Climate change & planting

Hi all! Newbie here and also to permaculture ...been reading a lot and working on a plan to plant fruit and nut trees. I'm in zone 6b in the southern third of Missouri and over the past several years have really noticed major weather and temp differences. We suffered through the severe drought this past summer with temps of 106-112 degrees which is unheard of here. My question is how to take this into consideration when planting my new fruit and nut trees? "Normally, we have swings in the weather but nothing has been normal in several years. How do you plant now to compensate for changes in the future? Is anyone else dealing with this and how?
Many thanks for any advice.

Pat

I'm trying to plant fruiting trees and shrubs which either don't care about chilling hours or which have a broad range of acceptable chilling hours. For me this means choosing mostly southern varieties, and realizing that some won't fruit each year. But with a broad enough variety, some may fruit even in a very bad year.

Here's a supplier of fruit trees for the Southern US, some of which may also grow and fruit in northern zones. These may give protection for years in which chilling hours are relatively few: http://www.johnsonnursery.com/

Thank you for the prompt response! I will check this site...really appreciate it!

Pat

Howdy Pat, welcome to permies. Maybe some hugels would help with the drought.

Tell me more Miles...I thought those were baby diapers...just kidding, but really don't know what you are referring to.

Thanks
Pat

Read more about hugels at this thread.

https://permies.com/forums/f-117/hugelkultur

Hey! I haven't given up yet!! Just been reading, reading,reading...Thank you Miles! That site lead to another and another but I'm getting there!

Then it will be time for some decisions...Oh My! And all I wanted was a couple of fruit trees! LOL
Thanks a bunch

Pat