Ask The County Agent: What Kind of Fruit Trees Grow in Coweta?

By STEPHANIE BUTCHER, UGA Coweta County Extension Coordinator

QUESTION: What kinds of fruit trees do you recommend for home gardeners?  

AGENT: The best fruit to grow is the one that you enjoy and one that grows well in our environment. For instance, figs will grow very well here, but if you do not enjoy figs, then it would not be the best fruit for you. 

Figs, apples, pears, persimmons, blueberries, and plums will all grow well in Coweta County as long as they are well managed.  Peaches can be grown by the backyard gardener, but they require an intense management program to overcome the disease and insect pressure we have in Georgia. (So much for the “peach” state, right?) You must follow a strict spray schedule to get any peaches and even then, you may lose them to a late freeze. Just ask any peach farmer about his 2023 crop!

The easiest fruit trees to grow are figs or blueberries. That is not to say that they do not have any insect or disease problems, but they have less than other fruits.  

Although fall is recommended as the ideal time to plant fruit trees, they can be planted in February.

Varieties

Select varieties that grow best in our area by contacting the Coweta County Extension office and asking for the “Home Garden” publication for the specific fruit that you want to grow. 

Plant several varieties of the same kind of fruit that mature at different times to prolong your harvest. If you plan to freeze, can or preserve your crop, pick varieties that are best suited for those uses.

Cross-pollination is necessary for satisfactory fruit-set in many tree fruits. Plant at least two apple, pear, plum and blueberry varieties. Most peach, nectarine and plum varieties are sufficiently self-fruitful to set satisfactory crops. 

Dwarf trees lend themselves perfectly to the home garden. They produce fruit earlier than standardized trees, occupy less space and can be more easily pruned and sprayed for pests. 

Obtain the best nursery stock available. Buy only from reputable nursery operators who guarantee their plants to be true to name, of high quality and shipped correctly. Beware of “basement bargains.” High prices do not necessarily mean high quality, but good, well-grown nursery stock is not cheap. 

Planting Site

To successfully plant fruit trees, you need to select a good site and soil test. When choosing your site, consider irrigation, sunlight, soil quality and pollinators. 

First, select the location of your orchard. Fruit trees will grow and produce on a broad range of soil types, but the best yields and longest-lived trees are planted on loamy, well-drained soil.

Good internal drainage is essential. Do not plant trees on a site where water stands for more than an hour following a heavy rain. 

Avoid sites on the north side of tall trees or buildings. Fruit trees need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight, but 8 to 10 hours is even better. Full sunlight is necessary for maximum tree vigor and fruit production.

Prepare the soil the same way you prepare the soil in your vegetable garden. Take a soil sample to the Coweta County Extension office and follow the recommendations. 

Deeply till the area to break up compacted soil. Place the tree so that the graft union is just above ground level. Begin filling the hole with pulverized or amended soil. Tamp backfill soil thoroughly to eliminate air pockets. Before the hole is completely filled, add 2 to 3 gallons of water to settle the soil. 

Fertilizer and Care

Wait until the tree flushes out around late March before fertilizing. Then use almost any type of fertilizer. Complete mixes used on lawns (i.e. 5-10-10) are satisfactory. Organic materials may be used, but it is important to provide the same quantities of plant nutrients. 

Fruit trees can withstand long periods of drought, but irrigation is very beneficial during certain critical stages of growth. Bearing trees need irrigation during the six-week period prior to ripening. Young trees need irrigation during any dry period of the summer. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation are the best ways to efficiently irrigate fruit trees. Provide 1”-2” of water per week in the absence of rain. 

One note of caution, deer love fruit trees that are well cared for and can kill young fruit trees by rubbing the bark and eating the foliage. Use a barrier to prevent deer from getting to the trees. 

For more information about purchasing and growing fruit trees, contact the Coweta County Extension office at 770-254-2620 or [email protected]. 

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences is an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization.

Photo Credit: University of Georgia