Woodie’s Picks: Iconic Late Summer Fruit & Nut Trees For an Abundant Fall Harvest
As we lean into the summer months, filled with sunny afternoons and breezy evenings porch-side, you may find yourself looking out into your property, feeling like it is missing something. In our eyes, one thing that adds value, beauty, and endless enjoyment to a property is a fruit or nut-producing tree!
This blog will highlight a few of our favorite late summer fruiting plants that allow for a bountiful fall harvest. Your dream homestead begins with just a single seed and a dream; start growing today!
Benefits of Growing Your Fruiting Trees
Convenience
Imagine this: It’s an early fall afternoon, the air is perfectly crisp, and you crave a juicy, refreshing snack. What if you could walk into your backyard and grab a juicy fruit right from the branches to snack on? Talk about farm-to-table freshness! Growing your own fruit and nuts from the comfort of your own backyard brings a whole new meaning to the world of convenience!
Beauty and Value
In addition to bringing the convenience of delicious treats to eat throughout the fall season, fruit and nut trees can easily enhance the aesthetic beauty and curb appeal of your property. Sporting a flush of delicate blossoms in the spring and vibrant fruits in the fall, fruit and nut trees make a grand statement in any landscape.
Environmental Benefits
Convenience and beauty aren’t the only benefits you can reap from growing your own fruit and nut trees! These magnificent specimens also have a positive impact on the environment! From absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, to providing habitat and nutrients to local wildlife populations, fruit and nut trees have a grand impact on the natural world around us!
The Best Late Summer Fruit and Nut Trees
Now that you understand the various benefits of growing fruits and nut trees, it is time to decide what variety you want to include in your landscape. Of course, a big part of this decision comes down to personal preference on taste and appearance; however, the Woodie has a few personal favorites that he wanted to shed a light on in this week’s installment of Woodie’s Picks.
Brown Turkey Fig Tree
The Brown Turkey Fig Tree is first on the list of iconic late summer fruiting trees! Grow a mass of sweet honeyed fruits that are perfect for jams, salads, tarts, and more when you plant the Brown Turkey Fig Tree this summer! Our fig trees are currently covered in hundreds of fruits that will be ready for harvest come early fall.
These unique fruiting favorites are praised for their adaptability, ease of care, and prolific fruit production. The Brown Turkey Fig is relatively cold-hardy, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. An additional benefit is the tree’s self-pollinating nature, meaning you can get a good crop from only one tree!
Dunstan Chestnut Tree
If you are less of a fruit lover and more inclined to nuttier plants, you may consider planting the Dunstan Chestnut Tree. As a hybrid cross between the American chestnut tree and the Dunstan chestnut Tree, this plant is particularly praised for its resistance to chestnut blight. The native species has been in rapid decline and has been virtually extinct for decades due to the fungal disease introduced to the US in the 20th century.
Beyond its blight resistance, the Dunstan Chestnut Tree is loved for its large quantities of high-quality nuts that emerge within just a few years of planting. The nuts are larger and sweeter than those of the Chinese chestnut Tree and are also easier to peel. These incredible trees are hardy to USDA zones five through nine and grow best in full sun and well-drained soils. They typically reach mature heights near 40 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide.
Pawpaw Tree
The Pawpaw Tree is a less conventional but impeccable option for late summer to early fall fruiting trees. Producing the largest edible fruits native to North America, these trees produce unique and delicious fruits with a tropical flavor. The flavor of the fruits is often described as a blend of banana, mango, and vanilla.
Native to Eastern North America, Pawpaw trees are well-adapted to our local climate and are relatively pest resistant, which greatly contributes to their ease of care. These hardy specimens also attract and support beneficial wildlife in the yard. This highly resilient fruiting tree has also been praised for its ability to better withstand the intense climate changes that have arisen with climate change.
Granny Smith Apple Tree
Last on the list of fruiting favorites to add to your homestead this summer season for a fruit-filled fall is the classic Granny Smith apple tree! If an apple keeps the doctor away a day, imagine what a whole tree worth could do! Known for their tart and tangy flavor, Granny Smith apples are a well-loved fruit that works well in various forms from apple sauce to pies, and everything in between.
Beyond their reliable and zesty fruit production, Granny Smith apple trees are commended for their impressive adaptability to various climates and ease of care. Thriving in zones 5-9, Granny Smith apple trees are an excellent option for warmer climates. Ideal care for these trees includes regular watering, pruning, and pest control.
Shop Fruit and Nut Trees Online Today
Whether you dream of a backyard brimming with crisp apples, honey-sweet figs, rich chestnuts, or tropical-flavored pawpaws, planting fruit and nut trees is a timeless investment in your property’s beauty, bounty, and sustainability. At Garden Goods Direct, we have the premium selections and expert growing advice to bring your homestead vision to life. Start planting today and enjoy the fruits (and nuts) of your labor for seasons to come!