Trees of Plenty

Texas Recommended Fruit and Pecan Trees

Selecting the correct variety is one of the most important steps in successful fruit growing. And as with most plants, soil preparation and location are also important. Before selecting any plant, you should first know the mature height and width in order to determine if you have enough space for that plant.

Fruit and Pecan trees do not grow "true" from seed. Instead, the desired fruit-bearing variety is budded or grafted onto a particular rootstock which is well adapted to the soils of our area. That is the reason why you can’t plant a pecan nut and expect to get the same type of tree as the “mother” tree.

Soil quality is critical to the success of your garden. Here’s how to get your soil ready:

• Choose a location
• Have your soil tested and follow the recommendations; also see Preparing Your Soil
• Remove all weeds, debris and rock
• Add expanded shale to aerate heavy clay soils
• Add 3” compost into soil when planting—to provide the energy for microbial activity
• Add 3” mulch on top—as it breaks down it helps keep microbes active. Mulch also retains moisture so you water less and prevents weeds

Apples-

Anna-Medium fruit, light skin with red blush. Sweet, slightly tart-crisp, creamy white flesh. Good choice for salads, pies, applesauce and for eating fresh. Ripens late May to June. Requires a pollinator.

Ein Shemer-Large golden-delicious fruit with tart flavor and crisp texture, and a blush yellow skin.  Slice and eat or bake for a unique treat. Self-pollinating, ripens mid-June to early July.

Golden Delicious-Medium to large fruit with excellent, sweet flavor, juicy texture and yellow skin. Most popular yellow apple, perfect for slicing and eating. Self-pollinating, ripens September through October.

Granny Smith-Large fruit with tart to semi-sweet flavor and bright, waxy green skin. Good choice for both cooking and eating. Ripens August to September. Requires a pollinator.

Jonathan-Crisp, white juicy flesh with brilliant red-striped skin. Perfect choice for juicing. Requires a pollinator and ripens in August.

Mollies Delicious-Large fruit with unique, slightly conic shape. Light yellow background about half covered with a red blush. Good flavor and stores well. Excellent pollinator that ripens in late July.

Figs-

Texas Blue Giant-Extra-large fruit with attractive purple skin and sweet melting amber flesh. Delicious eaten fresh or dried. Self-pollinating and ripens June to July.

Brown Turkey-Medium to large size fruit with light flesh, sweet flavor, and brownish maroon, skin.  Excellent choice for eating fresh, canning and jams. Self-pollinating and ripens in August.

Celeste-Small fruit with violet to purplish-brown skin, light colored flesh, extra juicy and sweet in flavor. Good choice for eating fresh. Self-pollinating and ripens June to July.

Nectarines-

Surecrop-Large, bright red freestone fruit with thin smooth skin, juicy, white flesh and sweet mellow flavor. Perfect for slicing and eating fresh. Self-pollinating and ripens in July.

Peaches-

Belle of Georgia-Large, freestone fruit with red skin, white blush flesh and delicious flavor. Self-pollinating and ripens in early July. 

Harvester-Large, semi-freestone fruit with bright red skin, evenly blushed with yellow. Fine texture, acidic, good quality yellow flesh. Self-pollinating and ripens in late June.

June Gold-Large, cling peach, yellow with red blush skin and firm, yellow flesh with fine texture.  Self-pollinating and ripens in late May to June.

Loring-Large, freestone fruit with red blush over yellow skin and firm, yellow flesh. Self-pollinating and ripens mid-June to mid-July.

Ranger-Large, freestone fruit with red blush over yellow skin and sweet, yellow flesh. Self-pollinating and ripens mid-June to mid-July.

Red Globe-Medium, freestone fruit with attractive, fuzzy, red skin blushed with good quality, yellow flesh. Fruit suitable for eating fresh, for canning or freezing. Self-pollinating and ripens June to July. 

Redskin- Large, freestone fruit with red over yellow skin and, yellow flesh. Excellent qualities for eating, shipping or canning. Self-pollinating and ripens mid to late July.

Pears-

Kieffer-Large fruit with greenish yellow skin blushed with red and coarse, crisp, juicy, white flesh. Good for canning and baking. Self-pollinating and ripens September to October.

Moonglow-Medium to large, fruit with soft, juicy white flesh and excellent mild flavor. Good dessert quality pear that ripens in early August. Needs a pollinator.

Orient-Medium to large, sweet flavored fruit with russet-yellow skin.  Smooth textured, firm and juicy flesh is good for canning and baking.  Self-pollinating and ripens in early August.

Pecans-

Cheyenne-Medium-sized nut with soft shell and excellent flavor. Very productive, smaller tree with nuts ripening mid-September through October.

Desirable-Large, paper shell, good quality nut. Ripens in November.

Plums-

Bruce-Large fruit with red skin, red flesh and delicious flavor.  Finely grained and juicy characteristics make it an excellent choice for red plum jelly. Ripens in early June and requires a pollinator.

Methley-Medium to large fruit with purplish skin and flesh that is amber tinged with red.  Delicious flavor makes it good for slicing and eating.  Self-pollinating and ripens in early June.

Morris-Large fruit with deep red skin and bright-red, crisp flesh.  It has high quality fruit with outstanding flavor.  Might require a pollinizer and ripens mid-June.