Recommend an easy fruit tree for my garden

16 years ago

Hi everyone,

I've posted this over on the Orchard & Organic forums, but since I'm here in Northern California I'm hoping there's someone in my zone who can say what has worked for them.

I want to espalier a fruit tree on a western-facing wall to use every available inch of my garden. But after preliminary searches here at GW it looks like fruit trees are hard: varmits, molds, critters, bugs, sprays, chemicals... etc. I'm not sure I'm up for it yet.

I'm interested in recommendations to any good dwarf apple trees, maybe a pear. My husband wants a peach. I'd even do a plum or a fig. Any of these choices will be fine, if I can find one that will do well in my climate and not require gallons of chemicals to keep it alive AND fruiting. (I'm hoping to do 100% organic.)

Is there a particularly hardy type of fruit tree that requires less maintenance?

Are there any idiot-proof fruits (LOL) that I could just plant, water, and fertilize and hope to get some fruit from?

I'm in Contra Costa County in the 'burbs. We do have critters (racoons, skunks, and squirrels) in the yard at night. And deer. Damned deer. But I'll be putting a deer fence around the garden and hoping they won't hop the fence.

I might want to mention that I'm already doing citrus in pots on my back patio... so I'm hoping to do something other than citrus in the veggie garden.

Your tips, suggestions, and commiseration are all much appreciated.

Thanks!

Kristi

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Comments (8)

davissue_zone9
16 years ago
Plums and figs are foolproof, but they put on so much growth in a season, I'm not sure they would make a good espalier. Apples and pears need constant monitoring for coddling moth all season; apricots, peaches and nectarines need sprays to control fungal diseases. I used to think cherries were easy, but the birds and rats get them before I do now, so are hardly worth it. I am blessed to live a couple of miles away from JoeReal, so am now the proud owner of a plum with about ten varieties on it, and thoroughly enjoyed picking plums all summer thanks to his grafting expertise. This might be skewing my favoring plums as one of the best home fruit trees, but except for water, fertilizer and picking, the tree is not much work. Now, if only the exploding squirrel population in town doesn't discover my tree...
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angelicar
16 years ago
You might check Raintree Nursery, they have a great selection of edible ornamentals. I have ordered many items through the mail from them and always been happy. See www.raintreenursery.com

Here is a link that might be useful: raintree
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For espalier I think peaches or nectarines are too vigorous, but you could give it a try. You would have to spray for peach leaf curl in November December and January, but on a small tree, really, it only takes five minutes so it's not that big of a deal. For "plant and do nothing" I would say either a persimmon or a multi-graft asian pear espaliered with 3 or 6 varieties. Or an apple multi-graft too would be good with a little more work. I have had a few problems with wooly aphids here in Sac, and a bout with fireblight, but my multi graft trees are still happy and kicking! Carla in Sac
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Aronia are definitely not for fresh eating. They do process into excellent jelly, juice, wine, etc. Most apples would not meet your requirements for carefree, but some crabapples are very disease and pest resistant, very compact and produce edible fruits. Jujube is something to consider, as most are hardy and they don't have natural pests around. Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas is another one to consider. Figs and pomegranates would not qualify as easy, as both would require considerable winter protection in 6a MA. Asian persimmons would also be very marginal. You may find one that will survive, but it may not ripen fruit. Pawpaw would be another possibility for something easy. Currants are not trees, but would do great and are easy, although I'm not sure if its legal to grow them in MA.
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dicot
16 years ago
I would think a pear, apple or asian pear would be best for all the reasons Daveissue explained. I believe there are dormant oils sprays that are organic that can help with moth issues. I can't recall if copper sprays are considered organic or not.

I remember the one Kosui pear I had in Oakland was trouble-free. Remember to check each species on whether a pollinator tree is necessary and if there is a chill hour requirement (most apples).

Plums will drop so much fruit and volunteer so freely that they can be a real nuisance, but they definitely are idiot-proof once established. Walk into most SF Bay area neighborhoods and you can find them thriving with no help whatsoever
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akarinz
16 years ago
Check out Dave Wilsons. They sell wholesale and have a wealth of information for home growers. You can even e-mail them or contact them for information.

Karin

Here is a link that might be useful: Dave Wilson's
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bahia
16 years ago
The Fig as an espaliered tree against a west facing fence/wall would be the fruit tree that would love the heat the most, and it also would give two crops of figs every year, needs no spraying, and you only need to pick the figs before the birds get them. In my experience, Asian Pears such 20th Century are much less prone to codling moth than most apples, and are also pretty easy to grow, but don't really lend themselves to an espalier form without a lot of training. Had you considered the possiblility of a Pomegranite tree? Again, not ideal for an espalier, but they love the heat and do not have many/any pests to worry about.
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fruithack
16 years ago
A good vitus labrusca grape like Jupiter or Glenora (both seedless) would be disease free and require no chemicals in Contra Costa. Grapes are the easiest fruiting plant there is to prune and train to virtually any configuration you can dream up. The only consideration would be enough sun. I doubt you can get grapes til next winter. Jupiter in particular bears large crops after only a year or two.
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wanda
16 years ago
Pomegranates, Persimmons or citrus are usually more
care-free than most of the stone fruits.

wanda
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miketrees
16 years ago
I love Persimmons get a non astringent one though, tell me when they are ready and I will be there to taste test them for you.
(you cant be too careful)
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Recommend an easy fruit tree for my garden

Comments (8)

davissue_zone9

angelicar

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