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How to choose the best fruit trees for your garden
It’s no surprise that some fruits grow better in some climates than they do in others, so before you know what fruit trees to plant, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you get frost?
- What are the lowest overnight temperatures?
- What’s the average humidity in summer?
- Do you get a lot of rainfall?
- Does your soil have good drainage?
- Does your planting site have enough sunlight?
Although these questions may be simple, these subtle climatic differences can be easily overlooked and maybe the reason your fruit won’t grow well.
These are the climates you can expect to find throughout Australia, and which fruits will grow the best in each climate:
Chill
Chill is a term used to describe the suitability of many types of deciduous fruit trees that can grow in various climates. Chill relates to the required number of hours below 7 degrees Celsius while trees are dormant for the tree to set fruit. One factor that can offset or reverse chilling is high maximum day temperatures!
Low chill varieties
Best suited to warm temperate climates (including sub-tropics) as they will set fruit with as few as 0-400 hours a year below 7 degrees Celsius while trees are dormant. Low chill varieties of fruit trees we sell include some varieties of:
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Blueberries
- Fig
Medium chill varieties
Best suited to areas which receive 450-550 hours a year below 7 degrees Celsius while trees are dormant. Medium chill varieties of fruit trees we sell include some varieties of:
- Apples
- Almonds
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Pears
- Plums
- Blueberries
High chill varieties
Need as many as 600 hours per year below 7 degrees Celsius before they will set fruit. High chill varieties are only really suitable for the colder regions in the country, such as in the south of Australia. Our high chill fruit trees include:
- Apples
- Almonds
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Pears
- Plums
- Cherries
- Blueberries
To learn more about chill hours and to calculate yours, visit our Chill Hours Guide for the Home Gardener article.
Climate
Australia has many different climate types that can limit where we grow fruit trees. Before you choose your fruit tree based on your favourite fruit to eat, you need to consider the climate you live in. We will touch on four broad climatic categories, but be aware that within your area there may be subclimate or even microclimates in your backyard that facilitates the growth of plants that usually wouldn’t grow in your reigon.
Temperate
Temperate regions are generally medium chill areas in Australia, such as on the east coast from Port Macquarie south to Victoria.
A lot of fruit varieties fall into the temperate category, which means most Australians living in these areas can quickly grow:
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Plums
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Figs
Subtropical
Sub-tropical areas will generally be low chill areas. Coastal areas from the east coast near Port Macquarie north to Rockhampton in Queensland are generally sub-tropical.
The best areas to grow subtropical fruits however include Sydney through to Rockhampton. Subtropical fruit trees which can be planted and grow here include:
- Banana
- Low chill stone fruits
- Figs
- Citrus fruits
- Subtropical varieties
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
Arid/Desert
An arid or desert climate is where there is an excess of evaporation over precipitation. The desert of Australia holds little moisture and quickly evaporates the little rainfall it receives, making it a dry area all year round.
Examples of fruit trees we sell that are perfect for growing in arid climates include:
- Figs
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Citrus fruits
Tropical
Tropical fruit trees are best planted and grown in Queensland where the temperature is tropical, humid, and the trees are protected from winds all year round.
Some of the best fruit are grown in tropical climates, which include:
- Banana
- Low chill stone fruits(Only on the Atherton Tablelands)
- Figs
- Strawberries
- Citrus fruits
- Blueberries
- Tropical varieties
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