Which fruit trees grow in Colorado?
Just about any of the deciduous fruit trees, such as apples, pears, apricots, sweet and tart cherries, peaches, nectarines, and plums can be grown in Colorado. Key factors to consider are tree hardiness, the length of time of cold dormancy, growing season length requirements, and disease susceptibility.
What should I consider before planting a fruit tree?
All of these crops can handle minus 25 degrees F winter temperatures, with the exception of peaches and nectarines, which will be damaged at minus 12 to minus 14 degrees F. Therefore, it is very important to plant in sheltered locations that have gradual temperature drops into the winter months, plus stable (no major fluctuations) winter temperatures, and gradual spring warm-ups. Short to medium length growing season varieties are better, because many Colorado locations have short growing seasons.
What are the disease risks of these trees?
Disease risks include fire blight on apples and pears along the Front Range due to warm moist conditions, which favor infection in spring and early summer.
