Fruit trees plant. A brief context to set expectations.
Fruit trees plant: Quick notes
If you’re wondering what fruit trees to plant in February, you’ll be delighted to know there are many options. Unless they’re tropical, most fruit trees need chill hours to produce fruit. These hours occur in temperatures under 40°F (4°C), and in February, most of North America is still in chill hour territory.
In places where frost doesn’t occur, you can still grow fruit trees, but you need to stick to those that require low to no chill hours. Planting trees in winter can be tricky, but the end of the month is when the window closes for warmer areas. As long as you provide your tree with some protection, it will make it to the growing season.
When you’re deciding how to plant your fruit trees, opt for bare-root trees and hydrate the roots by soaking them in a bucket of water for at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the tree’s root ball, and ensure your soil is rich and well-draining. Create a cone of soil in the center of the hole.
Drape the roots over the cone, and fill in the rest of the hole, lightly packing the soil around the roots. Ensure any grafted trees have their rootstock planted two to three inches above the soil line. Then create a donut of soil around the base of the tree and mulch to protect your tree through the rest of winter.
Fig Orchard Pack
4-in-1 Peach Tree
Bubblegum ‘Toka’ Plum Tree
Bubblegum ‘Toka’ Plum Tree
‘Brown Turkey’ Figs
It could take a year to get a good harvest while your tree is getting established.
botanical name
Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’
sun requirements
Full sun to partial shade
height
10-25′
hardiness zones
6-9
Growing a ‘Brown Turkey’ fig tree is fun, and compared to caring for other fruit trees, it’s easy! These figs are primed for the cold, handling temperatures down to 10°F (-12°C). Plant your tree this month, and you might get a good harvest in late spring. There’s a second harvest period in late summer too, when it’s more likely to have fruit.
When you plant your fig in February, it could take a year to get a good harvest while your tree is getting established. But that’s no big deal when the reward is so sweet. Look for deep brown to purplish fruit starting in late spring. Harvest only when the fruits are ripe, as they don’t ripen off the tree. Remove them carefully when the skin changes color and taste one. If it’s sweet, they’re ready!
Peaches
Wrap the tree after planting for protection.
botanical name
Prunus persica
sun requirements
Full sun
height
15-25′
hardiness zones
5-9
Anyone who has had a fresh peach right off the tree knows why people want to grow them, despite persistent pests and diseases. The common peach, or freestone peach, is native to Asia, though it doesn’t invade natural areas in North America. It’s well adapted to conditions here and handles multiple soil types with ease.
While you might not meet the 200 chill hours needed to produce fruit in your first year, you will next year! Bolster your peach by wrapping the trunk after planting. Look out for shot hole, a disease that commonly crops up in winter. You can protect the tree by spraying copper fungicide on branches and newly developing buds.
Bubblegum ‘Toka’ Plums
This is a self-pollinating variety ideal for small spaces.
botanical name
Prunus salicina ‘Toka’
sun requirements
Full sun
height
15-20′
hardiness zones
3-8
If you want to grow one fruit tree, Prunus salicina ‘Toka’ is the perfect choice. Only one tree is required to produce fruit, whereas other fruit trees require a partner for pollination. This plum got its ‘Bubblegum’ name from the deliciously sweet fruit it produces in late summer to early fall.
Make sure your tree gets plenty of protection from the cold as it develops a strong root system through the first growing season. Mulch and tree wraps are useful in that regard. However, you could glean a few fruits in the first season, as trees in this species need fewer chill hours than other plums.
Apples
Handle the roots carefully when planting.
botanical name
Malus domestica
sun requirements
Full sun to partial shade
height
15-30′
hardiness zones
4-9
Due to their cold-hardiness, apples are great for planting among other fruit trees to plant in February. Much like peaches, they are susceptible to many pests and diseases, but after a good harvest of tasty fruit, you might forget about the effort that went into protecting your tree.
When you’re deciding which apple tree to grow, pick one that needs the appropriate amount of chill hours. ‘Granny Smith’ apples fall on the lower end of the chill hour requirement, and ‘Red Delicious’ is on the higher end.
Asian Persimmons
Planting two trees boosts pollination.
botanical name
Diospyros kaki
sun requirements
Full sun
height
20-30
hardiness zones
7-10
If you only have room for one tree, look for a monoecious persimmon variety, like the ‘Fuyu’ persimmon. This is a non-astringent persimmon that can be eaten right off the tree. Its flavor is sweet, unlike astringent types, which need to ripen before being picked.
For the best fruit set, plant two trees. This boosts pollination and provides better fruit set. Then look for delicious persimmons in the fall. If you live outside the Asian persimmon hardiness range of zones 7 through 10, plant your tree in a container and bring it indoors in fall and winter. These are great fruit trees to plant in February in areas where frost is minimal.
Pomegranates
Plant smaller varieties in containers to move easily if needed.
botanical name
Punica granatum ‘Wonderful’
sun requirements
Full sun
height
8-12′
hardiness zones
8-11
If you want to grow a shrub-like tree that produces deep red pomegranates every year, plant a ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate. In spring, your tree will leaf out and grow lovely orange tubular blooms that form the seedy, tangy fruit we know and love.
This tree is perfect for areas with little to no frost. Plant it in the ground in February in zones 8 through 11, or in a container outside that range. Long, hot summers help this variety fruit more readily, and periodically dry soil helps too.
‘D’Anjou’ Pears
This variety is incredibly reliable in home gardens.
botanical name
Pyrus communis ‘D’Anjou’
sun requirements
Full sun
height
8-15′
hardiness zones
5-9
Growing pears is somewhat like growing apples. There are pests and diseases to contend with, but it’s worth the effort it takes once you taste one of those fresh pears right off the tree. ‘D’Anjou’ pears are reliable fruiters, with deliciously sweet green fruit. They are used fresh, cooked, poached – you name it!
When you plant your pear, give it a good watering to keep the soil moist as it settles in. Use all the same protection you would for a young tree. Tree wraps and mulch are a must for young ones. Once ‘D’Anjou’ is established, it can handle a bit of drought, and it will stand up to cold.
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