Our Florida climate allows us to enjoy growing many ornamental and functional plants in our yards and gardens. Some of the most successful are the many varieties of fruit that thrive here. These include banana, pineapple, blueberry, apple, mango, starfruit, peach, papaya, avocado, guava and pomegranate among many others.
With cooler weather on the way be advised that some fruit trees like apples, peaches, pears, plums, etc., need a certain amount of winter dormancy (resting phase) to develop their leaves and fruit buds for the coming year. This dormancy period is triggered by colder weather and shorter days, and the tree will stay at rest until it has just the amount of cold weather it needs. Fruit tree growers measure this period in terms called "chilling units" or "chill hours".
Chill hours will vary depending on which part of the state you live in. The number of annual chill hours experienced in our state during a normal year decreases as we move east and south. North central Florida has about 400 to 500 chilling hours; central Florida, 300 to 400; south central Florida, 200 to 300; and the southern part of the state, 50 to 100.
Of course the further south you go in Florida the warmer the weather stays. The lack of cold is why such fruits as apples and blueberries do not grow well in South Florida, just as the colder temperatures in the Panhandle explains why exotic fruits do not perform well in Northwest Florida.
In general dwarf fruit trees mature earlier than full sized ones and some can bear fruit in their first year. Florida is a great place to grow bananas and they should produce fruit in about a year and a half. Bananas grow very fast and make a pretty good natural barrier if planted in long rows. They are very invasive though and will multiply very quickly. If space is not an issue they should be great producers in our climate.
As you plant it can be beneficial to mix up the species rather than keeping them together in blocks of the same type. That makes it harder for pests to jump from tree to tree. Running chickens through your plants on a regular basis also feeds the trees and can also knock back potential pest problems.
With over 30 years of experience, Zimmerman Tree Service is a full service organization providing shade, fruit and ornamental tree care as well as insect, disease and fertilization programs. As a leader in tree care, Zimmerman Tree Service’s unique approach of delivering a wide range of arboriculture services conveniently eliminates the time and expense of searching for and experimenting with different companies.
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Palm Beach County: 561-968-1045
Including: Atlantis, Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Cloud Lake, Delray Beach, Glen Ridge, Greenacres, Gulf Stream, Haverhill, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter Island, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Mangonia Park, North Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge, Pahokee, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, South Bay, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, Village of Golf, Wellington, West Palm Beach and all other communities
Martin County: 772-546-0811
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Note: ISA is the International Society of Consulting Arboriculture. ASCA is the American Society of Consulting Arborist.
