By FBMG
Fort Bend County Master Gardeners Arti Bansal and Angela Chan spoke to about 75 people Saturday morning in Rosenberg about “Fruit Trees” that are good candidates to grow and other considerations to ensure better success.
Bansal of Richmond told the backyard gardeners that most fruit trees are grafted onto rootstock which affects the size of the tree, its longevity and resistance to pests/diseases.
Fort Bend County is in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9A, said Bansal, where winter temperatures can get as low as 20 to 25 degrees and produce chill hours from 400 to 600 hours.
She identified groups of trees. For example, temperate fruit trees need chill hours in order to produce fruit. This group includes apples, apricots, peaches, pears and plums.
Subtropicals like hot summers with some frost in winter months. This group includes avocados, figs and pomegranates. The third group – tropicals – wants a freeze-free growing environment with warm, humid weather. This group includes dragon fruit, lychee, passion fruit and pineapple.
Both she and Chan of Stafford talked of growing fruit trees in containers so that when adverse weather does occur, they can be pulled into a protected environment. Some fruit trees, like avocados, should be kept in containers for at least two to three years until they mature.
Chan talked of how she has a small yard and prunes her trees to a reachable height to accommodate more trees and to make harvesting easier. In general, fruit trees need six hours of sunlight daily, she told attendees. When considering where to plant a fruit tree, the grower should take into consideration fences, structures and other trees.
What’s above and below the intended planting site – electrical lines or utility easements? She recommended taking soil samples prior to planting so that the grower knows what nutrients the trees need. After a tree is planted, it should be pruned to ensure the transplanted root system can support the remaining branches and leaves while getting established. “Keep them small for easier management,” she said.
Bansal and Chan, who both have earned advanced training in fruit trees, also spoke of specific trees at the Grow Your Own class held at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center. For example, Bansal talked about both Anna and Golden Dorsett apples. Bansal said both varieties require 100 to 350 chill hours with fruit ripening in June/July. The trees are self-fertile but will produce more with a second tree added.
Chan said fig trees are self-fertile, and that fruit matures from June through August. They are vigorous growers and will regrow if hit by frost. Four varieties of figs will be available at the fruit tree sale: Beers Black, Improved Celeste, LSU Gold and LSU Purple. Visit 2025 GYO Fruit Tree Presentation to listen to the presentation.
What: FBMG 25th annual Fruit Tree Sale
When: 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 15
Where: Barn H, Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 Texas 36,
Rosenberg
Details: Fort Bend Master Gardeners 2025 Fruit Tree Sale-Open to the Public – Fort Bend County Master Gardeners
FBMG photos
Angela Chan tells class attendees that the mulberry tree is tolerant of heat, humidity and poor soil. The self-fruitful tree needs 150 to 200 chill hours.
Arti Bansal said pear trees need between 300 and 400 chill hours to produce fruit, are susceptible to fire blight and are somewhat tolerant of wet soil.