UTIA Experts Recommend the Best Cultivars of Popular Fruit Trees and Lesser-known Varieties
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As your summer garden starts to fade, it’s a good time to start planning for next year’s harvest, so why not try something new? Imagine the kinds of fruit you could harvest in future summers by selecting trees now.
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture horticulture experts have created several UT Extension publications for home gardeners who would like to grow well-known fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, plum and cherry as well as lesser-known varieties like elderberry, fig, pawpaw and persimmon. Many nurseries are now taking orders for bare-root trees, which can be delivered and planted in the spring.
“Fall can be an excellent time to research, select and order high-quality plants from good suppliers for delivery in the early spring,” said Natalie Bumgarner, residential and consumer Extension specialist and professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. “Often when spring fever hits and we get excited about buying plants, the most disease-resistant or well-adapted fruits trees or plants may be already out of stock. Fall planning and ordering can avoid this frustration and the temptation to just plant whatever we can find easily next spring, which can lead to planting poorly adapted crops or cultivars.”
Apple and Pear Trees
Among the most popular and familiar fruit trees for home gardeners are apple and pear trees. Proper pruning and disease management are very important even for just one or two trees. Apple and pear trees require deep, well-drained soil and full sun for good production and health. It is important to select cultivars that can be successfully grown in Tennessee. Many diseases and pests can damage and even kill trees in Tennessee. Refer to UT Extension publication W 895-D for more information and a list of cultivars that perform best in Tennessee.
Stone Fruit Trees
Peaches, plums and tart cherries are among the most challenging fruit crops to grow in Tennessee because of disease, pests and environment. Points to consider for long-term success include choosing the right crop and cultivar, site selection, planting techniques and other essential cultural practices including timely and consistent fertilization pruning, training and pest and disease management. Chill hours are critical when growing stone fruits. The number of hours between 32 and 45 degrees are needed from the onset of dormancy in the fall until favorable weather the next spring. Warm periods in late winter and early spring can stimulate plant growth too early for some cultivars. A minimum of 850 chilling hours is generally recommended for peaches in Tennessee. UT Extension experts have created a list of cultivars they recommend for peaches, plums and tart cherries. Refer to UT Extension publication W 895-F for more information.
Novel Fruit Trees
Elderberries, figs, pawpaws and persimmons are native fruit crops also used for ornamentals in the landscape.
Elderberry has a wide climatic range (zone 3-9). It is most common to plant elderberry in the early spring as dormant, bare root plants to ensure they have an entire growing season to become well established before winter. However, warmer regions of the state may have success with fall establishment. Potted plants found at local nurseries and garden centers are typically one to two years old and provide the opportunity to establish a larger plant and root zone. However, propagation of elderberry is not difficult, and new plants can be produced easily by cuttings or suckers. For more information, refer to UT Extension publication D 234-A.
In Tennessee, figs are most commonly a small tree or a large shrub. The plant form depends on management but can also vary by climate region. Figs can be killed back to the ground in some winters in many of the eastern and northern parts of Tennessee. Figs are generally available as container grown or bare root plants. Container grown can be planted any time of year but are typically planted during the growing season. Bare root plants are typically planted while still dormant in the late spring. Some gardeners prefer to keep their figs in containers year-round and move them indoors during the coldest parts of the year. Container grown fig trees will require root pruning every 3 to 4 years, since they will become root bound over that time. Just remove the tree from the pot, remove about 1/3 of the root ball, and then repot with additional potting mix. For more information, refer to UT Extension publication D 234-B.
The pawpaw is a unique native specialty fruit increasingly prevalent in Tennessee gardens and landscapes. The quickest path to success with pawpaws is likely to be purchasing container or bare-root trees that will establish and fruit faster. Pawpaw flowers require pollination from a genetically different tree, so they are generally self-incompatible. This is another reason to purchase named cultivars to ensure that two different trees are present for good cross-pollination and fruit set. Pawpaws are appropriate for winter hardiness zones 5 through 8 and prefer cool winters with warm summers that have plentiful rainfall. Few pests bother pawpaws, so they can be good candidates for organic or low spray production. Another interesting note and reason for low insecticide use is that pawpaw is the larval host for the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly. For more information, refer to UT Extension publication D 234-C.
Although persimmon trees are a common sight in forests and older farms, many gardeners are rediscovering this native fruit crop as an edible species for humans and wildlife. Additionally, gardeners in the warmest areas of the state can grow Asian persimmons (Diospyros kaki), which produce larger fruit on what is generally a smaller tree. Native persimmons are commonly found on the outskirts of wooded areas, field margins and fencerows. However, the large taproots can create challenges in moving trees from native sites. Native persimmons can be grown from seed if the seed is refrigerated for a few months to mimic winter (called stratification). Plant several seeds because the germination percentage is often low. Interestingly, native persimmons are a larval host plant for the Luna moth and Hickory Horndevil Regal moth. For more information, refer to UT Extension publication D 234-D.
Online Resources
W 895-D Selecting Apples and Pears for Residential Production in Tennessee
W 895-F Selecting Peaches, Plums, and Cherries for Residential Production in Tennessee
D 234-A Elderberries for Tennessee Gardens and Landscapes
D 234-B Figs for Tennessee Gardens and Landscapes
D 234-C Pawpaws for Tennessee Gardens and Landscapes
D 234-D Persimmons for Tennessee Gardens and Landscapes
Website: UT Hort, a hub for research-based horticulture information
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.