Zone 7 Fruit Tree High Humidity Recommendations

Sep 13, 2017 19:46:05

Hi Everyone,

Long time lurker first time poster! I've been contemplating next year a fruit tree purchase to add to my back yard garden. I'd prefer to find varieties of fruit that is more disease resistant and that can handle high humidity. I live in Zone 7 (Long Island, NY) on a 0.25 acre of land so space is tight but it is currently completely open.

I'm open to suggestions outside of apples, peaches etc. though they would be lovely if a particular variety was known to be successful here. Thank you for taking your time to share any thoughts you have. I thought about asking this after all my friends who have apple and peach trees received a terrible harvest due to the high humidity and what they assume is molds/rots.

Sep 14, 2017 10:14:22

Apples grow best where it is cold in winter, has moderate summer temperatures, and medium to high humidity.
Apples grow from 10 to 30 feet tall and nearly as wide.
Apples are moderately fast growing, but growth slows with age.
Apple trees can live for 100 years or more.
If you want smaller trees, many of the semi dwarfs will do well for many years. Dwarfs tend to die after 25 to 30 years.

Apples need to reach their chilling hour requirements.
This is the number of hours at 45°F (7°C) or less that the cultivar (variety) requires each winter in order to flower and leaf out the next season.
Chilling hours can vary from 1,000 or more to as few as 400 hours.
It is important to choose an apple variety suited to your climate and winter temperatures.

Peaches grow best in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Peach trees require a chilling period of between 600 and 900 hours at a temperature of 45°F or less each winter in order to fruit the next season.
Peaches do not grow well where the temperature falls below 0°F for extended periods.
Where winter temperatures fall lower than -10°F, peach wood will be damaged.
Peaches prefer clear, very warm weather; the optimal peach fruit ripening temperature is 75°F.
Where temperatures are consistently hotter the flavor may be astringent.
Cool, wet climates leave peaches susceptible to disease.

Peaches grow best in full sun in a location where cold air or frost will not settle.
Peaches will tolerate partial shade but the yield will be diminished.
Peaches prefer light, well-drained somewhat sandy soil with a soil pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.5.
Do not plant a peach tree where another peach has recently grown; the decaying roots of a peach will emit an allopathic chemical that can kill new tree roots.

For your area the best peach would be Alberta the best apple is Grimes golden

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