about the dish detergent texture test? Hadn't heard of it for years.

I have plowed twice, I am going to plow 2 more times.
I can probably take my box scraper teeth and pull large sod out.

I did a google on soil test and got the jar method.
I am trying to avoid spraying for weed control.
I am plowing the entire area in order to plant a cover crop.

I still am looking for a disk - they are a bit expensive.

I would plant asparagus between the trees. They really like apple trees. As a child I picked a lot of wild asparagus in the orchards, usually growing close to the tree trunk. Mom would have yelled at me if I ever brought anything home like the seedy stuff you get in the stores.

Have you considered renting a disk? They are relatively inexpensive around here...

Sub

Just looked at Sweet's online- they have a rusty pull-behind for $200. The 6' kind I was talking about (with 3-pt hitch) they call them 'lift discs', have several under $400. Check with local tractor dealers- someone will tell you who has used farm implements nearby.