Home orchards are convenient sources of your all-time favorite fruits and nuts. It feels very fulfilling and satisfying to eat the fruits that you reap from all your hard work and dedication in cultivating your own fruit supply.
Well, if you are still deciding on what to plant in your own home orchard, consider these 20 top fruits and nuts that can perfectly fit in your background-sized orchard:
Standard apples can stand up to 30 feet, which obviously is not recommended for your home garden. Consider planting dwarf apples that grow up to 12 feet. They also bear fruit as early as two or three years of planting, depending on the variety.
Apricot trees are a medium-sized tree that can grow up to 39 feet, while there dwarf varieties as well. Some varieties of apricot are self-pollinating. However, apricot crops usually die to spring frost, thus, choose a variety that flower the latest to avoid losing blooms.
Blueberry trees range from 4 to 12 feet tall. Commonly, they are more productive in very acidic soil. In cases that the soil is not naturally acidic, you can mix it with decomposed pine needles. Most varieties of blueberries need to be planted together as they require cross-pollination.
Butternuts is a species of walnut tree that is native to Canada and the United States. They are also called white walnut trees because of its gray bark. They usually grow up to 60 feet tall in the wild, however, it has a dwarf variety. They can grow up to 75 years old.
Cherries can be sweet or sour. Sweet varieties are self-fertile while sour cherries require no pollination. Dwarf cherry trees can grow up to 10 feet. They need to be exposed to cold temperature to germinate. Cherries are good sources of antioxidants.
Figs are one of the fastest trees to bear fruit from a cutting, especially when you grow them in late winter. You just have to prune them to keep its height below 8 feet. Figs are more tolerant to cold weathers than olives. Further, deer don’t like them.
Grape vines can live up to one hundred years or more. They can also tolerate subzero temperatures. Grapes have high water content that helps our body hydrated. It is also rich in plenty of vitamins and nutrients. More reasons to plant grapes in your orchard.
A single mature hazelnut tree can produce 15 to 20 pounds of dried nuts. They are usually harvested in mid-autumn. Hazelnuts are very rich in proteins, vitamins, and essential nutrients. They are even used to combat heart disorders, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.
Kumquat trees are perfect in your yard because of its natural compact size. They have small fruits that are egg-shaped. The skin of Kumquats is fully-edible that can be processed to sweet tarts. Kumquats can grow productively in colder winters.
If you want to protect your family from common colds and flu, secure a lemon tree in your orchard. Lemons are great sources of vitamin C. They can also be used in preparing certain dishes like cocktails, fish, and desserts. They are also used for skin care, teeth care and hair care.
Just like lemon, lime is also a good source of vitamin C. They are also rich in dietary fiber and minerals like iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, and potassium. They also have phytochemicals and polyphenols that can be used to treat skin diseases.
Mulberry trees can be very huge. But don’t you worry as there are mulberry shrubs. They are sweet, flavorful and chewy berries. They are best to propagate during late winter.
These evergreen trees can grow up to 30 feet. They are restricted to areas where winter temperatures never go below than 20 degrees. Olive fruits are rich in vitamin E and powerful antioxidants. They are proven to prevent heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Another rich source of vitamin C is oranges. Orange trees can grow up to 30 feet. Its flowers smell very sweet which attract bees. Orange fruits are rich in phytochemicals that help prevent cancer. Its juice can also prevent kidney diseases and promote heart health.
Papaw fruits are usually 5 to 6 inches long and 2 or 3 inches thick. It is associated with a sweet taste and resinous flavor. However, these trees are slow growing. It has a short fruiting season that begins in late August and lasts up to September.
Peach trees can grow up to 33 feet tall. They require consistent pruning and fertilization. There is also a tendency that peach trees die during cool and wet climates if not maintained well. Peaches can prevent cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, among others.
Dwarf pear trees can grow up to 8 feet tall. They are also ideal to plant many pear trees together to undergo cross-pollination. Pears are rich in minerals like potassium, copper, manganese and magnesium, and vitamins C, K and B-complex.
Persimmon trees reach 15 to 59 feet in height, depending on the variety. The most common variety is the Japanese persimmon. However, they are not self-fertile in which you have to plant two trees for them to bear fruits.
This fruit-bearing shrub or small tree can grow between 16 and 26 feet tall. Its fruiting seasons usually take place from September to February and March to May. They are used in baking, cooking and making juice and wines.
Plums and Prunes
Plum trees can be perfect in your landscape. There are three general kinds of prunes and plums: Japanese, European, and hybrid. Plum trees usually are medium-sized which can grow up from 15 to 19 feet.
Tangerine trees are a type of mandarin orange that can survive cold temperatures better than most citrus species. Ripe tangerine fruits can also stay in trees for 8 months long. Tangerine trees can also be grown indoors, in pots.
A walnut is the most popular member of the tree nut family. Walnuts are rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and minerals like copper and manganese, among others. They can help improve your cardiovascular health.