Are you thinking of getting a fruit tree? Confused about all the choices? There is a lot to consider. What are you looking for in a tree?
Growing zone
Fruit trees are generally recommended for a particular range of growing zones. Picking a tree outside of your zone or “pushing zones” can be risky, especially for a beginner. Some trees are not suited for extreme temperatures. Others require a certain number of “chill hours” to produce good fruit. Some zones have growing seasons that are too short for fruits to properly ripen. Find your own growing zone at this site. When you find a fruit tree that you are interested, be sure and look at the recommended growing zones and match that to your situation.
Click here to find your growing zone
What type of fruit do you enjoy?
It makes sense to pick a fruit that you or your family will enjoy. Would it be pears? Apples? Cherries?
Types of Fruit Trees With Pictures (Including Low Maintenance Self-Pollinating Varieties)
Will you have a single tree or more than one?
Some kinds of fruit are self pollinating, while others require a second variety to pollinate.
Click here to learn more All about Fruit Pollination
Time to think about what variety of fruit you would like.
Would you like a sweet apple for eating fresh off the tree, or a baking apple for pastries? Do you prefer sweet or tart cherries? Do you like white peach flesh or more traditional yellow flesh? European pear like Bartlett or Anjou, or an asian pear with an apple like texture such as Korean Giant or Chojuro?
This site has excellent information about selecting an apple tree.
usapple.org also offers information on selecting apple varieties
What size of tree is appropriate for your space?
Did you know that almost all fruit trees are grafted? The variety or scion is 
grafted onto the root, or rootstock. The choice of rootstock is important. Primarily, it defines the height of the tree. Why are some trees twenty five feet tall and others less than ten? The rootstock.
You may have a choice of rootstock if you order the tree on-line. You will probably choose between a dwarf tree, a semi-dwarf tree, or a standard/seedling tree (growing on it’s own roots). You should learn about the rootstock before purchasing the tree if possible. If you would like more information about rootstocks, click the following link.
Rootstock chart
Once you have determined your growing zone which you will use to select the appropriate tree, picked a fruit that you enjoy that can be pollinated without another tree or with several more, decided on the size of tree for your space, and finally picked that variety that you have been wanting
GO FOR IT!
Everyone starts with their very first tree. I did and so can you!
