What fruit trees will grow @ 3500?

[Sew Crazy]

So, I'm trying my hand at a big of gardening and actually want a few fruit trees. Veggies will be fine seasonally.

I live at 3500 feet elevation in CA - any clue what will grow up here besides pine, redwood, and some oak trees?

I love carob trees but don't know if they will like it up here where we get a bit of snow every winter. What about apples (and what varities), pears, plums?



Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[goatlady2]

SC, I live at 5600'. Pie cherries seem to do well and I have an apple also. Can't remember the apple variety but it was rated to Canada. I planted all dwarfs for ease of picking. Plums grow wild around here so should do well at your elevation. Biggest misteak I made was not taking the wind into consideration as it always seems to blow most of the blossoms off the apple tree, strips it bare sometimes in 24 hours!

 

[A.T.Hagan]

If you get snow then I believe carob trees are going to be right out. I investigated them for possibly planting here at DunHagan, but they seemed rather too frost sensitive for even Northern Florida.

The best source of information for your other questions would be your local county cooperative extension agent. I don't know what county in California you live in, but I can give you a link to where you can find out.

<b>University of California Cooperative Extension</b>
http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm

Your local agent should be able to give you a fair idea of what can be expected to do well in your location, what hasn't been found to be worthwhile, and how much trouble each will be.

After that it's going to come down to personal experience.

.....Alan.

 

[Tweakette]

Contacting the extension service is a good idea. I'd also look and see what USDA zone you're in (3, 4, 5, 6). I don't know if the altitude by itself will affect what you can grow but the zone will - the zone is deteremined by your first and last date of frost and average winter temps.
You want to look for plants that are listed as being successful in your zone. To be safe go one lower than your zone (if you're in zone 5 plants designated as hardy to zone 4 and above should do fine). Lower zone number is colder.

Humidity (or lack thereof) may be an issue. Here in Vermont it's something I never have to worry about - we're swimming in rain most of the time.

You may also want to see what the local garden centers are selling. Some of them warranty the plants and will be less likely to sell something that won't work in your climate.

Tweak

 

[Sew Crazy]

Thanks Everyone

There is a hardware/garden center just above us. They are helping me come up with fruit trees that will grow up here. Too bad about the carob - I love snacking on the stuff.

Looks like I will be planting Mountain Apples and some pear variety to start. Will add next year.

Good planting to all.