Several factors to consider when purchasing fruit trees

I know it is a few months away, but it is never too early to start planning for spring. If you are thinking about purchasing fruit trees, there are a few factors that you should consider when planting apricot and peach trees. Spring in Kansas is often an unsettled weather pattern, which can affect fruit trees. Apricot and peach tree flowers are very vulnerable to late frosts that can kill their fruit buds. Of course, the tree itself will be fine but there will be little to no fruit for that year. Late frosts can affect other species of fruit trees as well, but apricot and peaches are by far the most sensitive.

The closer a tree is to full bloom, the more sensitive it becomes to the frosts. Apricots are more likely to have frost kill flowers because they bloom earlier. Peaches are next on the list for greater chance of being caught by a late frost. With peaches, two characteristics become important when considering whether they can be damaged, bloom time and fruit bud hardiness. Like apricots, bloom time is very important but fruit bud hardiness is also important. Fruit bud hardiness refers to the hardiness of the bud to late frosts rather than the ability to survive extreme low temperatures during the winter. A few late blooming peach varieties include China Pearl, Encore, and Risingstar.

When choosing what varieties of fruit trees to plant, remember to look at the bloom time and fruit bud hardiness. These two things will help you chose the best fruit tree for your area, as well as give you the best chance for a bountiful harvest. If you have any questions feel free to stop by or contact me in the Washington office at 785-325-2121 or [email protected].