Kentucky has the climate for growing multiple fruit trees, including apples, pears, paw paws, cherries, and peaches. The stone fruits can be a bit finicky but don't forget about the fruiting shrubs like berries and figs. These are great additions to the edible garden.
What fruit is native to Kentucky?
Wild Fruit Trees in Kentucky
- Paw Paw. Southeastern Kentucky's Cherokee Indians relied on the paw paw--America's largest edible fruit--as a dietary staple.
- Wild Cherry. Native Americans and settlers throughout the Appalachians used wild black cherry (prunus serotina) inner bark as a sedative and cough remedy.
- American Plum. ...
What fruits grow in Kentucky?
Fruit Trees Native to Kentucky. Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, peaches, and grapes ─ we eat these common fruits every day.Local sources for these fruits, however, can be difficult to find due to their preference for a longer, warmer growing season.
What is the best fruit tree?
The Best Low-Maintenance Fruit Trees
- Plums. Requiring less care than other fruit trees, plum trees are an excellent choice for a low-maintenance orchard.
- Peach. Homegrown sun-ripened peaches are a staple for many pies, jams, muffins, and cobblers throughout the summer season.
- Pears. ...
- Cherries. ...
What fruit trees grow the quickest?
Top 5 Fastest Fruit Trees To Grow And Harvest In The Yard
- PEACH TREE (1 year to Grow)
- COCONUT TREE (5 – 6 Years)
- APPLE TREE (1 – 2 Years)
- PEAR TREE (2 – 4 Years)
- APRICOT TREE (2 – 3 Years)
Do peach trees grow well in Kentucky?
Kentucky's climate for growing peaches is both good and bad. One of its good points is the intense sunshine, which builds carbohydrates and helps produce high-quality fruit. The rainfall is sufficient for good growth and good fruit sizing in most years.
Can a lemon tree grow in Kentucky?
The Gardener's Answer Hi, Cathy: Lemon trees are considered tropical for Kentucky gardeners. They are happy to live outdoors from late spring to early fall but they are not cold-hardy and will need protection during the winter months.
Can you grow cherry trees in KY?
Sweet cherries generally do not survive or produce well in Kentucky. Some of these newer rootstocks are available to home gardeners from a few mail-order nurser- ies in the Pacific Northwest.
What apple trees grow well in Kentucky?
Disease resistance is the first thing to consider when choosing a variety. Jonafree, Enterprise and Liberty are all suitable for Kentucky home gardeners.
Can you grow a banana tree in Ky?
Bananas are a fun plant to grow; do you know which variety you are growing? Some are more cold hardy than others. If it is a hardy variety and will survive our winters in Kentucky, the entire plant should be cut back to just a few inches above the soil level. The foliage will die back after the first frost.
Can I grow an orange tree in Ky?
Citrus plants are not cold-hardy in Kentucky so we cannot plant them in the ground, but this doesn't mean we can't grow them at all. In fact, they are quite easy to grow in containers. They love our sunny, hot, and humid summers. Kentucky's late spring and summers are perfect for citrus fruit production.
What is the best fruit tree for Kentucky?
Fruit Trees Native to KentuckyAmerican Plum (Prunus americana) ... Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) ... Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) ... Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) ... Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) ... American Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) ... Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) ... Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
Can pineapples grow in Kentucky?
Unfortunately here in Kentucky we do not have the climatic conditions that are favorable in terms of growing the fruit outdoors year-round. It will not survive our winter temperatures and so it will need to be over-wintered indoors. Pineapples thrive when given full sun so place it in the sunniest window of your home.
Can you grow mango in Kentucky?
Mangoes (Mangifera indica) are a tropical fruit that need warm conditions to grow. If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11, you can grow mangoes. These trees are not very cold tolerant, and even a mild frost can cause serious damage to parts of the tree.
What berries grow in Kentucky?
It's almost summer, and that is prime harvest season for blueberries and blackberries, both of which have the potential to grow very well in Kentucky. Blueberries, which are native to North America, are ready to harvest from early June through early August.
Can you grow nectarines in Kentucky?
Kentucky's winter conditions are the biggest limiting factor when considering types of fruit trees. Crops such as peaches, nectarines and sweet cherries may suffer winter injury when grown in our climate. Apricots have difficulty because they bloom too early in the spring, making them very susceptible to spring frosts.
What is the state fruit of Kentucky?
The blackberryThe blackberry is named and designated as the official fruit of Kentucky. Effective: July 13, 2004 History: Created 2004 Ky. Acts ch.
What are the fruits of Kentucky?
Fruit Trees Native to Kentucky. Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, peaches, and grapes ─ we eat these common fruits every day. Local sources for these fruits, however, can be difficult to find due to their preference for a longer, warmer growing season. Kentucky native fruit trees are adapted to grow in our varying soil types ...
Why are plums only grown in Kentucky?
Due to unreliability of fruit production in Kentucky, plums are usually only commercially grown as a secondary crop. Other names for the American Plum include American wild plum, Osage plum, river plum, thorn plum, wild yellow plum, red plum, August plum, and goose plum.
What is a serviceberry tree?
Of the three Kentucky native serviceberries, Downy Serviceberry is mainly planted as an ornamental. Its wood is both heavy (the heaviest in the U.S.) and hard, making excellent tool handles. Serviceberry trees grow in full sun or partial shade and prefer moist but well-drained soil. The red-purple fruit tastes somewhat like blueberries. Serviceberries can be eaten fresh, baked in pies, or dried like raisins. Forty or more bird species favor serviceberries as well as mammals big and small. It is a common understory tree.
What is the largest fruit in North America?
Found in wooded areas, the Kentucky native Pawpaw is the largest native fruit in North America. Pawpaws are commonly described as tasting like a mix of banana and mango or pineapple. The fruit has high nutritional value, being an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and protein. Pawpaw fruit surpass apples, grapes, and peaches in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Wildlife such as birds, raccoons, and opossums enjoy the fruit, and zebra swallowtail butterfly larva feed on young pawpaw foliage. With some effort, you can grow pawpaws from seed.
What is a Sassafras tree?
Sassafras trees thrive in moist, well-drained, acidic soil with full sun to partial shade but can also tolerate drier, rockier soil. Filé, a Creole spice used in gumbo, is made by grinding dried sassafras leaves. The fragrant bark and roots have been used to make tea and root beer but contain an oil called safrole, a proven carcinogen in mice and rats. In 1960, the Food and Drug Administration banned direct use of safrole in food although spices are still permissible.
How tall is a Pawpaw tree?
Most pawpaw trees grow fifteen to twenty feet in height but can reach up to forty feet if conditions are optimal. The champion Kentucky pawpaw is in Letcher County. Kentucky State University, one of Kentucky’s land-grant universities, is home to the world’s only full-time pawpaw research program.
What were the problems with Kentucky persimmon trees?
Winter-hardy and adaptable, Kentucky persimmon trees suffer few pests and diseases. Some trees further south may be susceptible to vascular wilt. It can develop black leaf spot, and tent caterpillars can be problematic.
Apples
Minimal pesticide (MP) apple tree varieties, which normally produce mature fruit with less pesticide treatments, in central Kentucky include Pristine (ripens July 14), Redfree (ripens July 25), Lodi (ripens July 1), Dayton (ripens August 10) and Liberty (ripens August 31).
Peaches
Some peach tree varieties in western and eastern Kentucky have a very good resistance to flesh browning. Fruit ripening dates are calculate by the ripening dates of the Redhaven peace tree, which is one variety that is good to grow in Kentucky. In the eastern parts of Kentucky, the Redhaven ripens around August 5 and in western Kentucky July 25.
Pawpaw
Pawpaw trees listed as MP and grow very well in Kentucky are Zimmerman, Wabash, Taytwo, Taylor, Sweet Alice, Sunflower, Shenandoah, Prolific and Potomac. According to the Kentucky State University, pawpaw fruits are ripened from late August to mid-October in Kentucky.
Cherries
Tart or sour cherries trees that require minimal pesticide care in Kentucky include North Star and Montmorency, which ripen in early July and Surefire, which ripen about five days after the Montmorency cherries. Sweet cherries trees do not do well in Kentucky, according to the University of Kentucky.
What is Kentucky known for?
Familiar for its race horses, delicious fried chicken and bluegrass music, Kentucky is also the home of a wide variety of wild fruit trees that once provided Native Americans with nourishment and medicine. Many wild fruit trees bloom profusely in the spring, making them desirable additions to ornamental gardens.
What is the bark of a black cherry tree used for?
Native Americans and settlers throughout the Appalachians used wild black cherry (prunus serotina) inner bark as a sedative and cough remedy. Cabinet, furniture and toy-makers prize the tree's wood. Wild cherry fruit is used in jelly, syrup and pies, and to make wine.
What is the purpose of the American plum tree?
Native Americans, says the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, continue to use it for medicinal purposes.
When do wild fruit trees bloom?
Many wild fruit trees bloom profusely in the spring, making them desirable additions to ornamental gardens. Although fruits from these trees may have fallen from popular favor over the years, their taste and nutritive value deserve a second look.
Is plum edible straight off the tree?
The fruit is edible straight off the tree, in preserves and pies, or dried to make fruit leather. American plum likes full sun or partial shade and moist loamy soil. Its shallow spreading root system makes it effective for erosion control. Plant seeds taken from ripe fruit in the fall.
Kentucky Overview
Filled with indescribable mountains, rivers, and gorges, Kentucky is predominantly the ancestral home of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Shawnee, and Yuchi tribes. These native tribes have vast knowledge on how to take care of the land in ways that cultivate biodiversity, protect trees from diseases, and don’t harm nature.
Climate
The climate has a huge influence on fruit trees, just as trees have a large impact on the climate. For example, many fruit trees require a certain number of days of cold temperature in order to bear fruit in the spring (chill hours).
Precipitation
Most established fruit trees will need about an inch or so of rainfall every 7-10 days in order to grow and be healthy. Annually this would mean a minimum from 36 – 52 inches of rain. Periods of drought can harm the tree while long periods of rain can cause diseases such as scab and canker for apple trees.
Kentucky Growing Zones for Fruit Trees
Growing zones help growers know which trees will thrive in their region. For example, certain peach trees with 5-8 growing zones, shouldn’t be planted in a 3b zone because the low temperatures will harm the tree.
Best Kentucky Fruit Trees For Sale
There are many trees that will grow well in Kentucky. In fact throughout the regions, there are already many apple, peach, plum and various other fruit orchards. In order to pick the right trees for your specific location and needs, you should therefore also consider the following characteristics for each tree.
How tall can an apple tree grow?
When an apple variety is grafted onto a seedling rootstock, the tree can easily grow more than 30 feet tall. Most home orchardists can’t eciently spray, thin, and harvest a tree this tall.Researchers in England developed the Malling series of apple rootstocks, whichoffers the opportunity to select trees that grow to specific heights. The height may be anywhere from dwarf (4 to 12 feet) to semidwarf (16 to 18 feet). Each rootstock in this series is identified by the letter “M” (for Malling) or “MM” (for Malling Merton) and
What rootstocks are used for plums?
Plums are produced on a wide variety of Prunus rootstocks, such as peach, plum, apricot, and almond. Peaches usually are grown on peach seedling rootstocks. There are no suitable dwarfing rootstocks for peaches. See Tables 6 and 7 for nectarine and peach varieties.
What should I take into account when pruning a tree?
Pruning strategy should take into account the fruiting habit of each tree. The type and age of wood that bears fruit varies with the kind of tree. Some fruits bear on more than one kind of wood. For example:
How much water do fruit trees need?
The amount of water fruit trees need depends on rainfall and soil type. The best way to determine your trees’ needs is to check the soil moisture in the root zone at 12 and 24 inches deep.
How deep should I plant an orchard tree?
Orchard trees grow best in deep, well-drained soils. To have adequate room for root development, trees need at least 4 feet of soil above an impenetrable soil layer or water table. In poor soil conditions, raised beds can be helpful. Always choose a spot that gets full sun.
What are the two species of pears?
Asian pears sometimes use these rootstocks but also are grown on two species of Pyrus: Pyrus betulaefolia and Pyrus calleryana. See Table 5 for pear varieties.
Do apples set fruit?
Some apple varieties, such as Rome Beauty, Newtown, and Transparent, are self-fruitful, but most varieties of apples do not set fruit unless they are pollinated by another pollen-compatible variety. Most apple varieties that don’t set fruit when self-pollinated do have pollen that sets fruit on other varieties. For example, Red Delicious doesn’t set its own fruit with its own pollen, but sets fruit on Golden Delicious, and vice versa. Gravenstein requires an early-blooming pollinizer such as Lodi, but does not produce good pollen for other varieties. Mutsu does not pollinize other varieties, but requires another variety to set fruit itself. McIntosh is self-unfruitful but pollinizes other early-blooming variet-ies such as Gravenstein.
Read THIS Before Planting Trees in Kentucky
Knowing what hardiness zone Kentucky is in is critical to understanding the best trees that can be grown.
Additional Resources
It should be noted that it is not recommended to grow oak trees if you are worried about their strong underground roots destroying the foundation of your house. It should also be noted that you should not plant your oak tree near your house due to large branches easily falling.
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There are very few reasons not to grow maple trees. They are perfect in rural areas, the suburbs, and even in certain cities. The only reason you would not want to grow a maple tree is if you have a small yard that is already crowded with trees.
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The Japanese Lilac Tree is not only one of the easiest and best trees to plant in Kentucky, but it is also one of the least expensive and most easily found trees throughout the entire state.
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If you are interested in learning about some of the trees that crabapples can pollinate check out my articles about apple trees and pear trees!
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The biggest tip when purchasing and growing a fir tree is deciding what type you want. Some fir trees only grow 2 or 3 feet tall and others can grow 40 to 50 tall. Some of slim and others are very wide. Carefully pick a fir tree that meets your needs.
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There are many benefits to having hickory trees in your yard, but it should be noted that they are very tough to come by. In addition, they require moister soil to fully grow although they have been known to adapt in dry soil too.
