There’s nothing quite as delicious as biting into an apple that you’ve grown in your own backyard. Something so satisfying about knowing exactly where it’s come from and how it’s been tended to. And although it would be nice if we could grow whatever we wanted; there are certain types of fruits that just don’t do well in our climate. You aren’t going to see a lot of mango trees here in Ontario. Now that you are starting to see the trees ripe with different fruits, ready for the picking, your tree care experts here at Sequoia TreeScape thought we would take a moment to discuss what we consider to be the five best fruit trees to plant in Ontario. The ones that are likely to yield the best harvest for you.
Pears
Pear trees fit nicely into any backyard, require little care, and their fruit is downright tasty. Pears generally have less pest issues than other sorts of fruit trees, and although they can take anywhere from 3-10 years to bear fruit once they start producing they have a very long lifespan. Pear trees should be planted in the early spring in a full sun area of your yard and one that has decent air flow. One thing to keep in mind with pear trees however is that they are not self-pollinating so you would need two cultivators to make sure you yield fruit. Pears are at the peak for harvest in the early fall; from the end of August to October.
Cherries
Cherries are not only a delicious fruit their trees are beautiful in the spring when they are covered in white or pink blossoms; adding a great aesthetic to anyone’s yard. There are two basic kinds of cherry trees sweet and sour, so know which one you are planting since sour cherries are not meant to be eaten raw; although they can handle colder growing climates. Cherry trees don’t generally require much pruning as they tend to thin themselves out in the spring. They do however benefit from a lot of moisture so applying a mulch coating around the base in the spring is recommended.
Cherries are ripe when they have turned a deep red color, typically in later June or early July. One thing to note about picking cherries, it is best to cut them from the tree with pruning scissors, as the stems that attach them to the tree are a bit fragile.
Plums
Less demanding than some other kinds of trees, plum trees are great for first time planters. They don’t require a lot of upkeep and are a fairly hardy type of tree able to survive even colder areas like Northern Ontario. When planting a plum tree look for a spot that gets at least six hours of sun during the day and does have well-draining soil with not too much clay. If you can find a sheltered spot to avoid significant wind it will also be beneficial. They do need some light thinning in the spring to avoid breakage from the weight of the fruit but other than that are a self-sustaining tree. And plums have a very long harvest season. You can expect to be able to be picking plums from your tree anywhere from May all the way to October. That’s a lot of plums.
Peaches
Delicious juicy peaches, their fragrance just fills the air. Peach trees are a great choice when looking to plant a fruit tree in your backyard. Depending on the type you choose they can handle climates as cold as -28 degrees Celsius. Peach trees are best planted in the early spring once the ground has thawed. You’ll want to select a sight with full sun, especially morning sun, that has decent drainage. The great part about peach trees is that they are self fertilizing so most of the time you will not have to do anything extra for fruit to be produced. They do need regular pruning to stay healthy, but the crop they yield will be worth it. You would typically be able to pick your peaches from the tree in July or August.
Apples
Probably the very best fruit tree you could choose would be the apple. They are a hardy tree designed to stand up to the elements of nature, can handle hot and cold temperatures, and there are over 100 different varieties; depending on whether you are looking for cooking apples, snacking on apples, sweet or sour, crunchy are a bit soft. Apple trees can grow in large yards or smaller spaces as well. And unlike other types of trees that should only be planted in the spring, you can plant apple trees in the fall. They do well in moderately rich soil that isn’t too wet; and they do best when they receive at least six hours of sun daily. Be sure to regularly water younger trees to make sure their roots grow deep.
Apple trees don’t require a ton of pruning, but they are prone to pests; so it is worth looking into natural pesticides if you are hoping for a significant crop. They too have a decent harvest season, stretching anywhere from August into October.
If you are looking to plant a fruit tree in the Newmarket area our tree care experts at Sequoia TreeScape can help. We have years of experience and can offer helpful tips and suggesting. Or if you need someone to handle the pruning of your fruit trees, we have you covered. If you are looking for tree work or a tree removal near you then contact us today for your free estimate. The Sequoia TreeScape team is only one call away at (416) 770-8733.
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Until Next Time,
Matt Gladwin – Owner
Certified Arborist
Check out what Peter had to say about us on Google.
“Sequoia Treescape is by far the best tree service I’ve ever used. Their certified arborists spoke from an educated knowledge base on trees in Canada; they were able to advise effectively on choice of trees, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of different species for our climate; they were accurate in their cost estimates and in their service date. They finished the work on time, and on budget; and best of all, everyone in our household was impressed by the quality of the pruning of an older tree, and by the planting of a younger one.”
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
(October 15, 2020)