Quick Answer: Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Rhode Island
The best fruit trees to grow in Rhode Island are apple, peach, plum, fig, pear, cherry, persimmon, mulberry, pawpaw, and grapes. It has a humid continental climate, and the best time to plant these trees is in early spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Are you wondering about the fruit trees to grow in Rhode Island?
Check out this guide to help you choose the best fruit trees to grow in Rhode Island.
Read further to know more!
Contents
- Quick Answer: Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Rhode Island
- Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Rhode Island
- What Is The Easiest Growing Fruit Tree In Rhode Island?
- What Is The Best Time To Grow Fruit Trees In Rhode Island?
- FAQs
- Quick Recap: Top Fruit Trees to Grow In Rhode Island
- Bottom line
Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest US state and mostly has a humid continental climate. It has warm summers and cold winters. Its varied climate allows different fruit trees to be grown in home orchards.
Let us examine the different fruit trees that can adapt to Rhode Island in detail.
1. Apple
Popular Fruit Tree Of Rhode Island
Apple trees (Malus domestica) are popular fruit trees in Rhode Island, and the variety Greening is the official fruit of the state.
Why Grow Apple?
Many apple varieties, including Greening, thrive in Rhode Island with moderate to high yields. It grows vigorously and produces fruit for a long time.
It can adapt to different soil types, is easy to establish, and require little maintenance once established.
Maintenance And Care
Apple trees prefer well-drained soil with a pH of 6-6.5 and spacing of 5-20 feet apart. It needs six ounces of 10-10-10 about one month after planting about six inches away from the trunk. Most varieties set fruit when pollinated by another compatible variety.
It requires thinning of tiny fruits to improve fruit quality and pruning in late winter. It is troubled by apple maggots, green apple aphids, scabs, and codling moths.
Check out this complete growing guide of apples:
2. Peach
Another popular fruit tree in Rhode Island home gardens that will reward you with succulent fruits is the peach (Prunus persica).
Why Grow Peach?
Peaches are hardy and can adapt to different regions of Rhode Island. There are many varieties for home growers to choose from.
It does not require expertise to care for these fruits once established. Dwarf varieties make a good container specimen for the patio. It can also be fan trained against the wall.
Maintenance And Care
Peach trees require a well-drained slope with sandy soil. The standard trees need spacing of 18-20 feet while dwarf varieties require 7-8 feet for spacing. Most varieties require only one cultivar to produce fruit.
Apply balanced fertilizer each spring and prune it in late winter annually. One of the troublesome pests is peach tree borer.
The complete growing guide of peach is covered here:
3. Plum
Plums (Prunus domestica) are another popular stone fruit that is a fast-grower and provides ornamental value for home gardens.
Why Grow Plum?
Plums are prolific producers that add beauty to your home orchards. It is a great choice for Rhode Island beginner gardeners.
It adds beauty to your backyard and can be grown in containers if having space restrictions.
Maintenance And Care
Plant plum trees in loamy and well-drained soil and full sun. The standard trees need spacing of 18-20 feet while dwarf types need 6-8 feet of spacing.
Two different varieties of the same type are needed for the fruit set. Use a tree wrap or guard around the lower trunk to prevent winter injury. It is prone to silver leaf disease, bacterial canker, pocket plum, and Japanese beetles.
Here is a useful video on growing, caring for, and harvesting plums:
4. Fig
Container-friendly Fruit Tree
Figs (Ficus carica) are easy to grow in Rhode Island home orchards with adequate protection from cold and routine care.
Why Grow Fig?
Figs are reliable fruit trees of Rhode Island that are easy to grow. It is easy to propagate from the existing tree.
It can also be grown in pots making it an ideal patio or balcony small fruit tree even if you don’t have a larger space.
Maintenance And Care
Figs are easy to grow in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil with a pH range of 6-6.5. It benefits from the annual application of balanced fertilizer in the early spring.
It needs annual pruning to encourage new fruit-bearing shoots. The container-grown plants can be stored in an insulated garage or sunroom in winter. It is susceptible to stem borer, mealy bugs, fig moths, and thrips.
Check out this video for growing figs in your garden:
5. Pear
Another popular and long-lived fruit tree of Rhode Island that can adapt well to home gardens is pears (Pyrus communis).
Why Grow Pear?
Different varieties of pear, including Bartlett, Bosc, and Gorham are recommended for Rhode Island home gardeners. It is easy to grow and can be maintained with little pruning.
It can also be easy to train as espaliers. Also, it adds beauty to the landscape with pretty spring blossoms and glossy leaves.
Maintenance And Care
Plant pear trees in well-drained sandy loam soil with a pH of 6-6.5 with good air circulation. It needs two different cultivars to produce fruits and a spacing of 15-20 feet apart for the standard trees.
Thin the fruit clusters when they are ½ inch wide. It is susceptible to pear psylla and fireblight.
Click this video for additional information on growing pears:
6. Cherry
Cherry trees (Prunus spp) are productive and ornamental fruit trees of Rhode Island that are easy to grow in home gardens with routine care.
Why Grow Cherry?
Many cultivars of cherries do well in Rhode Island. It also has added benefit of being an ornamental tree with its spring and showy flowers.
There are choices available to suit all sizes of gardens, including compact varieties for small patios and large containers.
Maintenance And Care
Cherry trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Sweet cherries need spacing of 20-25 feet while sour types require 15-20 feet of spacing. Sweet types require cross-pollination and sour types do not need it.
Drape the plants with nets to prevent sharing them with birds. The most common diseases of cherries are black knots and brown rot.
You may watch this video for the complete growing guide and harvesting cherries:
7. Persimmon
Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are attractive and productive fruit trees of Rhode Island that give valuable fruits and wood to the home growers.
Why Grow Persimmon?
Persimmons are a low-maintenance and reliable fruit tree in Rhode Island. It is rewarding and productive giving huge yields for the family.
It is adaptable to a wide range of soils. It is relatively free from pests and diseases. Also, it is drought-tolerant once established.
Maintenance And Care
Persimmon trees prefer well-drained loamy soil with a pH range of 6.5-7.5 and sunny spots. It can be grown from seeds, cuttings, suckers, or grafts. American types require both male and female trees for a good fruit set.
It needs simple pruning of limbs that are crossing and dangling. The common pests affecting the trees are aphids, slugs, and snails.
Check out this link for the complete growing guide of persimmons:
8. Mulberry
Mulberry trees (Morus spp) are fast growers that make a welcome addition to your Rhode Island home orchard.
Why Grow Mulberry?
Mulberry trees are extremely adaptable trees of Rhode Island that can handle harsh conditions. It will survive in salty ocean spray, summers, poor soil, and shade.
Its soft and durable wood can be used to make fence posts and furniture. It acts as a good shade tree for landscapes.
Maintenance And Care
Mulberries grow well in well-drained soil and sunny spot. Plant these trees away from paved structures to avoid staining by fruits. It requires pruning while dormant to keep the trees short.
It can be propagated via seeds, cuttings, or graftings. It needs the annual application of balanced fertilizer to meet the growing needs of the trees. It can be troubled by bacterial blight and Armillaria root rot.’
Here is a video on growing mulberries in containers:
9. Pawpaw
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a large tropical fruit native to the United States and can survive in Rhode Island home gardens with routine care.
Why Grow Pawpaw?
Pawpaws tolerate different soil types of Rhode Island except for waterlogged soils. It is relatively hardy and experiences few pest issues.
It doesn’t require additional care for successfully overwintering mature trees. It needs little maintenance once established.
Maintenance And Care
Pawpaws thrive in fertile, well-drained soils with a moderately acidic pH of 5.5-7. It flourishes in partial shade. It needs two varieties for producing fruits and can be propagated by cuttings and graftings.
It can be kept shorter with pruning to promote new growth and high yields. It is susceptible to pawpaw peduncle borer.
The complete growing guide of pawpaw is covered here:
10. Grapes
Grapes (Vitis spp) are versatile deciduous perennial fruit vines that can be grown in Rhode Island with adequate staking and pruning.
Why Grow Grapes?
Grapes can adapt to a wider range of soils in Rhode Island. It makes a beautiful sight growing along a trellis in the yard.
It is productive as well giving reliable fruiting over the years. It requires minimal care once established and is resistant to many pests and diseases.
Maintenance And Care
It can be conformed into numerous shapes using arbors, fences, and decorative trellises. It needs two ounces of 10-10-10 fertilizer two to three weeks after planting. It requires thinning to improve yields.
Most varieties are self-fruitful and require only one type to produce fruits. A few pests troubling the vines are climbing cutworm, berry moth, Japanese beetle, and black vine weevil.
Check out this video for additional information on growing grapes:
What Is The Easiest Growing Fruit Tree In Rhode Island?
The easiest-growing fruit tree in Rhode Island is apples.
Many cultivars of apples can adapt to Rhode Island’s climatic conditions. Two trees will reward your family with a huge yield.
It can also be grown in larger containers even in a small space and yield a successful crop. The other fruit trees that can be grown in Rhode Island with little maintenance are peach and cherry.
What Is The Best Time To Grow Fruit Trees In Rhode Island?
The best time to grow fruit trees in Rhode Island is in the spring after the soil is workable.
The cool-season fruit trees are best planted from late November to mid-January whereas warm-season trees are suitable to be planted in March or April.
Bare root stock can be planted in late winter while potted dwarf varieties can be planted at any time of the year.
FAQs
Yes, brambles, including raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries can be grown in Rhode Island. They are perfect home garden plants as they are relatively easy to grow and require fun sun and well-drained soil.
Rhode Island planting zone falls between 5b and 7a. The northwestern corner of the state is in the colder 5b zone. It primarily has a humid continental climate with cold winters and short, warm winters.
Yes, different nut trees can be grown in Rhode Island. Pawnee pecan trees, Oconee pecan trees, and James pecan trees are cold hardy fruit trees suitable for Rhode Island. Chinese chestnut trees and American chestnut trees can also be grown.
The different cross-pollinating fruit trees that can be grown in Rhode Island are apples, pears, Japanese plums, and sweet cherries. Blueberries, elderberries, and most nut trees also require another cultivar to produce fruits.
Quick Recap: Top Fruit Trees to Grow In Rhode Island
Here is a quick recap of the top fruit trees that can adapt to Rhode Island’s climatic conditions.
| Fruit trees | Why Grow? |
|---|---|
| Apples | 1. Many cultivars suitable for Rhode Island 2. Adaptable and requires little care once established |
| Peach | 1. Doesn’t require expertise to care for these plants 2. Suitable for containers |
| Plum | 1. Prolific producers that are productive 2. Adds beauty to the landscape |
| Figs | 1. Cold hardy varieties suitable for Rhode Island 2. Appropriate to grow in containers |
| Pear | 1. Adds beauty to the landscape with pretty spring blossoms 2. Rewarding, fast-growers, and long-lived fruit trees |
| Cherries | 1. Productive and ornamental with showy blossoms 2. Many varieties suitable for all garden space |
| Persimmons | 1. Low-maintenance fruit trees of Rhode Island 2. Relatively disease and pest free |
| Mulberries | 1. Adaptable to the climate of Rhode Island 2. Available as a shade tree for the landscape |
| Pawpaw | 1. Hardy and have few pest issues 2. A native fruit of North America with a tropical flavor |
| Grapes | 1. Can adapt to different soil types of Rhode Island 2. Requires little care once established |
Bottom line
I hope this guide has given you options in choosing the fruit trees suitable for your Rhode Island home garden. You may pick the ones according to your preference and space availability.
Please write to me your suggestions and feedback on starting a fruit orchard in Rhode Island.
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