When to plant fruit trees in Moldova

One of the questions we hear most often at the nursery is: "when's the right time to plant?" The answer depends on the species, the type of seedling and the year's weather — but a few general rules apply to Moldova's temperate-continental climate.

The two main planting windows

For bare-root fruit trees, there are traditionally two planting windows: autumn, after leaf-fall and once the tree has entered dormancy, but before the soil freezes; and early spring, once the risk of hard frost has passed but before growth starts. Autumn planting lets roots settle into the soil over winter, so the tree starts more strongly in spring; spring planting is preferred in areas with very harsh winters or where autumn soil is hard to work.

Planting outside these windows

Planting in summer, during active growth, or in winter, when the soil is frozen, increases the risk that a seedling won't establish well. Roots exposed to extreme temperatures or overly dry soil can dehydrate or suffer frost damage before they've had a chance to develop.

Our recommendation

Moldova's climate, with cold winters and warm summers, allows both planting windows, provided the tree's dormancy is respected. For each species — apple, plum, apricot and cherry — we give specific recommendations at the time of purchase, based on that year's conditions.