Do you want to grow fruit but are afraid you live in too cold of a zone? Sure there are a couple of varieties that enjoy the warm weather of the south but there are still many, many, options for you! Here we’ll take a look at some of the colder climate choices.
One of the most popular fruits for zones 3 and 4 is berry plants. Some of our favorites are blackberries, blueberries, honeyberries, and raspberries. Of course, there are a number of specific types and there’s nothing we’d like more than to share them with you!
Chester Blackberry:
This berry is a real champion for your home edible garden. They’re easy to grow and extremely tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and soil types. Plus, you won’t find a more productive blackberry plant. Each summer, a single bush will give you a mound of berries. Try cooking them into jams, baking them in pies, or simply enjoying them straight off the bush!
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Fall Gold Raspberry:
Who wouldn’t love a little bit of gold in their garden, or how about a lot? The Fall Gold Raspberry is an everbearing bush that can be counted on to produce not one but two delicious crops of sweet, golden, berries! This self-pollinating deciduous bush is sure to delight you with its sweet berries you can enjoy fresh or cooked into jams and jellies!
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Blueberries:
Imagine 10 to 20 pounds of blueberries produced by a single bush! That’s exactly what you’ll get with these blueberry varieties. The highbush Patriot and rabbiteye Pink Lemonade are both wonderful choices for your edible garden!
Patriot: www.naturehill...
Honeyberries:
Some soils aren’t acidic enough for blueberries to thrive. Don’t worry though, if that’s the case, we’ve got the perfect fix. Try Honeyberries! The Tundra and Berry Blue Honeyberry has a taste that is hard to pin down but is nonetheless delicious. Some think they taste like a cross between a blackberry and a kiwi and others believe it’s more of a cross between a blueberry and a grape. Either way, you’ll want one of each of these as they are sister plants and need each other for pollination.
Tundra: www.naturehill...
Berry Blue: www.naturehill...
Serviceberries:
If you’re looking for a more native plant, the Serviceberry, also known as the Saskatoon, is the plant for you! Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry has tasty berries that have notes of both blueberry and almonds. Regent Saskatoon Serviceberry has the same nutty blueberry taste and both are lovely backed into pies or used as preserves!
Autumn Brilliance: www.naturehill...
Regent Saskatoon: www.naturehill...
Chokeberries:
There is nothing better than the Chokeberry’s when it comes to cold climates. Delicious and succulent, you’ll want an entire garden of these bushes! Our favorite is the Viking Black Chokeberry, with its tasty fall fruit.
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Apples:
Naturally, we’re going to talk about apples! They’re the #1 home garden fruit planted and anyone can see why! Apple trees love colder climates and often like a certain amount of time in freezing temperatures best! We have a number of apple tree selections and we suggest taking a look at them all!
Empire: www.naturehill...
Gravenstien: www.naturehill...
Cox Orange Pippin: www.naturehill...
McIntosh:www.naturehill...
Honeycrisp: www.naturehill...
Others:
Cherries and plums are a bit harder to grow in these regions but they’re definitely worth it! Both are wonderful additions to your garden and we’ve compiled a list of which will work the best for you!
Romeo: www.naturehill...
Juliet: www.naturehill...
Montmorency: www.naturehill...
Toka: www.naturehill...
Burbank: www.naturehill...
Superior: www.naturehill...
Zones 3 and 4 can be harsh places for plants. Often the temperatures can be low enough to kill some varieties of fruit plants. However, the list of plants we’ve provided is very hardy and will be able to withstand the frigid winters. Check out our blog for more information on fruits and how to care for them: www.naturehill...
Happy Planting!