While fruit trees can’t grow everywhere they are one of the more rewarding plants to grow. They not only provide shade, protection, and help the ecosystem, but provide a delicious treat in fresh, organic fruit right off the branch. Today we’ll talk about how to choose the best fruit tree for you and some of the options available.
Pick The Right Fruit Tree For You
Picking your favorite fruit vs fruit tree may lead to a very hard tree to grow that produces very little fruit. Make sure to pick a fruit tree that grows in your area. If you aren’t sure what fruit trees thrive in your area a Friendly Tree expert can help. This will not only help the tree be as healthy as it can be, but will make sure it is appropriate for your local area.
Make sure you only need one tree instead of two. Just like most species on earth, it often takes two trees to produce fruit. Some trees require cross-pollination and others don’t. Make sure that the fruit tree you pick doesn’t require a partner, and if it does, that they are close enough to pollinate. Our experts are available and can share the right distance, maturity, and pairing.
The size of the tree is also incredibly important. If you have a large space you can grow different fruit trees producing fruit almost year-round with a variety of fruit. If you are short on space, which most of us are these days, you may need to choose a smaller fruit tree. While it may produce less fruit from a quantity perspective, it will have a much smaller footprint. An example of this would be cherry, plum, or even apple trees.
Through years of adjustments and cross grafting, we’ve also been able to make many varieties of fruit trees available in smaller versions. So if your heart is set on a tree that is large and needs lots of space make sure to check to see if a smaller version exists.
Apple Tree
Apple trees produce amazing fruit that is enjoyed by all. They are also one of the easier and longer-lasting fruit trees that can produce for decades. They grow in zones from 3-9, so from south Texas to Canada you’ll be safe planting the right apple tree in your garden.
Note that there are two different types of apples one for eating right off the branch and others that are often used for cooking only. There are a few in between apples but make sure to pick one that you’ll use the most. If you’re a Julia Child type, in the kitchen cooking, apples may be the best bet. If you are wanting something to sell at your local farmers market or share with neighbors an apple ready to eat off the tree is what you should pick.
Make sure to check if the tree needs a cross-pollinator, plant, and in 2-4 years you’ll have a tree producing all the apples your family and friends can eat!
Lemon Tree
The beauty of the lemon tree is that it can be grown anywhere. The reason for that is because it is quite small and can be grown in a pot if needed! Often they are grown indoors in pots, to help fill a space as well as create the most delicious lemons you’ve ever tasted.
The lemon tree is more maintenance than the apple as this requires more than yearly pruning. Lemon trees will produce fruit, but with careful and strategic pruning you can have the tree produce multiples of what an untended tree can. Something Friendly Tree experts can assist with if you don’t feel like going it alone.
Lemon trees often require a lot of nutrients as they can produce fruit year-round. Making sure the nutrients are stable allows for a healthier tree and higher quality and consistent fruit overall.
Peach Tree
Finally, there is the peach tree. They are very low maintenance, produce one of the best-tasting fruits in the world.
Peach trees require less fertilizing than a lemon tree and only require a spot that’s sunny every day and enough water to make sure they don’t go dry.
Once planted they grow quite quickly to maturity and can produce fruit as fast as the following year. If you are looking for a reason to get into making jams, jelly, and canning, the peach tree will give you plenty of fruit every year to test out new recipes from cobblers to pies to candied fruit. Peach trees grow in zones 4-9.
While fruit tree often requires extra maintenance to a regular tree you might put in your backyard or even home, the rewards are double as you get something that can make it to your dinner table or be shared as a holiday gift with friends and family.
Reach out to Friendly Tree today if you are looking to plant a fruit or other tree this spring or summer!
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