Growing fruit trees can be an enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding activity. However, it does take careful planning and hard work for success. Pests such as insects and diseases are plentiful and must be managed if you are to be successful growing your own fruit.

Apples, chestnuts, figs, nectarines, peaches, pears, pecans, persimmons and plums can be grown in eastern North Carolina. Contact your local office of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and ask about the publication titled “Producing Tree Fruit for Home Use” or search for it online. It contains information on specific varieties that do well in North Carolina and covers more than I can here.

• Planning — If you are considering planting fruit trees, it is important to consider site selection. Fruit trees need fertile, well-drained soil or raised beds (18 to 24 inches high and 4 to 5 feet wide) if drainage is a problem. It is important to consider fertility and soil pH. Soil pH for fruit trees should be about 6.5. To determine your soil’s fertility needs and pH, send in those soil samples. Other factors to consider include good air drainage to prevent frost/freeze injury and full sun.
• Planting — Fruit trees are best planted in North Carolina during fall or winter if they are purchased bare root. If plants are purchased in a container, they can be planted any time of year as long as you take care to add supplemental water when rainfall doesn’t occur.

Whether trees are purchased bare root or containerized, dig holes two to three times the width of the root system. Prune any damaged roots on bare root plants and loosen the roots of container grown plants to prevent root circling.

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