Anybody manage to have fresh fruit year-round?

10 years ago

I'm getting my plans together for the fall, of what I'm going to add to the little orchard on my little lot.

Down on 8b/9, I've read that it's possible to always have some fresh fruit coming in, year-round. I'm slowly working on my calender, and planning my plantings to make it happen. Does anyone in the San Antonio area come close to managing year-round fresh fruit?

I found this website for Houston: http://www.randylemmon.com/fruitsvegetables/GardenTalk_02-08-07.htm

And I'm curious to know if anyone has managed it, or came close, and what varieties of what things you've planted to make it happen.

Thanks,

Badducky

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Comments (10)

beachplant
10 years ago
I`m on the island so no help here. But I do pick kumquats, grapefruit, oranges and lemons through most of the winter. Dewberries and kiawah blackberries make an early spring arrival. I used to have avocados but a hurricane took out that tree.

Waiting on the starfruit to get big enough to produce. Dragonfruit should start producing this year. Figs have been started and those usually mid-spring to fall crops.

Good luck!
Tally HO!
wally_1936
10 years ago
badducky, you did have a great expert on gardening in your area. Have you checked your area? Each area has it own choices. You do have or have had some great experts on what grows well in your area. Check with your local extension agent to help find more help there. If they do not know, they do know who would and could help you.
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southofsa
10 years ago
You know we just cut down a big (half dead) tree and I was thinking about adding some fruit trees too. Right now there are an Anna and Dorsett golden apple trees (produce in June/July) and a Meyer Lemon (jan/feb).

I went to a fruit and nut seminar at Fanick's nursery a while back. Dr. Larry Stein was the speaker. I have a handout with the varieties he said would work in the San Antonio area. I could try scanning it and emailing it if you'd like. It might give you a place to start. I highly recommend Love Creek Orchards in Medina for anything apple related. Very helpful and a great selection.

I'll be interested in what you decide to plant.

Lisa
julia42
10 years ago
It's fun to try, but it's hard to get it to a truly year round system. For one, there's a period of winter/early spring, where there's not really anything producing, so you're counting on citrus that's still hanging from fall. Which is fine, as long as your citrus didn't freeze, which will happen sometimes in San Antonio.

The bigger problem (for me at least) is discovering that you just have trouble with a particular fruit that's crucial to one of your months. For example, I've discovered that strawberries just don't work for me - between the pill bugs and the birds I just don't get anything from my little section of yard. Also, I can't seem to grow an apple tree if my life depended on it. I killed all my blueberries.

Another thing to consider is wild fruit. Mulberries and Dewberries give me a good early spring harvest without having to grow them myself.

Anyhow, This is a rough calendar for me (in south Houston):

January: Overwintered grapefruit (Rio Red), strawberries
February: Overwintered grapefruit (Rio Red), strawberries
March: Mulberries (late), strawberries
April: Mulberries, Loquats, Dewberries (late), strawberries
May: Mulberries, Dewberries, early peaches
June: Peaches(Bonanza), Plums(Santa Rosa), blackberries
July: Figs, Pears (Tennosui)
August: Figs, Pomegranates (late)
September: Pomegranates
October: Pomegranates, satsumas (late)
November: satsumas, navels, grapefruit, lemons
December: grapefruit, lemons

I include strawberries because I can buy them from a nearby farm, not because I've been successful... Also, my trees are all small, so it's not like I have an ample harvest yet, but I do get a little most months. In some ways, I find veggie gardening more satisfying, since I get a lot consistently from a smaller space...

Anyhow, good luck! It's always an adventure!!
badducky
Original Author
10 years ago
February-April looks like the biggest challenge for us in SATX area. Thanks! It's nice to know that what I'm reading about is actually feasible for some! That's what I was looking for!
beachplant
10 years ago
you have more choices than we do as you have more chill hours. Peaches, plums, apricots all are difficult on the island if you have a variety that needs chill hours, we just don`t get the every year.

Pawpaw, jujubes and persimmons do well in Texas so you may want to consider those.
Tally Ho!
julia42
10 years ago
Tally, Are you the one who posted some years back about a friend who picked a bunch of starfruit from a tree in the parking lot of her office? I always wondered about that tree... Do you know if it survived the 2009 and 2010 winters?

I know you're closer to the coast than me - I don't think a starfruit would last too many years in Pearland (jealous...).
beachplant
10 years ago
Yes! I wonder too if it survived. MIne has struggled but this year is finally taking off. The lychee bloomed but no fruit.
Forgot bananas and pecans, well pecan aren't really a fruit but...
Tally HO!
greenleaf_organic
10 years ago
Hey Bad ducky, you can try kumquats for that late winter slow period. Once they get going they are quite prolific and tasty! I think they peak a bit earlier but still keep on the tree well. Then from there maybe right into an early season loquat variety.
julia42
10 years ago
That's true. Kumquats do last (although I'm not fond of them, but some people are). I also like Calamondins, which fruit almost all year here in Houston. They're not really a fresh munching type of fruit, but they're delicious in drinks (better than a lime in beer, IMHO).

Also, kumquats and calamondins are among the more cold-hardy citrus.

Anybody manage to have fresh fruit year-round?

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beachplant

wally_1936

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Anybody manage to have fresh fruit year-round?

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