Garden Minute - Fruit Trees for Quay County

 Garden Minute

Feb. 9, 2016

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Selecting a fruit tree is not always an easy process and there are many varieties to choose from. Fruit trees have beautiful flowers, leaves, and fruit; provide much needed cooling shade and most importantly, produce healthful and delicious food. 

Some fruit species and varieties not well adapted to our climate late spring frosts can injuring young fruit trees.The types of fruit trees that can be grown in our area are apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, apricots, plums, prunes, and pecans. 

Apples are the most commonly grown fruit tree and are great for the backyard. Dwarf and semi-dwarf are smaller trees that are easier to manage and are easier to pick. Growers should select species that are self-pollinators such as golden delicious, granny smith, and grimes golden. Red delicious will need a pollinator variety to bare fruit. 

Peaches should be of the late blooming variety such as Red Haven, Dixie Red, Raritan Rose, and Elberta. Peaches normally only produce fruit 1 out of every 3 years here in New Mexico because of late spring frosts. 

Apricots should be the cold Hardy Varieties and Self pollinators. Varieties of our area are Sun Glo, Goldcot, Stark Earli-orange, and Hungarian Rose. Apricots also make great shade trees and should be planted in protected areas. 

For more information about growing fruit tress please contact us at the Cooperative Extension Office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs are open to everyone.