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Nothing beats walking a few steps into your backyard to pull a piece of sweet, juicy fruit from a tree to enjoy in the moment. Some gardeners might be intimidated about trying to grow fruit in their yard, especially after hearing about problems with apple trees. Fortunately, there are a few low-maintenance fruit trees for novice gardeners to plant in their simple backyard orchards.
Selecting the right resilient, easy-to-grow varieties is the secret to getting a maximum reward with minimal effort. For the best experience, you’ll want to choose low-maintenance fruit trees that thrive in your local climate and adapt easily to various soil types. We’ve identified five hardy species that naturally resist common pests and diseases and require less pruning, fertilizer, and watering than other options.
1. Persimmon Tree
Persimmons are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow, according to Tammy Sons, founder and CEO of TN Nursery in Altamont, Tennessee. Often overlooked, these trees produce sweet, flavorful orange-colored fruit that is wonderful to eat raw or used to make jam. “They have comparatively few serious pest and disease problems and are tolerant of a wide range of conditions once established,” explains Sons.
Planting a persimmon tree is a smart choice for anyone looking for a low-maintenance, yet unique, fruit tree to grow at home. These trees flourish in direct sunlight and soil with good drainage. They do best in dry climates, as they are less demanding for water and easy to take care of once established.
Best For: Areas that experience a dry climate.
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
2. Cherry Tree
Cherry trees produce tasty fruit, plus they brighten any yard with their gorgeous pink and white blossoms come springtime. Both sweet and sour cherry trees are easy to grow and provide delicious fruit. You can eat sweet cherries right after picking, and use sour cherries for cooking, such as making jam. Keep in mind that sour cherries are more resistant to disease than other types.
Choose from a variety of standard and dwarf size trees depending on the space available in your yard. Cherry trees prefer full sunlight and rich, well-draining soil. Although not necessary, pruning the bottom of the tree helps the cherries grow faster. Given that it can take 4 years for cherries to appear, this is a helpful tip.
Best For: Enjoying both delicious fruit and gorgeous pink and white flowers.
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
3. Fig Tree
Figs are another simple, low-maintenance choice for warm climates, says Sons. “They produce heavily and need very little care beyond periodic pruning,” she notes. Fig trees only need occasional watering once established and are drought tolerant. They can grow easily in containers, so figs are a good fruit tree choice for small spaces. Fortunately, they aren’t prone to many diseases like apple trees can be. These trees flourish in full sun with rich, well-draining soil.
Best For: Growing in containers in warm climates.
Hardiness Zone: 6-10
4. Pear Tree
Pear trees, which are beloved for their attractive blossoms and juicy delights, are an excellent choice for novice gardeners. “Pears are easier to grow than apples and can produce with very little effort,” says Sons. They prefer full sunlight and all types of soil as long as it drains well. While they require minimal effort and are less prone to pests and diseases than other fruit trees, pear trees need occasional pruning or they can end up experiencing fire blight.
It’s also advised to water pear trees regularly. There are many different varieties to choose from, including both dwarf and semi-dwarf sizes. Finally, growing pear trees requires a bit of patience, since they typically don’t bear fruit for about 3 years after being planted.
Best For: A wide variety of climates in full sun.
Hardiness Zone: 3-10
5. Plum Tree
Another favorite fruit to plant for beginners is the plum tree. It has a compact size, minimal pruning requirements, and robust productivity. To ensure successful growth, it is important to select a variety such as European, Japanese, or Damson, that can flourish in your local climate. These resilient trees grow best when planted in a sheltered, sun-drenched location with rich, slightly acidic, and well-draining soil. Positioning them at a garden’s highest point also helps protect them from frost damage.
Keep in mind that newly planted plum trees need consistent weekly watering through October to establish winter resilience, in addition to regular irrigation during the fruit-development season. Finally, some pruning, and perhaps spraying, of plum trees is necessary to prevent infections; younger trees should be trimmed in early spring and mature trees are best maintained during mid-summer.
Best For: Sunny locations with rich, slightly acidic and well-draining soil.
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
