Cultivar selection is one of the most important steps in successful fruit growing. A cultivar may perform very well in one area of Texas yet be a complete failure in another area. For this reason, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service has prepared this list (based on 800-900 hours of chilling) to identify those cultivars which have demonstrated outstanding performance in this area of the state for several years.

It is a good idea, if space allows, to include at least two cultivars of each crop in the home fruit planting as one may do better than another in certain years. In other words, put your eggs into more than one basket as one cultivar may survive a late freeze better than another, etc.

Remember, fruit trees do not grow "true" from seed. Instead, the desired fruit-bearing cultivar is budded or grafted onto a particular rootstock which is well adapted to the soils of our area. Example: buds of the peach cultivar known as ´Ranger´, an outstanding fruit producer, should, if planting in an acid sandy soil, be purchased already grafted onto a ´Nemaguard´ rootstock which has built-in resistance to certain nematodes. The correct rootstock is just as important as the recommended fruit-bearing cultivar.

Although fruit trees are traditionally planted during their dormant season, healthy, well-rooted trees (except figs), vines, or berry plants grown in containers can be planted all year. However, if planted during the summer, proper watering is critical.

APPLES (Malus pumila)

• (To ensure adequate cross-pollination and thus good fruit production, plant at least 2 cultivars): Gala, Fuji,Holland, Starking Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jerseymac, Mollie´s Delicious, Mutsu (Crispin)
• Rootstocks: mature tree size of any of the above cultivars can be regulated by grafting onto one of the following:
• dwarf tree: M-9 or M-26 rootstock
• semi-dwarf tree: MM-111 rootstock
• full-sized tree: seedling rootstock
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 15

APRICOTS (Prunus armeniaca)

• (Due to their early bloom date, most apricots are subject to spring freezes. Many apricot trees produce fruit as infrequently as one of every 3-5 years.): Bryan, Hungarian, Moorpark
• Rootstock to request: ´Lovell´ for alkaline clay soils, ´Nemaguard´ for acid sandy soils
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 15

BLACKBERRIES (Rubus sp.)

• Cultivars whose canes are thorny: Rosborough, Brazos, Womack, Shawnee, Kiowa
• Planting dates for root cuttings: Jan. 1 - Feb. 28
• Cultivars whose canes are thornless: Arapaho, Navajo- These do not grow as easily from rooted cuttings so are best planted from containers.

CHERRIES, SOUR (Prunus cerasus)

• Cherry blossoms/fruit often freeze here because of a short heat requirement after chilling.
• Montmorency
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - Feb. 15

CITRUS, SATSUMA (Citrus reticulata)

• Satsumas are not winter hardy in north central Texas. Thus, they should be grown as patio or terrace container plants, in containers of 20 gallon capacity or greater. Move plants into a sunny location indoors when temperatures drop 26 F. When temperatures exceed 26 F., move plants back outside into full sun.

FIGS (Ficus carica)

• Texas Everbearing, Celeste
• Planting dates for bare root trees: February 15-March 15

GRAPES, AMERICAN (Vitis sp.)

• Black Spanish, Champanel (These are resistant to Pierce´s Disease)
• Planting dates:
• cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28
• rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February
28

GRAPES, HYBRID (Vitis sp. - French x American hybrids)

• Blanc Du Bois (resistant to Pierce´s Disease)
• Seibel 9110, S.V. 12-375 (These are susceptible to Pierce´s Disease. Due to recent outbreaks of this fatal disease in central and north-central Texas, growers and homeowners should be cautious about planting susceptible varieties.)
• Planting dates:
• cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28
• rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February 28

GRAPES, HYBRID SEEDLESS TABLE (Vitis sp.)

• Flame, Reliance, Himrod, Glenora (These cultivars are susceptible to Pierce´s Disease and will usually die within 7 years.)
• Planting dates:
• cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28
• rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February 28

JUJUBES (Zizyphus jujuba)

• Li, Lang
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 28

PEACHES (Prunus persica)

• Cultivars categorized by period of the growing season in which they ripen:
• very early: Bicentennial
• early: Surecrop, Sentinel, Ranger, Harvester
• mid-season: Redglobe, Milam, Majestic, Denman, Loring, Belle of Georgia (white flesh)
• late: Dixiland, Redskin, Jefferson
• very late: Frank, Fayette, Ouachita Gold
• Rootstock to request: ´Lovell´ for alkaline clay soils, ´Nemaguard´ for acid sandy soils
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 15

PEARS (Pyrus sp.)

• Orient, Moonglow, Warren, Magness, Kieffer, LeConte, Ayres, Garber, Maxine
• Rootstock to request: ´Calleryana´
• Planting dates for bare root: January 1 - February 15

PEARS, ASIAN (Pyrus pyrifolia)

• (To ensure adequate cross-pollination, plant at least 2 varieties) Note: Asian pears are susceptible to fire blight.
• Shinseiki, 20th Century, Hosui
• Rootstocks to request: ´Calleryana´, ´Old Home´
• Planting dates for bare root: January 1 - February 15

PECANS (Carya illinoensis)

• Moderate to intensive management situations: Sioux, Pawnee, Desirable, Caddo, Cape Fear
• Low management situation: seedling (ungrafted)
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - March 10

PERSIMMONS, ORIENTAL (Diospyros khaki)

• Cultivars with astringent fruit: Eureka, Hachiya, Tane-nashi, Tamopan
• Cultivar with non-astringent fruit: Fuyu (Fuyugaki) Note: this cultivar is more susceptible to cold; top of tree may sustain freeze injury during some winters in north central Texas
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 15

PLUMS (Prunus salicina)

• Morris, Methley, Ozark Premier
• Rootstock to request: ´Lovell´ for alkaline clay soils, ´Nemaguard´ for acid sandy soils
• Planting dates for bare root trees: January 1 - February 15

RASPBERRIES (Rubus idaeus)

• Dorman Red
• Planting dates for root cuttings: January 1 - February 15

STRAWBERRIES (Fragaria x ananassa)

• Note: plants must be completely covered with mulch (straw, dry leaves, etc.) or floating row covers when temperatures drop below 15 F. When, temperatures rise in a few days, pull back mulch or row cover to again expose foliage.
• Annual system (replant each fall): Chandler
• Planting dates for plants in annual system: September 20 - October 15
• Perennial system (matted row): Sunrise, Cardinal, Allstar (all of these cultivars are everbearing)
• Planting dates for plants in the matted row system: February 15 - March 15