Invest in a Sweet Harvest: Plant Fruit Now!

Fall is the best time to plant fruit trees and shrubs. Whether it’s one special tree or an entire home orchard, now’s the time to invest in a sweet harvest.

Each year, we select a wide range of fruit varieties that perform well in north Texas. Planted now through early winter, the trees and shrubs take advantage of cooler temperatures to establish healthy root systems so that they’re better prepared to begin green growth in spring.

Where to plant? All fruits require full sun, well draining soil, and space to grow. Since most of them will fruit best with a second tree nearby, plan on at least two of each type, if possible. Fruits such as figs and pomegranates–beautiful shrubs in their own right– won’t require another, since they are self-pollinating.

Another consideration is to plan for ease of access — if they’re too far away, you won’t be as likely to keep them maintained and watered.

Which fruit to choose? Apples, pears, persimmons, plums and of course peaches are all possibilities here. Fruits such as these need the winter cold each year to set fruit, referred to as ‘chill hours’- the total number of hours the plant experiences above freezing but below 45 degrees. Many of our varieties have been specially bred by Texas A & M to perform well in our area, and all our plants were selected to be most likely to set fruit in the lower range of chill hours, at about 750 or more.

Patience is key for all trees when you’re waiting for your first real harvest; this generally takes at least 3-5 years. Good fruit tree specific fertilizers like Espoma Tree-Tone are ideal to promote healthy growth in the coming years.

In addition to tree fruits, we have blackberries, grapes, and blueberries ready for fall planting.

If you’ve never planted a fruit tree before, our garden advisors can show you how. Meanwhile, check out our Fruit Tree Planting Project List.

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