Karen,
Yes, the plants will still fruit if they get more chill than needed, unless, as you pointed out, they start to bloom too early and then get killed by spring frosts. This happens because the chill requirement is met by, say, early January, and the plants are then "ready to go." So the plants will start to break dormancy during any period of warm weather. If the first blooms are killed, there are sometimes secondary buds that will break (not always, though, as these can also be killed in a frost situation) and produce fruit, but secondary buds are often less fruitful than the primary.

Where exactly are you? Do you know what varieties local growers are using?

Whatever your location -- is it Glendale, CA? -- the nearby large independent garden centers can suggest suitable fruit trees for you.

Caution: Not all trees local garden centers have at hand are necessarily suitable. Sometimes they order varieties that folks want for their mountain cabin.

fruitgirl,

Thank you very much for the info. You have confirmed much of what I thought would be the situation -- but I needed someone with expertise to confirm.

jean001,

Alas, no, I'm not in Glendale, CA. If I were, I would be "home". I was born there and graduated from Glendale High School -- not telling what year. ; - ) I am in Tuscaloosa AL. Unfortunately, we have no chain nurseries here. In fact, we have no nurseries worthy of the name in this town or in Birmingham. HD and Lowe's actually are the best places here, and they're not great for this kind of question. Looking on the county extension services pages was no help either. They only have stuff for farmers -- nothing on fruit trees. Thanks for the advice. I lived in Portland OR for six years -- loved the town and still miss it.

Karen

Karen,
Here's a link to Univ. of Georgia "Home Garden Blueberries" extension bulletin.

Here is a link that might be useful: Home garden blueberries

In Tuscaloosa, you should not have to concern yourself with "low chill" fruits. They are for Florida, the gulf coast, and southern California. As for blueberries I would recommend rabbiteyes. Southern highbush are ok, but need more TLC. I grow both and rabbiteyes are virtually trouble free. Peruse Johnsons offering for ideas as what will perform in zone 8. They carry cultivars for the deep south and the mountains but alert you to that fact. Apple and Cherry choices are limited for zone 8, but peaches are a natural. Asian pears as well as some European pears do well

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnson Nursery

fruitgirl,

Thank you for the link. That's a really good one, and I've bookmarked it.

farmerdilla,

The reason I was concerned about low chill fruit trees is because I had seen so many of them requiring 1000-1200 chill hours, and I know we don't get that much. I checked the weather for the last 10 years. This area used to get that many chill hours, but not for quite a while.

However, that nursery has good recommendations and explains the cultivars very well for the south. Thank you for the link. I've bookmarked that one, too.

I want to get several fruit trees and some blueberry plants next Spring. The previous owner planted two bearing peaches and two flowering peaches. We are going to remove the flowering ones. What are they good for, anyway? Removal of two additional ugly bushes will leave room for about six trees.

Thank you both for the advice on the trees and the low chill question. I really appreciate the response.

Karen