Fruit Trees That Grow in North Florida

Many fruit trees can grow in Northern Florida that won't thrive in the southern half of the state. Deciduous fruit trees tend to require a dormant period where they lose their leaves when the weather begins to dip to at least below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of hours that the temperature stays below 45 degrees dictates the chill factor of the fruit trees. Various species require different amounts of chill time to truly reach their dormancy so they can regrow in the summertime. If a fruit tree does not sustain enough chill time the foliage will be spare, the blossoms virtually non-existent and the fruit production lacking. Northern Florida receives between 400 to 650 hours of chill time.

Sunbest nectarine is a cross between Sunraycer nectarine and Suncoast nectarine. The Sunbest nectarine is considered to be one of the best for the climate of Northern Florida. It produces sweet yellow flesh with each bite. The fruit tends to be quite a bit larger then other nectarines. It is recommended that this fruit tree have 225 hours of chill time to reach dormancy. Fruit normally begins to ripen in May. This is a freestone nectarine.

Gulfbeauty plum tree is asexually propagated. The chill time is 225 hours but this fruit tree does require extreme heat to bring it out of dormancy. This plum tree tends to bloom earlier then other varieties. The fruit tends to ripen in mid May.

Baldwin pears require 400 hours of chill time to produce abundantly each year. This pear is prized for its hardiness against pear blight in the south. Pick Baldwin pears when they are still green and then allow them to ripen in a dark cool place. The flavor of this pear is outstandingly sweet and soft.

Tropic Beauty peach is a medium size with red skin. This is a semi freestone peach. The flavor tends to be sweet and crisp. It is a self-pollinating tree so there is no need to buy two trees. This peach requires 150 chill hours.

Anna apples are a large red blushed apple. These apples ripen in Northern Florida before July first. The flavor is fresh, crisp, and sweet. A Dorsett Gold apple tree works ideal for cross pollination. This apple tree requires 250 hours of chill time.

Reverend Morgan apples are ideal cooking and dessert apples. The tree is disease resistant. Fruit ripens in mid August. This tree does require at least 500 chill hours to do truly well. Use the IRAZU apple tree for cross pollination. The apples from this tree store well and for long periods of time if you keep them cool, which makes them an excellent cellar apple for overwintering.

Vincent kiwi is a female kiwi tree that requires a male for pollination. For Northern Florida, the male kiwi Tomuri is the ideal tree to plant by Vincent so it will produce an abundance of fruit. Vincent requires 100 chill hours to produce efficiently. Fruit set is the most abundant if the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for a few nights.

Christina pomegranates do amazing in Northern Florida. The pomegranate is a dark red skin with light pink seeds that are very juicy. It bears fruit quite heavily. It ripens in late August and can be grown in containers. It is very cold hardy but does not mind the hot humidity of the south. It requires no chill hours to set fruit.