The Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Central Texas

Central Texas enjoys cooler summers and less humidity than the coastal and southern regions of the state, as well as more below-freezing days in winter. This region of Texas has ideal growing conditions for many types of fruit trees. Central Texas is known for its peach and apple orchards. Home gardeners can select from many varieties of fruit trees adapted to growing conditions in Central Texas. Generally, Central Texas gardeners can plant bare rootstock between January 1 and February 15 and container-grown trees between January 1 and March 31

Peaches

Parts of Central Texas are known for their peach orchards. Late frosts in the spring can damage peach crops some years, especially early-blooming varieties such as Bicentennial, Sentinel and Harvester. Springgold and Surecrop are good choices for cling peaches, while Milam, Dixieland, Redskin and Jefferson are freestone peaches recommended by the Texas Agriculture Extension Service for Central Texas.

Pears

Pears are subject to fire blight in Texas, so you'll need to select blight-resistant varieties. Keiffer, LeConte, Ayers and Maxine pears produce well in Central Texas.

Plums

Red plums such as Allred and Bruce do well in Central Texas. For a purple plum, Texas A&M University recommends Methley. While most plum trees will self-pollinate, all will do better with a second tree, and the Bruce variety requires another plum tree for cross-pollination.

Apples

Apples require cross-pollination to produce the best crop of fruit, so you should plant at least two trees of two different varieties for the best results. Gala, Mollie's Delicious, Starkcrimson Red Delicious and Ein Sheimer are varieties that do well in Central Texas.

Fruit Trees To Grow In Central Texas

Fruit growers in Central Texas endure many challenges because Central Texas orchards demand constant attention. The Central Texas Agricultural Extension Service has identified certain fruit trees showing outstanding performance in Central Texas for several years. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Holland, Jerseymac, Mollie's Delicious, Fuji and Granny Smith are some apple varieties (Malus pumila) that perform well. The Bruce variety requires cross-pollination. species such as Orient, Moonglow, Kieffer, LeConte, Ayres, Garber, Maxine and Warren are well adapted to the Central Texas climate. Highly touted are the Monterrey variety with the shape of an apple and a tangy pear flavor, and the Orient, which produces large pears with a strong aroma and distinct flavor. Unlike other pear varieties, you can leave Asian pears on the tree until they ripen. Request the Lovell rootstock for alkaline clay soils and Nemaguard for acid sandy soils.