Adding fruit trees to your lawn or garden is a great way to supplement your diet with healthy and delicious food. These trees are simple to care for, but require some patience and time before you can enjoy the sweet fruits of your labor. Use our guides below to get tips on planting, watering, fertilizing, and pruning your trees. Also learn about specific disease and pest control to protect your plants. Happy gardening!
Fresh pears are sweet, juicy, and delicious. But most varieties need to be picked green and ripened off the tree before they can be enjoyed. With the right environment your crop can be stored for several months to extend the goodness. Learn on how to store, handle, and ripen pears in this guide. Read more now.
Selecting the best apple tree varieties can be disappointing and fruitless (pun intended) if you don’t pick the right trees. Cold hardiness, flowering groups, and chill hours can be overwhelming, and don’t get me started on the trouble with triploids. Read more to learn about picking the right ones for your yard.
American persimmons are the perfect fruit tree for the beginning gardener. They don’t need extensive pruning or pest control to produce a healthy harvest, and if you’ve ever tasted this unique fruit straight from the tree, you know they’re deliciously sweet with a hint of spice. Read the full growing guide now.
Asian pears are a treat for anyone who loves a crisp, crunchy pear. Deliciously firm when fully ripe, nashi pears can be difficult to find in the grocery store. Why not try growing your own? Discover how to plant and grow Asian pear trees in your garden now with this guide. Plus we’ll share our favorite recipe ideas!
Plumcots and pluots are interspecific hybrid fruits achieved by crossing plum trees with apricot trees. Walk with us through the orchard as we explore these harmonious combos. Learn all the juicy secrets of these sensational fruit fusions like their history, how to grow and use them, and where to get your own plants.
Asian persimmons are a hallmark of fall, featuring honey-sweet flesh. Non-astringent types are delicious while they’re still firm, and others need to be overripe to be palatable. With so many different kinds in cultivation, we’ve done the work of sorting through the options for you. Read about our favorites now.
Fireblight can quickly infect apples, pears, and plums, leaving them sickly, ugly, and unable to produce as many healthy fruits. Our guide discusses this serious bacterial disease, how to manage fireblight infections in your trees, and even how to prevent infections from happening in the first place. Read more.
If you find yourself with a bumper crop of apples, you’ll likely want to put some of your harvest up for winter storage, either fresh or as preserves. The fresh fruits will keep their delicious flavors and perfect textures for months when stored in the best conditions. Learn how to store your apple harvest in this guide.
Distinct from European types, Asian pears are firm-fleshed, with mild to sweet flavors, and a refreshing, juicy crunch. The pretty fruit is round and apple-like, and ripens on the tree in colors ranging from pale green or yellow to bronze and russet. Read about nine of the best Asian pears for the home garden here.
If you love elderberries, why not grow them at home? These tall shrubs make an incredible addition to the landscape, with beautiful flowers and tasty fruit. Learn which plants are best suited for your growing area as we take a look at 7 of the best varieties to grow at home in this guide. Read more now.
Winter pears are a fabulous treat, with crisp skin and sweet, buttery flesh. Some of the most popular varieties out there are winter pears, like ‘Bosc’ and ‘D’Anjou.’ Then there are the lesser-known types like ‘Rescue’ and ‘Orcas,’ which deserve some time in the spotlight too. Here are 13 options worth checking out.
Wild pomegranate trees originated in the Middle East, and came to be cultivated as a nutritious food source and medicine. Regarded once as status symbols, they’re more commonplace today, but no less delicious. And many varieties of this fruit are available to choose from. Read more now to learn how to grow your own.
You’ve probably heard of winter and summer pears, and maybe you’re curious about the difference. There seems to be some misunderstanding about what defines each. It has to do with when the fruit matures on the tree rather than any unique characteristic, though winter and summer types tend to have similarities as well.
If you’re growing apples in your orchard, you’ll harvest the best quality fruit if you know how to judge the maturity of your crop. There are a number of factors that will help you estimate when your apples will be ripe for picking. Learn when and how to harvest your apples in this guide. Read more now.
It can be challenging to tell when pomegranates are ripe and ready for harvest. While the exteriors may not appear to change much, there are some subtle hints. We’ll discuss the clues to look for, and cover best practices for handling the fruits to protect them from damage so they’re ready for fall and winter storage.
If you’re growing persimmons at home, you might be a little confused about how and when to pick the tasty fruits. Do you harvest when they’re reddish orange, or when they’re soft to the touch? Can you pick a firm one? We’ll tell all in this guide, and share a few tips to enjoy them fresh or preserve them. Read more.
If you live in a colder climate but still want to grow avocados, you’ll need to choose a cold-hardy variety. Luckily, there are several cultivars available that can tolerate the cold, and still thrive. Discover the best cold tolerant avocado varieties that can withstand freezing temperatures and still produce fruit.
If you’re wondering how and when to prune your pear trees to keep them healthy and productive, you might not know how or where to begin. Should you train them to take on a certain shape? Or can you leave them to grow naturally? We’ll answer these questions and more. Find out how and when to prune pears in this guide.
Pear trees need a pal in order to pollinate and fruit well. Even self-fruitful trees will produce better if they have a companion that flowers at the same time, and it’s all about timing. Learn about European and Asian pear pollination, how it all works, and how to choose the perfect partner in this guide. Read more.
‘Honeycrisp’ apples are a game-changer with their extremely crisp flesh and sweet but tangy flavor. They’re constantly in demand on the market. Plus, the trees are disease-resistant and perfectly happy in frigid winter climates. These trees have a fascinating history and are compact enough for smaller spots.
Looking for a new favorite apple tree? ‘Braeburn’ checks all the boxes with its sweet yet tart flavor and crisp yet juicy texture. Plus, it’s easy for home gardeners to grow! Our guide explains this cultivar’s history, the best methods for growing, harvesting, and storing apples, ideas for cooking, and more.
Timing is everything when you harvest homegrown pears. European varieties ripen after picking and Asian pears reach juicy perfection on the trees. Here’s how to know when pears are ripe for harvest from the home orchard, and how to pick them at the peak of ripeness and store some for later use. Read more now.
Good things really do come in small packages with dwarf apple trees. Some are non-branching, so you can grow fruit on a tree with a tiny footprint. Others spread about eight feet wide and produce a respectable harvest. Most stay under about 10 feet tall. Check out 13 of the best dwarf tree options for your tiny space.
Almost all domestic apple trees need a second tree that blooms simultaneously to produce an abundant harvest of fruits. While there are a few self-fruitful types, they’ll produce better with a pal. Learn all about pollinating apple trees, which types work together, and how to encourage pollination in this guide.
Is your pear tree getting enough water? Are you wondering if you should irrigate? This article covers everything about irrigation including the best methods, timing, and factors to determine the unique needs of your tree. Learn about conservation strategies, new tech gadgets to help, and some bonus tips and tricks.
Plum trees are subject to numerous pest problems like aphids and borers. The right spray schedule will keep your trees healthy and pest free, but you don’t want to cause unintended harm in the garden. Learn more about when and how to spray plum trees for the best effect without killing pollinators and beneficial bugs.
Apple trees are particularly prone to pest problems, which can range from sapsucking insects that drain your tree to wiggly worms that can ruin your fruit. Chances are, you’ll encounter at least one of these at some point. Learn how to identify and control 11 of the most common apple pests in this guide. Read more now.
The avocado tree yields a deliciously healthy fruit that tastes fantastic in many different cuisines, and the tree itself is quite aesthetic. In our guide on growing Persea americana, we’ll cover the propagation protocols, cultivation how-to’s, and harvesting tips that’ll help you to yield your own tasty avocados.
Irrigation is a crucial element of fruit tree care. For healthy apple trees with abundant yields, it’s important to provide sufficient moisture. In this guide, we cover how much water apple trees require – which depends on a variety of factors – and how and when to provide supplemental irrigation. Read more now.
Persimmons are too delicious to miss out on. If your fruit tree isn’t producing fruit, it’s super frustrating and it could be due to one of nine common causes. Some problems have simple fixes, like being conscious of how you prune, while other problems like bad tree genetics can be a bit more difficult to address.
Pruning keeps your plum trees healthy and improves the quantity and quality of the fruits. Doing it right is a matter of knowing when it’s the right time to break out the pruners and saw and which branches to lop off. Our guide explains all you need to know to keep your tree healthy and happy, with lots of fruits.
Nothing compares to a sweet, fresh peach eaten fresh off the tree. Store-bought fruits simply can’t compare with the real deal. If you’ve bitten into a tough, mealy grocery peach, you know what I’m talking about. Raising peaches takes the right conditions and a bit of know-how, since they have pretty specific needs.
If your apple trees drop their fruits prematurely, you could end up with reduced yields. A variety of different factors can cause premature apple drop, and being aware of them can help you to manage or even prevent this issue. In our guide, we’ll cover what premature apple drop is and what can cause it. Read more now.
Wondering if you can grow peaches on a balcony or in a small space? Try planting a peach tree in a container! This article explains everything from choosing the right tree to how to plant and care for it. Learn about the best container size and material, how to mix your own potting soil, and when to fertilize and repot.
Apples, peaches, and cherries get all the attention from home gardeners, but plum trees are fabulous and deserve more love. They’re highly productive and easygoing, requiring minimal care to give you bushel after bushel of fresh fruits. Plus, growing your own lets you raise varieties you can’t find in stores.
Pear trees are known for their longevity and can live surprisingly long lives. If you want to plant a pear tree, or learn how to care for one, this article talks about factors that determine their survival, and offers insightful ideas you can implement to give your pear tree the best chance at a long and healthy life.
Beautiful yellow ripeness, succulent juiciness, a taste to die for… all of this and more is found in a ‘Bartlett’ pear tree’s fruits. Whether you want to enjoy them out of hand, preserve them, or use them in delicious recipes, are you ready to grow your own? Learn all the necessary tips and tricks in our guide.
There is nothing more perfect than a honey-sweet, berry-bright fig fruit fresh off the tree and still warm from the sun. If you live in Zones 6-10, you can grow your own fig trees, even if you only have a small space, and enjoy these treats once or twice a year, since many types give you not one but two crops annually.
If you’re seeing lots of straight, upright branches forming on your apple tree, they’re likely water sprouts. These growths are a sign of trauma, and you need to deal with them as soon as possible – they aren’t good for the growth of your tree, and they can reduce your harvest. Learn how to identify and remove them.
A pretty evergreen tree for subtropical gardens, the loquat produces yummy fruits that can be eaten plain or used in scrumptious recipes. Our guide goes over everything a loquat gardener needs to know, from cultivation tips to pointers on plant health care. Read more now and you’ll be ready to grow loquats like a pro.
Phytophthora and the fungi Armillaria, Phymatotrichum, and Xylaria can all cause devastating cases of root rot on fruit, nut, and landscape trees along with woody shrubs. Prevention is the best way to manage these diseases. Read on to learn the best ways to avoid these diseases and biocontrol agents and fungicides that may help with Phytophthora root rot.
When properly cared for, pecan trees can yield delicious nuts and liven up the landscape for years to come. But Carya illinoinensis cultivation is quite involved. Propagation, tree maintenance, nut harvesting and storage – our guide explains it all! By the end, you’ll be ready to grow these trees like a pro.
Love the flavor of figs but worried you can’t grow them because you live too far north? Northern gardeners have plenty of options when it comes to selecting fig varieties that will do well in colder climates. Our experts offer up 7 of the best cold hardy fig trees and top tips on how to care for them in the winter.
Do you dream of growing your own tropical citrus fruits? Did you know that with just a little bit of love and care, you can grow your own lemons, limes, kumquats, and other types of citrus trees indoors, even in the northernmost climates? We share our top tips for growing citrus trees in containers. Read more now.
Soft, luscious pawpaw fruit has a tropical flavor, but it doesn’t grow in the tropics. It’s native to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9, where attractive maroon blossoms in spring and golden leaves in autumn make it a landscape focal point. Learn to grow this much fabled, commercially scarce treat, here on Gardener’s Path.
If you want an orchard of pear trees but don’t want to spend a fortune, why not try growing them from cuttings? It takes time but with a bit of effort you’ll be planting out your own newly propagated trees. Learn how to start pear trees from cuttings in this guide and you’ll be on your way to enjoying a thriving orchard.
Cherry trees produce bounties of delicious fruit every year and are handsome additions to the landscape. The trees are beautiful in the spring, provide tasty fruit in the summer, and display architectural winter interest. Learn to grow and enjoy the freshest fruit with Gardener’s Path growing guide now.
Elderberry is truly an incredible plant, with a rich, complex history and a multitude of fascinating uses. It can be consumed in many forms including as a syrup, pie filling, or jam. Learn how to harvest and preserve the fruit of this shrub for medicine, food, or wine. Read more now.
Although cedar apple rust won’t kill the junipers or apples and crabapples it infects, it can surely debilitate them. What can you do if you are faced with this complex disease? Read more now on Gardener’s Path to discover how to identify and learn how to control cedar apple rust on either of its hosts.
Think it’s impossible to find a cold-hardy cherry tree that will survive in cold, northern climates? On the contrary – you can harvest delicious cherries, sweet or sour, so long as you pick the right variety. Discover the 9 best cold-tolerant cultivars that will produce your summer cherry bumper crop. To get the sweet lowdown, keep reading.
Have you ever wanted to grow your own apricot trees? What better time than now? Growing these stone fruits at home means a rare treat: apricots that you can eat the same day you pick them. Or, use your harvested fruits for everything from cooking and baking to canning and drying. Ready to get growing? Read more now.
Apple bonsai are dramatic, striking trees in a small package. They produce full-sized fruits on a teeny-tiny tree. Oue guide explains how to grow your own bonsai apple trees, from selecting a specimen to potting, pruning, and shaping them for the most impact. We’ll also help you manage problems that might pop up.
Apple maggots are the larvae of small flies that lay their eggs in orchard fruits, especially apples, quickly turning the ripening fruits inedible. To catch these pests before they ruin your pie dreams, learn everything you need to know about apple maggots – including a variety of control options – in this guide.
European pear trees provide showy spring blossoms, beautiful fall colors, as well as delicious fruit with a soft, buttery texture and a sweet flavor. There are a number of different cultivars available for home gardeners. Learn about 11 of the best common pear varieties to grow in this guide. Read more now.
Want a truly stunning bonsai that offers a challenge with an incredibly fulfilling reward? Consider growing a fruit tree species as a bonsai. It takes a little extra work beyond that required by your average bonsai, but the results are absolutely worth it. A miniature tree with full-sized fruit is a sight to behold!
Most of us are accustomed to the red pomegranates seen in the grocery store, but a variety of colors and flavors are available to grow aside from the old standby. There are over 500 known cultivars in existence, so which one is right for your yard? Discover 9 of the best pomegranate varieties to grow at home. Read more.
Pomegranate plants are native to arid regions where soil can sometimes lack nutrients. While they can withstand poor, deficient soil, they’ll be healthier and more productive when the soil they grow in is healthy and nutrient-dense. Learn how to improve soil fertility to grow productive pomegranates that thrive.
Whether your goal is to grow just one tree or enough to fill an orchard, like most fruit trees, pomegranates grow best via certain propagation methods. Learn which tried and true techniques can produce plants that are clones of the parent plant, and how results may vary. Then give them a try at home! Read more now.
Want to grow your own fresh fruit, or are you looking for a fun project to do with the kids? Pomegranates can be grown from seed, producing variable but potentially worthwhile results. In the right climate, they can be grown outdoors in the ground or a container, or brought inside to overwinter. Read more now.
Pest infestation and disease are unfortunately common among fruit trees, though pomegranates manage to dodge a large number of both. While you’ll need to remain vigilant for signs of distress, you can treat many common issues that may arise. Learn what to look for and how to intervene to help your pomegranates thrive.
When you’ve already waited six months or more for pomegranates to ripen, it can be disheartening to see them cracking or splitting open before harvest. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to coax those long-season fruits through to maturity! Learn what factors lead to cracking and how to prevent it.
Fruit tree guilds involve a technique of planting trees along with supporting species in a way that resembles natural ecosystems. They are an excellent way to create healthier, more productive, and more resilient gardens. Read on to learn about the components of a guild and for information on how to design your own.
Are you growing any apple trees in your yard? If they’re less than ten years old, they can be highly susceptible to several winter maladies: sunscald, pest infestation, and the ravages of other types of hungry critters. Find out how to keep your apple trees warm, safe, and happy during the winter. Read more now.
If you want to start or expand your own orchard, you should pause and do some research on fruit tree spacing first. That’s what this guide is here for! You’ll discover why spacing matters and what the spacing requirements are for commonly grown fruit trees. Learn all about fruit tree spacing in this guide. Read more now.
From surprisingly colored garden veggies to unexpectedly adorable berries, from teensy cucumbers to oversized beans, there are a wealth of unique edible plants you can grow in your backyard landscape. Ready to discover 17 unusual – and delicious – fruits and vegetables you can grow at home? Read more now.
Growers typically plant resistant apple varieties to control the major pathogens in their region. What can home gardeners do to prevent the occurrence of diseases on their apple trees? Read more to discover prevention techniques, learn ways to identify common diseases of apples, and implement control methods.
Asian persimmons are different from any other type of fruit out there, with a complex flavor all their own, and the trees are relatively problem-free in the garden. If you’re ready to plant your own or you’re looking for tips to keep your existing tree healthy, read our guide now for expert growing advice.
Protecting fruit trees from harsh winter weather only takes a few minutes, and it’s absolutely worth the effort. Don’t ignore this important step to ensuring healthy growth and production the following season. Read more to learn how to winterize fruit trees in the garden, as well as those planted in containers.
Dreaming of a home orchard? Fruiting pear trees are a great choice. They aren’t troubled by most diseases or pests, and deliver bumper crops of delicious fruit. Reap all these rewards by following this guide that takes you through every step, from planting to harvest and eating or cooking. Read more now.
Store bought avocado seeds can be turned into a simple, fun project that you can do with children, at home or in the classroom. This educational activity extends learning opportunities through the summer. Demonstrate the plant life cycle and spark a love of gardening by growing a lovely tree to enjoy for years to come.
Learn everything you need to know about how to grow the majestic olive tree, a large plant that makes a dramatic landscape statement while providing delicious fruit that’s suitable for preserving in brine, oil, or water, or for pressing to make a flavorful oil that’s beloved by cooks around the world. Read more now.
Hardy Chicago figs are the perfect type of fruit trees for northern gardeners who would like to enjoy homegrown fresh figs, and who need a cultivar that can withstand chilly weather. Check out our expert advice about how to grow these bountiful trees now, including site selection, watering, and fertilizing information.
Ready to grow flavorful homegrown apricots in your chilly northern climate? If you plant the best cold-hardy varieties, you’ll be sure to harvest a bounty of sweet fruit. Discover the best cold tolerant apricot cultivars to ensure a bumper summer crop, and defy the dreaded late frost. Keep reading to learn more.
Banana plants add a dramatic and splashy punch of the tropics to the landscape, but they will succumb to winter’s wrath if they’re not properly cared for. In this article, our experts share several ways to safely overwinter these (mostly) cold-intolerant plants so they are happy and healthy when warmer weather returns.
To get insider tips on why fall is the best time to plant trees in your landscape, discover what “fall” actually means, depending on what part of the country you live in, and get expert advice about all the steps involved in planting trees for the maximum chances of success, read more now.
Do your shade, nut, or fruit tree limbs and trunks have unsightly growths on them? If so, they are probably burr knots or crown gall. One is due to roots growing on the stems, while the other is a bacterial infection. Prevention is the best bet for these disorders. Learn how to prevent and, in some cases, control them.
Looking for a versatile, small, and fruitful tree for your landscape? Learn all about dwarf citrus, a petite performer that produces sweet and tart fruit of the same quality and size as its full-sized cousins, in a specimen, espaliered, or container form that’s perfect for smaller spaces. Read more on Gardener’s Path.
There’s an old saying that society grows great when people plant trees they’ll never enjoy the shade of. That’s a fine sentiment, but why not enjoy the fruits of our labor along the way? Growing apple trees offers long-term benefits, and in just a few years we can enjoy the fruit of our trees. Read on to learn how.