Planting trees on your property will enhance both the aesthetic appeal and environmental health of the area. If you are considering planting any fruiting trees in your Calgary property, make sure it is in an area with full sun exposure for the best results. Here are some great options that work well with our climate.
- Loma Pear Trees produce sweet pears which are perfectly suited for Calgary’s climate. The trees grow to approximately five meters in height, with a four meter spread. It is best to plant them in early spring, with well drained soil. They start flowering in mid-May and their harvest season is mid to late August. One great thing about these trees is that they are self-fertile, meaning that you don’t need another fruit tree nearby for pollination.
- Crabapple Trees are another great option because they can grow between three to seven meters in heights so you can buy a specific height depending on your property’s layout and design. Planting these trees in the spring or fall when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool produce the healthiest trees. These trees will grow well in Calgary because they are very tolerant of urban environments. There are also smaller sizes of these trees which work well in denser development areas. They produce in the spring with white, pink, and red flowers. They can be harvested in the late fall or early winter. The fruit has a sweet and sour taste which works wonderfully in jams and jellies. Just remember to plant them away from streets and sidewalks in order to ensure easy fruit clean up.
- Brookgold Plum Trees produce large golden-yellow plums which are great for eating fresh or canning to eat later. They grow to about four to five meters tall with a four meter spread. To get the healthiest trees, plant them in late winter or early spring, in an area with moist and well drained soil. They flower in early spring with white blooms, and August is the best time to harvest the plums
- Pembina Plum Trees thrive in an inner city environment and produce large red plums with sweet flavor. They grow to five meters in height with a four meter spread. It is best to plant them during late winter or early spring in well drained soil. These trees will flower in mid May with white blooms and they have a late summer harvest. You should remember that they require cross pollination with another plum tree and they need to be pruned in later winter as well.
- Goodland Apple Trees do require more work than other fruit trees listed here but they produce tender fruit which is great for eating fresh or cooking. The apples also store very well. These fruit trees grow to about five meters in height with a four meter spread. Spring is the best season to plant these trees, in well drained soil. They flower in mid spring with white/pink flowers and the harvest season is in late summer/early fall. Goodland apple trees do require a second pollinator and pruning in late winter.
If you are planning on planting a fruiting tree on your property, make sure you are prepared to maintain it properly. Once it is harvest season be vigilant about picking your fruit so you can take advantage of having a fruiting tree. Finally, you should make sure you have a use for the fruit. It could be eating them fresh, giving them away to friends/family, making jam, cooking, etc. You don’t want to plant a beautiful fruit tree and then not use it!
