Dwarf fruit tree recommendation - Ask Extension
Hello! I am looking for a fruit tree for my front yard. I want it to stay fairly small so I don’t lose the sun in the rest of my vegetable garden.
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Knowledgebase
Dwarf fruit tree recommendation #873207
Asked June 15, 2024, 9:53 AM EDT
Hello! I am looking for a fruit tree for my front yard. I want it to stay fairly small so I don’t lose the sun in the rest of my vegetable garden.
I live in Portland, my home faces south, the tree would go in the southeast corner of the yard amidst blueberries strawberries tomatoes etc. in other words lots of sun.
I currently have a cocktail plum in that space. It was purchased about 4 years ago and is riddled with problems and appears to be slowly dying despite many attempts to prune, fertilize, fill it with ladybugs to address aphids etc. the grafts just weren’t done well and the shape of the tree isn’t supporting the fruit etc. I’m over it.
I’d like another plum, peach, apricot, or persimmon (leaning persimmon), but I want it to thrive and give delicious fruit. Maybe others if you recommend.
What would do best with the least pest issues, be relatively low maintenance, and be preferably drought resistant with a deep tap root to avoid sucking the water from the surrounding veg garden?
Also, where is the best place to buy said tree? Preferably an older tree. Cost is less of a concern than quality.
Thank you kindly in advance.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your questions. This OSU article has lists of recommended varieties of several fruit species, with information about their advantages and disadvantages: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-819-growing-tree-fruits-nuts-home-orchard
You've missed the "ideal" time to find and plant a fruit tree, but perhaps reading the 6 articles in the following will make you better prepared: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/collection/home-orchard-concepts-start-finish
The Willamette Valley is full of reputable nurseries offering these trees.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
You've missed the "ideal" time to find and plant a fruit tree, but perhaps reading the 6 articles in the following will make you better prepared: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/collection/home-orchard-concepts-start-finish
The Willamette Valley is full of reputable nurseries offering these trees.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
Thanks, I had found these articles, prior to asking my question. I was hoping for a little more specificity, but perhaps I’ll just call the nursery. :)
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 17, 2024, at 9:31 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
We are required to provide research-based advice, and Prof. Renquist's advice is about as good as it gets. We have no information about your soil, drainage or water availability, so recommending one variety over another would not be appropriate.