Published on October 20, 2020
So you are looking to start growing fruit trees in Georgia? You may have many questions and concerns about which types of trees and plants will do the best given Georgia’s soil and climate conditions. Starting out with optimal trees for your land will mean that your trees will need less attention and have a higher chance at producing more fruit. Planting and maintaining fruit trees can be costly and time intensive so think of them as an investment. We don’t want to plant trees that may not do well in Georgia and that will die before after a spike in weather in either direction and yield no fruit in the end. Certain breeds of plants can be prone to local diseases common to Georgia. There are several types of plants that will grow in Georgia, but not all will flourish, lets dig deeper and see which will!
Georgia’s Climate Types
The weather in Georgia and ripe soil allow for a wide range of trees and vegetation thrive. Some trees do very well in Georgia and are great option for individuals who don’t have a lot of experience with gardening or farming. We will outlay several types that do the best in Georgia, but even these broad suggestions may not apply if you do not have the property soil quality, therefore it is always a good idea to check with locals about what they are growing and you can always have soil samples tested from your property.
The Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Georgia
- Peach Trees – No Surprise here! Known as The Peach Tree State, George lives up to its name with the climate being extremely suitable for Peach Trees. This is one of the most popular and nest trees to grow in Georgia. Sunny, humid, hot days, and not many cold days are what peach trees tend to like. Plant peach trees at least 20 feet apart.
- Apple Trees – A very resilient trees and another popular fruit trees to plant in Georgia. These trees do well in Northern GA and in the mountains. Apple trees like cold winters and more mild summers which means growing them at a higher altitude may produce better fruit. Your farm size will dictate how many trees you can plant, try to give standard apple trees at least 30 feet apart, smaller dwarf apple trees can be as close as 10 feet.
- Pear Trees – These fruit trees grow well in Georgia as well as many places along the east coast. Try planting different varieties of pear trees to see different results.
Peach are Georgia’s most notable fruit trees and apples are pears are also well adapted to the Georgian climate there are still several other fruit trees that will flourish in Georgia. Here are even more trees to consider growing.
- Nectarine Trees – Nectarines are peach variety. It too grows very well throughout the state.
- Apricot Trees – Another tree that is well suited for Georgia. This plant is better suited than the peach tree for cold, and can withstand temperatures as low as -20F. If you are in a colder region in Georgia consider apricot trees instead of peach trees.
- Cherry Trees – Sour cherries, specifically ‘Early Richmond’ & ‘Montmorency’ cherries will grow well in Georgia. Sweeter cherries will not grow as well as the sour counterparts.
- Fig Trees – Perfect for South and Central Georgia, just make sure they get plenty of sun.
- Persimmons – Known to grow well in Georgia, these may not be a great tree to plant and grow since they tend to thrive in flood lands or near riverbanks.
- Plum Trees – Great for North Georgia, this is a hardy tree that should do well.
As you can see there are many different types of fruit trees you can grow and enjoy in Georgia. Which tree is best for you will depend on what you want to grow and as well as if you are in Northern GA or Southern GA. Good luck with your farm and gardens!
