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Fruit & Orchards

Zone 5 fruit and nut trees Northeast, Nebraska

9 years ago

Hello,

I have an acreage near Allen, NE and I would like to turn part of it into an orchard. I would like to plant 3-6 acres of fruit and nut trees. I found a list that will supposedly grow in zone 5.

Apple -

Apricot -

Aronia Berry -

Cherry -

Fig -

Nectarine -

Peach -

Pear -

Asian Pear -

Plum -

Plout -

Pecan -

Paw Paw -

Persimmon -

Hazel Nut -

What are your experiences growing these fruit and nut trees in zone 5?

What is it? Where did you get it? How did it do?

I need to come up a plan so I would appreciate any insight. Thanks.

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Comments (5)

TurkeyCreekTrees Zone 5B
9 years ago
Cheeta64 I cant speak for all the fruit types you have listed but I can be of assistance on a number of them. Follow me on here and I will be able to send a message. Just hover your cursor above my name and it will give you the follow button.
cheeta64 thanked TurkeyCreekTrees Zone 5B
aquaterra
9 years ago
You'll probably get many and varied opinions, but . . . here's mine. I live in Canada and can't/won't suggest any sources of plants for you.

There are many apple cultivars that will grow in zone 5, but some will be better in your location than others. I'd ask for advice at a local nursery. Be prepared to spray for disease and pests or be very selective about choosing disease-resistant strains.

One of my apricots in zone 5 -- called a "Manchurian apricot" by the seller -- has survived many years but has never born fruit, even when the other apricot plants were still alive.

My aronia has survived and born fruit in zone 5.

Based upon a single experience with them in zone 5, I'd say "unlikely" to nectarine, peach, and Asian pear, and based upon many experiences I doubt that figs would survive without a lot of effort (like burying them before winter -- and even then it might be "iffy").

I don't have much experience with cherries except for native black cherry and Manchu/Nanking bush cherries. Both do acceptably for me. I'd try the fairly-recently developed dwarf cherries from Saskatchewan.

My pears, even the Early Gold, Ure, and Ussurian pears, are surviving but not thriving. That could be my fault because ALMOST ALL OF MY PLANTS MAINLY "FEND FOR THEMSELVES" amongst the tall grass and weeds. They get little care except for fencing from wildlife and, some years, a mulch of leaves around them before the snow flies. Hopefully, someone who gives his/her plants more attention will add comments to what I'm saying. And hopefully they haven't been muttering too much to themselves as they've been reading my thoughts and so-called advice.

My two pecan "trees" -- five or six feet tall -- are about 15 years old and die back (tip kill) most winters. They were grafted and the grafts died the first winter but the rootstock survived. I do give them special care, both summer and winter, but still . . .

No nuts on my hazels, also about 15 years old -- but at least they haven't died (yet) from blight.

The plums are doing okay and produce fruit.

The persimmons and paw paws are struggling still, ten years after they were planted. No fruit and limited growth each year.

Having said all that, it has been fun experimenting.

Best wishes.
cheeta64 thanked aquaterra
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lucky_p
9 years ago
Contact NeNGA - somebody there can certainly apprise you as to what nut tree (and minor fruit species, like persimmon & pawpaw) species and cultivars are likely to perform well for youNebraska Nut Growers Association
cheeta64 thanked lucky_p
Tony
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Cheeta

you can search on GW For Tony fruits harvest 2013. I live in Omaha so these trees should be Okay for you also.

Tony
cheeta64 thanked Tony
debclarkson
last year
I know this is a very old post but I just found it. I live in Concord Nebraska and am wondering what you came up with. Have you seen what's growing at the Northeast Station just outside of Concord?

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