Re: need a fruit tree idea

Avocados grow and fruit in the Bay area and downtown Sacto, but they get truly huge [beware of a dwarf called Don Gillogly [something like that]; it's a scam, fruit is terrible].
Loquat should do fine. Get a named variety if you can; fruit is much better. If you get a small one, you can train it to be a shrub. They're quite plastic; take all sorts of pruning without complaint.
Not subtropical, but French/Italian plums do well there, are productive, and stay relatively small. Pistachios are small trees, but I think you need two.
For an interesting eastern-US native, you might consider the pawpaw. Plant breeders have worked overtime on it during the last couple of decades and there are some really good varieties available now.
I checked lychees and cherimoyas, and even if you fudge a half zone, you're still to cold for them. And, of course, I'll think of a dozen others as soon as I send this. :) 


On Sep 21, 2008, at 9:14 PM, Theresa G. wrote:
Ok- I was going to try to plant another apple tree, but was advised against this by master gardener friend, as we have been getting warmer and warmer and apples were marginal here in the first place. So- now I'm on the hunt for a new fruit tree. Something that stays relatively small, has yummy fruit, and wants to be in my overly warm climate. Kind of wondering is something semitropical might make it here?? Ideas?? Jim- any input? Maybe a loquat? Would an avacado grow here (or do they just get huge?) 

Theresa

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Island Jim
Willamette Valley
44.99 N 123.04 W
Elevation 148'
Hardiness Zone 8/9
Heat Zone 5
Sunset Zone 6
Minimum 0 F [-15 C]
Maximum 102 F [39 C]

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