Favorite Nut or Fruit Tree

I have a tree in the front yard of the new house that is in the process of dying miserably. It's old and looks like it's been eaten by critters, the only life is the suckers, and quite frankly, it's just not a good tree any more. It's going to get pulled.

I want to replace it with a nut tree or fruit tree. I found a nice walnut tree that seems to be OK in Zone 9 and is reasonably fast growing (always nice), and of course there is the obligatory pecan tree (who doesn't love pecans, eh?). Peaches are lovely, and you can't seem to go wrong with citrus around here (Mmmmm... Meyers Lemons).

So, I would like to ask anyone who feels like answering: What is your favorite fruit or nut tree and why?

Hi Hastur...
My fav is satsuma !! The bloom fragrance is wonderful in the spring and can be smelled some distance away. Is evergreen and needs very little care!!. It doesn't grow large so don't count on it for shade, and beware as the neighbors might be "snitching" the seedless oranges in the fall !!
Becky

Ooohhh... I love Satsumas. I get them at the Farmer's Market when they are in season and will eat a dozen a day sometimes.... That's a cool one.

How tall do they grow?

I'm not overly worried about shade, so much as having a tree there to keep up with the HOA, and yet having something that fits in with my personal goal of having everything that I grow be edible. It's like after the tree is put in, I'll raise a bed about 8" off the ground around it and plant Swiss Chard for my cover. Pretty and tasty. *grin* And if it is a bit slow in the shade, and doesn't "fruit" it won't matter because it's a green.

Pecans - grafted - are a big favorite but expect the squirrels to get the produce. Too bad peanuts don't grow on trees because you would then have Blue Jays. As to fruit trees the citrus are always good, especially grapefruit if you want a big tree. Not many people filch grapefruit. For ease and a not too tall tree try a loquat - not citrus but supposedly "Japanese Plum". Beautiful trees and delicious fruit in jams, jellies or out of hand. Try a good nursery and talk w/them for information.

Ann

You can't go wrong with Pecan the Texas state tree, another excellent choice is an Oak, but be sure to plant a white oak to avoid the red oak wilt.
These trees will be there for generations and provide wonderful shade and shelter for birds and wildlife.

What about a Jujubee tree? I want one of those!

don't forget a peach tree--I have one and wouldn't bear to endure a May without fresh peaches
=)

Hastur... I am not sure just how tall they get but mine are about 6 yrs old and are about 10 feet. Check the plant files here at Daves, or google.Also the satsumas have very little leaf litter to pick up.
Becky

Besides the fact that persimmons are my favorite fruit, the trees, the Japanese cultivars, are beautiful and slow growing taking decades to get up to its full height of 30'. Most cultivars are self-fruitful so you only need one. They are relatively pest free and need little pruning except to reduce the length of some of the longer growing shoots. Depending on the cultivar, they need either 100 or 200 chill hours. Perfect for Houston. Fall color is an added bonus.

However we extoll the virtues of this or that, it really comes down to what your favorites are. Choose a variety that requires less than 400 chill hours. Houston averages 400 chill hours a year. By choosing a variety that requires less than 400 chill hours, you are assuring that you at least have a chance of getting yearly crops. The following link may be helpful in deciding which tree is best for you.
http://www.harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/pubs/pubs/fruitnut.pdf

You mention putting in a raised bed after you plant the tree. It would be best if you put in the raised bed then planted the tree. Trees planted too deeply will suffer from a variety of ailments because the soil is piled up against the trunk. The amount of oxygen available to the roots is reduced and will lead to the tree's death. There are very few trees that can handle having the elevation over its roots changed.

Good advice Bettydee!

My favorite tree-Mango. I have never seen one north of Harlingen, but, Terry's tree does fine.

Pecan or Peach are definitely part of the consideration. Oak is right out, becasue I'm trying to make my little plot as food producing as possible, so the trees have to be fruit trees when I put them in. Sorry, FrostWeed.

Mangos never entered the equation - mostly because I had never thought of them. Cool idea! I had considered a fig tree but never a mango.

Jujubees - I didn't even know what they were until you mentioned it. A google search shows a very pretty tree with a weird and neat fruit. *wanders off to do more research*

I was curious why certain ones are people's favorites, more to get a feeling for how you guys think. *grin*

I live in the near tropics and so do most of my friends. I can't pick just one. I like mangos, Key Lime and Avocado, they are the most expensive to buy.

I grew up in California with an avocado tree in the back yard. Nobody in my family was a gardener or a cook, so we rarely ate them (now I think - what a waste!).

But our little dog loved them. She would get the ones that fell and eat everything but the pit then carry that around like a toy. She got very fat - but had the most beautiful glossy coat you've ever seen! lol.

Key lime pie--one of my favorites....also wouldn't be without that one either.

I just got a Jujube tree this year. I'll see how it does, hoping for a good harvest sometime in the future. I wanted one because it doesn't require very much...doesn't need deep fertile soil or such frequent watering. Too bad they're so hard to obtain. I got on a reserve list at the only nursery that sells them in the area. When I picked mine up, was told all of their Jujubes were reserved ahead of time. If I get another, I'll probably just order by mail.

It should do well for you Linda--my neighbor next door has the strangest assortment of fruit on his property (they were there when he bought the house) and he has Jujube's. They thrive under almost total neglect on his part.

Do crab apples count? I love crab apple trees and they are so pretty in bloom. If you can get to the fruit before the birds, the jelly is amazing!

If you have the room for mayhaws--I think that's the jelly on the planet

Ohh hadn't thought about mayhaws in years! I got 2 crabapples earlier this year, may have to order a couple of mayhaws too for my fence row.

my brother has some mayhaws over between Beaumont and Port Arthur (Groves to be exact)--they need a lot of room and water--but definitely must be low maintenance because he does so well with them...I love my older bro dearly, but a gardener he is not

Loquat trees are very handsome.

I can't pick a favorite fruit tree. I love them all. I didn't plant any nuts because I have a pecan orchard in th pasture next to me. No need for more nuts!

Mangoes do well in our area but I don't personally have one. I have peach, papaya, pomegranate, meyer lemon (my favorite), a satsuma, an ujukitsu lemon, loquat, fig (it's beautiful this year), buddah's hand citrus and a sweet olive (doesn't produce edible fruits though.....just smells fantastic when blooming). I'm still looking for the right plum tree for homemade jelly.

Everything sounds so tasty. I have been eyeing loquat trees throughout our neighborhood, but a citrus tree sounds fun too. The pine trees in our backyard are going down this fall and I will have the sun to plant something else. Are there some fruit trees that are a little smaller that we could squeeze together in our suburban backyard?
Tabitha

Tabitha,

Look for trees that are on dwarfing rootstock. You will need to do some research to find them and will pay a little more for them. It will be worth the trouble.

Does TX love Angelonia as much Fl does?

I have a fairly small yard too, Tabitha. Pomegranates are fairly small and so are the loquats. Papayas are as well. A fig can be kept at the shape and size you want with pruning. Same with citrus.

Dale - TX LOVES Angelonia....purple, pink and white.

Several of the neighbors have loquats and don't even use them, so I have a feeling that I will be able to make friends and then be allowed to take the fruits. Should be a fun way to meet the neighbors - aside from sharing garden goodies.

Crab apples is another that I never considered. I used to love them as a kid. You needed a lot to make an "apple" worth, but the flavors were usually amazing. Good idea.

Pomegranite bushes already have a spot reserved for them. I adore pomegranites and will buy them by the car load in season, so growing some of my own was definitely something to consider.

Digigirl, your dog in CA sounds like mine. That was way too cute.

Mayhaws look like they might attract birds among other things. Cool!

I love all kinds of citrus trees. The lovely scent from the flowers and then the yummy fruit. I just recently got a citrus press so I can have fresh OJ or lemonade or grapefruit juice or a mix of all.