A good plum is a small miracle. The skin is tart, the flesh is sweet, and the juice runs down your wrist. I still remember biting into a ripe one on a warm afternoon and forgetting everything else. Yet most shoppers see only one or two kinds of plums. The real world of plums is…
Walk into any grocery store and you will see a few pears. Walk into an orchard and you will find hundreds. I still remember my first bite of a truly ripe pear. It was soft, sweet, and almost buttery, and it changed how I saw the fruit. The world of pears is far larger than…
Many gardeners believe fruit trees only grow in mild climates. I used to think the same. Then I looked at what cold-climate breeders have achieved, and it changed my mind. In 1860, the journalist Horace Greeley said you could not grow apples in Minnesota. Since then, University of Minnesota breeders have released more than 400…
Tennessee is a good state for backyard fruit. The seasons are clear, summers are warm, and winters are cold enough for many trees to rest properly. I have always found that this mix gives gardeners plenty of choices. Still, not every fruit tree is an easy win here. Late spring frosts, humid summers, and heavy…
Many people tell me they cannot grow fruit in Colorado. I understand why. Late spring freezes, strong sun, dry air, and short seasons make it a tough place for orchards. Still, it can be done. Colorado State University (CSU) Extension says that just about any deciduous fruit tree can grow here, including apples, pears, apricots,…
I will be honest from the start. No fruit tree thrives in deep, all-day shade. Most need at least six hours of direct sun to fruit well, and eight to ten hours is even better, according to University of Georgia Extension. Still, a shady yard is not a lost cause. Many trees tolerate partial shade,…
Waiting for fruit is the hardest part of gardening. I have met many people who planted a tree with great hope, then watched it sit for five or six years without a single fruit. The good news is that some trees move much faster. Several of the trees in this guide can flower within months…
Ohio is a good place to grow fruit. The state has real winters, warm summers and a long tradition of orchards. I have seen backyard apple trees in Ohio that are older than the houses beside them. But Ohio also has tricky weather. Late spring frosts can kill blossoms, and hard winters can damage tender…
Michigan is a fruit state at heart. Along the Lake Michigan shore, orchards stretch for miles. Every spring, the blossoms turn the hills white and pink. Many families keep a few trees in the yard for the same reason. I have always felt that a backyard apple tree makes autumn better. The smell of fresh…
North Carolina is one of the friendliest states for home fruit growers. It has four true seasons, plenty of rain, and a long growing period. From the Blue Ridge to the Outer Banks, there is a fruit tree that fits. I still remember the first fig I picked straight from a backyard tree in July….