Want to grow fruit trees? It’s something millions of people do. I’m not sure if they’re all harvesting tons of fruit each year – my wife and I certainly aren’t yet. But we like having a few fruit trees on our property, even if they’re not always the most, well, fruitful at times.
The Taste & Smell Of Fresh Fruit Is Intoxicating
I grew up in Central Florida in the 1980s, back when the Sunshine State’s citrus industry was literally on top of the world. In my neck of the woods you didn’t have to go too far to find orange groves. And let me tell you, the smell of countless citrus blossoms in the spring is simply like heaven.
Virtually all of the orange groves I remember as a kid are gone. A series of devastating freezes, Mediterranean fruit fly infestations, and a type of bacterial infection known as citrus greening have left Florida’s once-dominating citrus industry on its knees. Many of the once seemingly endless stands of citrus groves have been sold to developers, and those who remain in the citrus game have converted much of their land to alternative crops to maintain a stronghold in the agricultural industry.
While thankfully I don’t think anyone is saying the citrus industry will go 100% extinct in Florida, it’s not what it was in the 20th century and never will be again. But that doesn’t stop my wife and me from growing some ornamental citrus trees in our own yard, including a mandarin tree and lemon tree. We’re also growing a fig tree and banana tree – all now beyond their first season of growth and hopefully soon to bear fruit. In fact, our potted lemon tree already has set fruit at least two years in a row.
And let me tell you what – not only are the smells of the citrus flowers absolutely beautiful, but the freshness in flavor is also beyond compare with anything you’ll find in a big-box grocery store produce department.
There’s A Sense Of Self-Sustenance When You Grow Fruit Trees
My wife and I aren’t into the homestead movement that seems to be popular among segments of Americans. But we do enjoy not only growing but also eating our own food!
We’ve had caprese salads from the tomatoes and basil growing just out the backdoor, squeezed lemons from the lemon tree to zest up our meals, and look forward to the day our banana offers some breakfast-time potassium. As for the fig? Maybe we’ll make some real figgy pudding one Christmas?
We aren’t growing enough of anything humanly edible right now to replace trips to the grocery store with traipses out the back door to pick supper right out of the yard. But it’s nice knowing we have some ingredients right on hand that are being grown without synthetic pesticides and can be picked by our own hands. I don’t know if this really saves us any money, but it’s nice to know we can take care of ourselves – a little bit, anyway.
Where Can You Grow Fruit Trees?
As I mentioned, my wife and I live in Central Florida as of this writing, and it’s where we grew up. We both recall the days when citrus was an omnipresent element in our young Sunshine State lives. And while it’s popular in some circles to think that you can grow fruit only in Florida, California, or other Sun Belt states, the reality is that you can grow fruit trees — or fruit plants of some kind — virtually anywhere in the United States.
You can grow peaches in Georgia, strawberries in Virginia, cranberries in Massachusetts, apples in Michigan, plums in Montana, pomegranates in Nevada, cherries in Alaska, starfruit in Hawaii, and the list goes on and on and on. Wherever you are, I’ll bet there’s at least a few kinds of fruit that will thrive in your yard.
So, why not try growing a fruit tree – or fruit bush or vine? If you don’t live near a home store or nursey, you can buy trees online, including fruit trees and other fruit-bearing plants. I have a feeling a big smile will come across your face the moment you pick that first fruit off your own plant!