More Fruit Trees in Desert Gardens

Cherries, apples, pears, figs and grapes in desert gardens

Yes, you can grow the above in your desert garden, but, as in all fruits, there are caveats.

Cherries.

First, you need to know that cherries do not live very long, nor do they produce much fruit in the hotter (and lower altitudes) in deserts.

However, for cooler areas and higher altitudes, growers have been very successful growing these delicious fruits. You might want to try “Black Tartarian,” “Bing” and “Lambert,” although you must remember that both “Bing” and “Lambert” require cross-pollination. These are sweet cherry varieties, and generally flower earlier than their sour cousins, and as such, may be susceptible to frosts.

Sour varieties include should include “Montmorency,” which flowers late and very often can escape frosts. In more temperate areas, you might want to try “North Star,” which is a dwarf variety. “Meteor,” a semi-dwarf variety also does well in lower and warmer areas. Virginia chokecherry is also a very hardy variety. The fruits are small, and very tart. They do make great jellies and birds love them.

Apples and Pears.

Both apples and pears can be grown in the desert.

Apple trees flower later than most species of fruit. However, late spring frosts can injure blooms. Those who live in northern and higher altitude desert regions know that this is something that occurs fairly frequently there. In lower altitudes and milder areas, late frost injury is not a serious problem.

Some varieties that do well in desert gardens include “Rome,” which is a late-flowering variety. “Golden Delicious” can tolerate frost better than other varieties. In northern, colder desert areas, plant these two varieties.

In warmer desert areas, try “Arkansas Black,” a variety that matures late in the season, “Jonathan and “Winesap” are also good choices for warmer areas.

Pears flower after peaches do, but before apples. Pears can be grown in all desert climates, but the warmer areas of the deserts will see higher fruit production. Varieties include “Bartlett” (the leading variety),”Duchess,” and “El Dorado.”

Grapes.

If you want to have grapes in your desert garden, don’t try planting European and/or California varieties in the colder regions of deserts, unless you’re prepared to protect them from the cold.

Many American varieties are cold tolerant, but some varieties, such as “Concord,” will become chlorotic in alkaline soil. Alkaline soil, prevalent in most desert areas, prevents the breakdown of iron elements in the soil and, lacking iron, the plants die.

Suitable American varieties include “Golden Muscat,” “Niagara,” “Fredonia,” and “Westfield.”

European table varieties can be grown in warmer desert regions and include “Thompson seedless,” and “Black Monukka.” You could also try “Red Malaga” and “White Malaga,” “Cardinal,” “Gold,” “Thomascat,” and “Queen.”

Figs.

You can grow figs in desert gardens, but they will generally be more successful in lower altitudes, or in more temperate southern desert areas. Figs continue to grow until late in the fall, so early fall cold snaps can cause winter-kill of everything aboveground.

To make your figs cold-hardy, water less frequently in late summer. This makes the plants become cold-hardy before the first cold weather.

Suitable varieties include “Brown Turkey,” “Mission,” and “Celeste.”