Any experienced fruit growers in zone 9a?

[lisak]

We're getting ready to plant our fruit orchard. We have 20 holes ready to go, and I just realized I cant grow all my favorites because our chill hours are only 70!!! Any suggestions before I waste alot of time with one of Armstrongs nice employees???

[joannec]

You should check the Western Garden Book. That's the bible of all gardening books and will tell you specifically which fruit trees will be suitable for your zone. I just bought 3 new trees at Armstrong and they also have a handy booklet that shows chill hours for certain trees and whether or not each tree is self-fruitful or requires another tree as a pollinator. Good luck!

[solomonb]

Where do you live and what kind of trees do you want on plant?

[lisak]

I went to the Temecula nursery and received excellent help from Sheri. We left with 20 new bareroot fruit trees, cherries, peaches, oranges, apricots, figs, persimmons, nectarines, apples, plums and grapefruit. I cant move, my husband and I got them all in the ground today! I cant say enough about how helpful Sheri was, I brought all my books, and it was as if she had them all memorized! I was very impressed. I didnt know that Armstrong guarantees all their plants, and not just for 1 year like Home Depot, so I felt really good about spending a little more per tree, I got great service and I feel confident I'm in good hands! And no.... I dont work for Armstrong!LOL Our next project is nuts and avacadoes....

[lisak]

Solo: Sorry, I got so excited about my new orchard I didnt answer your question...we live in Wildomar, zone 9, where about are you?

[solomonb]

Did you get any blueberries?

[lisak]

Solo: Yes, in fact it was 1 year ago today they went in the ground. I cant remember the names, but I was told to buy a few different types. I got just a few last spring, and my rasberries have somewhat taken over, so once I get out there and clean in up, hopefully they'll still be there!
Where are you located? Do you grow strawberries?
Last year I had an awesome crop of Chandlers, Sequoia and Quinault. I've left them in the ground and plan to get a few more to add to the bunch, any suggestions?

[solomonb]

Try a cascading strawbery urn planter in the garden for a Medditerranian feel. Or a garden window box, for a country cottage look.

[chrisg]

Solomon -- what kind of trees are you looking for? You realize that setting chilling hours is not an exact science -- but 70 hours would be a limiting factor. I think I would try to find trees that were in the 200-300 hour range and no more.

[neoj]

I am also in zone 9. You will do well to check out the sunset western gardening book. It hones things down very nicely for we Cali growers.

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