Knowledgebase

Fruit trees #600903

Asked October 04, 2019, 8:29 PM EDT

I have so many fruit tree questions so I will number them for ease. I live in zone 8b in Portland, OR. I have space to espalier 4 fruit trees on a 3-tier cordon and 2 fruit trees in a two-tier cordon. I am considering 2 apples and 2 pears for the 3-tier spots and a peach/kumquat/plum/open to suggestions  and one pomegranate for the two 2-tier spots. I am struggling to find consistent information for variety suggestions for this zone and combining that with preferred espalier varieties and pollinating partners.
 1. Can you please recommend 2x apples that are good munching? One absolutely MUST be crisp, tart and good for baking. The other I’m open to suggestions.
 2. Can you please recommend 2x pears same as above, one of them being an Asian?
3. Can you please recommend a pomegranate variety good for this zone? Do you advise a different method of espalier other than cordon? It will take some work, but I can could modify the space in order to apply a fan method.
 4. Same as #3 but for a peach/kumquat/plum/open to suggestions variety. I am also considering a semi-dwarf cherry tree for the front yard. My neighbor has a tart cherry (species unknown) in the back yard, about 100’ away so I’m guessing I will need a self-pollinating variety.
 5. What variety would you recommend?

Multnomah County Oregon

Expert Response

If you are not aware of it, this is a publication that may help you decide: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec819.pdf

1. Can you please recommend 2x apples that are good munching? One absolutely MUST be crisp, tart and good for baking. The other I’m open to suggestions.

For backyard growers I always recommend disease resistant apples. Good ones for our climate in include Enterprise (excellent for cooking), Liberty, and Gold Rush. I have all of these in test plots and they bear gorgeous, delicious fruit with minimal management. Also a big fan of Akane, which ripens early. A great old time variety is golden russet.

2. Can you please recommend 2x pears same as above, one of them being an Asian?

European pears, I like Comice and Gem, but also a fan of Bertlett and Bosc. These are commercial varieties. Many less well known pears are probably amazing but I'm not familiar.

Asian pears do really well in our climate. Not sure what your tastes are, some bear very large fruit, some have russet skin.


3. Can you please recommend a pomegranate variety good for this zone? Do you advise a different method of espalier other than cordon? It will take some work, but I can could modify the space in order to apply a fan method.

Sorry have not experienced pomegranate grown in OR, I don't know how well they produce. I see Northwoods Nursery carries a few: http://www.northwoodsnursery.com/category/854/

4. Same as #3 but for a peach/kumquat/plum/open to suggestions variety. I am also considering a semi-dwarf cherry tree for the front yard. My neighbor has a tart cherry (species unknown) in the back yard, about 100’ away so I’m guessing I will need a self-pollinating variety.

Any peach or nectarine you select will promptly die unless you treat for peach leaf curl or you grow a resistant cultivar. Problem is that many of the resistant peaches lack fruit quality. One exception is Charlotte. This season it had amazing fruit.

You can grow amazing European plums in OR. We once had a vast industry for prunes. Brooks is a classic. Italian does well too.

PS Great opportunity coming up to see and taste amazing tree fruit (100's of varieties) including rare apples and pears and out of the mainstream fruits at the All About Fruit Day put on by the Home Orchard Society Sat 10/19/19 10-4 at Clackamas County Fairgrounds (Canby). Lots of experts there!
An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 11, 2019, 12:23 PM EDT

Loading ...