When To Plant Fruit Trees Zone 6: The Best Ones to Grow

When to plant fruit trees zone 6 depends on the type of fruit plants. Containerized fruit trees have higher growing success when planted in fall to the onset of winter, while bare-root fruit trees do well in late winter or early spring.

Generally, most fruits in zone 6 do well when planted in early spring. Learn more about planting fruit trees in zone 6 and the best fruits to grow.

When Is the Time to Plant Fruit Trees Zone 6?

The time to grow fruit trees in zone 6 is early spring. During the season, the soil is moist but not soggy, making it ideal for rooting. However, whether to plant your fruit plants during spring also depends on the type of fruit you want and their growth requirements.

The reason why spring is ideal time to grow the trees in zone 6 is that this zone is a hardiness zone with favorable summers and winters. The climate suits most fruit plants because these thrive best in warmer temperatures.

Fruits also prefer sunny, sheltered areas with well-draining soil. Moreover, it is also a determining factor the notion of choosing the season to plant your fruit plants in zone 6 also depends on the condition you bought them in.

– Containerized Fruit Trees

You can plant containerized fruit plants at any time of the year, because either way in different conditions, it would be fine. However, it is more advisable to transplant them in the fall to early winter, so that when spring comes, it would be ready to bloom well.

These plants don’t take long to root because their roots are established in the soil in the container, and the best months for transplanting are September to November, if you consider planting before winter.

However, in summer, avoid growing fruit plants, whether containerized in any other way. The soil is too dry for the plant to root correctly, and the humidity levels are also low. There are higher chances of the plant drying due to high temperatures.

Wet seasons like spring are also not ideal for growing your plants. Most fruit plants don’t like soggy soils because they lead to root rot, which is why you should be keen about it. Besides, the ground could freeze due to cold temperatures, making it hard for the roots to penetrate.

– Bare-root Fruit Trees

You can plant your bare root plants from November to early spring, so that it would be ready for pollination time. These roots are bought when dormant, so they need exposure to enough moisture to come back to life; therefore, wet spring ground is conducive to their growth and it would be a great choice.

What you must remember is that you should avoid planting bare-root plants during winter because the trees are preparing for dormancy. They will take longer to root and produce leaves for photosynthesis. Besides, the ground is too hard for your young plant’s roots to start shooting out during winter, meaning they are likely to die.

The reason of the latter is that the key characteristic of this plant is that it is a root plant that will then become a fruit tree, which needs excellent conditions to be able to do so, and when the plant would face difficulties, it will not have the proper force to strive and shoot.

– Dwarf Fruit Trees

You can plant dwarf fruit plants in winter, but cover them with organic mulch and get good garden soil for them, which should be properly moist and kept in good conditions. If you bought the bare-root plant, this is when you should make sure that you get the largest container for them.

Dwarf fruit plants, like some varieties of apples, cherries, and peaches, are a good choice for small gardens, or sometimes if you want to grow them on your porch and have limited space. This means you can also plant them in pots and place them on your patio or balcony.

However, you should be mindful that it must be protected in order to become harmed from prevailing winds and full sun.

The Best Fruit Trees for Zone 6

The best fruit trees for zone 6 are the apple trees, plum trees, apricot, cherry, pear, and peach.

The following list are ones that you must plant in the early spring season, as they would be prone to pollination and with success, you would harvest their fruit.

Some of the best zone 6 fruit trees for sale should be of these kinds, as they would be best to grow in spring. Most of these trees require warm summers and mild winters, which is the climate in zone 6.

Moreover, you should also remmeber that this is the sixth zone, which means that trees such as the nectarine trees and peaches don’t do well in 6b because their flowers and fruits are destroyed by late spring frost.

1. Apple Trees

Apple trees are common in zone 6 because the area has a perfect climate for fruit plants, and they give a prosperous result in the end. However, not all apple species do well in this zone, so you must be picky with your plants. Also, you should pick carefully the companion plants for your apple tree.

For instance, some best choices of apples would be the dwarf Honeycrisp, Lori apples, the gala, redhalareds, and liberty apple varieties.

In addition, the Gala apples are famous for their sweetness, and red halareds are tart and juicy. The best time to harvest these are during fall, but the best time that you can plant them would be in early spring so that it would develop well, and then have the ability to produce its fruits.

On the other hand, know that different varieties have different benefits, for instance, the liberty is a great choice, knowing that it is also a disease-resistant tree, which would save you time and energy when being planted and harvested.

When you think about when to plant apple trees zone 6, then know that the best season to plant apples is in early spring and late fall, moreover, during these seasons, the plant is about to start leafing or is just from the dormant stage.

However, if your plant is too small, the best time to plant it would be early spring since winter is farther away, and there is a great time to see them grow and thrive.

The reason why spring is good for planting apples, always keep the roots wet, and ensure the hot sun does not hit the tree directly. You should also shield it from strong winds, which is a  rare case to encounter during spring. You can increase the chance of your plant surviving by digging a deep and wide hole for perfect rooting.

2. Plum Trees

The plum tree is great for hardiness zone 6 because it flourishes in cool and wet conditions. These trees like full sun, well-drained and sandy soils, and like to keep their roots moist. However, some plum varieties are selective and won’t survive in this area.

The best plums for zone 6 are the Japanese varieties, like Santa Rosa and Premier. However, you must be mindful in this case and ensure you research the tree’s requirements because you must have more than one Santa Rosa trees for them to fertilize.

Overall, they need proper care to be given, because at the end they would require a healthy development.  European plum varieties also do well in zone 6. When choosing the plums to grow, you must also know how you are growing them, because different varieties would need specific requirements to thrive.

3. Apricot Trees

Apricots are common in warm zones, and some varieties do well in zone 6. These fruit plants require deep, fertile, well-draining soil, which is slightly alkaline, to thrive.

Some common types of apricots for zone 6 are the Moorpark, Tilton, Goldrich, and Royal Blenheim, which again, you can plant them in April, and they would go through a successful pollination phase.

Growing fruit plants like apricots is easy because they are self-pollinating. Therefore, you can plant one apricot and leave it to bear fruits without requiring a second one for pollination, and you would have a proper harvest at the end. This makes the fruit suitable for homeowners with small garden spaces or who want a mixture of fruit plants.

4. Cherry Trees

Most cherry fruit varieties can survive in zone 6 because they prefer an open, airy area with good exposure to the sun. They also do well in deep, well-draining soils. On the other hand, some varieties to plant in your yard are Stella, Benton, Richmond, and sweetheart, which have other special requirements.

Although some gardeners in zone 6 are prone to prefer sour cherries can go for varieties like Danube, NorthStar, and Montgomery.

You can plant your favorite cherry plant in late fall or early spring, if you are wondering when to plant cherry trees in zone 6. It is a perfect time because the ground is softer, and there is enough moisture for the plant to thrive. Increase the chances of survival by planting the trees a few inches below the soil level.

Once you plant the cherry trees, mulch them to keep the moisture and water routinely when dry. Another way to keep them growing and allow for fruiting is pruning. The process of pruning or clearing out the unnecessary branches off your cherry plants in late winter is an important task and this is because there is a surety of leafing, and it may hinder the growth and result.

5. Pear Trees

The pear tree grows and bears fruits in areas with full sun and wet to dry soils. They also prefer cold and wet climates but cannot survive floods. Zone 6 is ideal for these fruit plants because of its perfect weather, and now it will grow well and bloom in the sunny weather.

The common pear varieties for zone 6 are sweet and aromatic European and Asian pears. The European type has yellow, red, and brown skin and is harvested before ripening. Moreover, the Asian type is round, and its fruit has lower acidity levels.

6. Peach Trees

Another tree that would thrive in zone 6 and produce its best fruit is the peach tree, as they do well in full sun and well-drained soils, which explains why they thrive in this zone. However, these are ideal for persistent fruit farmers because they require regular pruning, spraying, and fertilizing.

You can successfully grow peach trees during late winter or early spring. During these periods, the trees are dormant, so there will be less disruption of their growth.

One thing you should be keen on is that, you must wait for the ground to unfreeze and ensure the soil is not waterlogged, which is why if you consider when to plant peach trees zone 6, you should know that spring is ideal as the plant would have proper time to establish its growth.

Overall, ensure you plant peach plants the same day you get them to reduce the stress they undergo. You should also choose an area that receives enough sunlight all day, has drained and acidic soil, and is wet.

Some common peach varieties to grow in your zone 6 garden are Elberta peaches which bear a yellow fruit with orange marks. You can also go for Madison, reliance, red haven, or candor.

FAQ

1. Which Self-Pollinating Fruit Trees Can I Grow in Zone 6?

Apricots, cherries, apples, and plums are ideal self-pollinating fruits to grow in zone 6. These don’t require other similar plants planted nearby to fertilize and bear fruits, making them a good choice for homeowners with small gardens. However, ensure you research before growing these trees in the same garden.

2. When To Plant Fruit Trees Zone 7?

Early spring is ideal for planting trees in hardiness zone 7. During that time, the tree is dormant, and the ground is about to thaw. During the inactive state, the plant will grow slowly, and the roots will spread to other areas as they look for water.

Once the full spring arrives, the newly planted tree will have enough rooting and can start growing. Early spring is also a good time for planting trees because you won’t disrupt their growth since they are in the dormant stage.

Some best trees for zone 7 are cool-weather vegetables like broccoli, carrots, onions, and spinach. Other big trees to plant are oak trees and white pines. Fig trees can also survive in this zone, but you must choose varieties that tolerate colder climates.

3. Can You Grow Vegetables in Zone 6?

You can grow some vegetables in zone 6, although you must be careful with those you choose. Some do well in warmer zones. Some vegetables to plant in zone 6 are carrots, lettuce, onion set snap potatoes. You can also grow spinach and mustard. Ensure you check the growth condition of each plant.

Conclusion

Zone 6 has perfect chilly winters and mild summers for most fruit plants. However, you must get the planting timing right for your plant to thrive. This zone’s best time to grow fruit plants is in early fall, late winter, or early spring. But, your plant’s growing requirements will determine when to plant it. From this article, you will find that;

• Zone 6 supports the growth of most fruit plants like apples, cherries, plums, and pears.
• You can plant your fruits during fall to early winter or in late spring to raise your chances of survival.
• Although most fruits like apples, cherries, and plums can survive in zone 6, some of their varieties prefer cooler or hotter zones. Research their growing requirements.
• Whether your trees are containerized or bare roots will determine when to grow them in zone 6.

Once you know when to plant fruit plants in zone 6 and the best plants for the area, ensure you make a good choice.

References:

• https://www.mofga.org/resources/peaches/how-to-grow-peach-trees/
• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/apples/