I initially started my fruit tree journey with a mango tree, but the deeper I dive into growing long-term plants, the more I realize my area really does matter. So, what would you suggest I try growing in Arkansas, specifically Hot Springs? I am currently trying a variety of blueberries and attempting to root fig cuttings. I have pomegranate bushes and a canistel tree but those aren’t doing well in my area.
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The University of Arkansas has a strong long term fruit breeding program. Look at what they’ve released, and you’ll have a good start. I’m sure they also have good information on other fruits you might want to grow. I was once fortunate enough to attend a fruit field day in the NW corner of the state. Up near the headquarters of Walmart as I remember.
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Thank you!!! I’ll definitely check it out, I grew up here and had no idea about that!
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Definety keep reading threads. Some posters are in areas just like yours. Also look at some of the Nurseries like 39th Parallel. Not only do you get the great knowledge of Mike; but as a two-fer also Clarklinks. Both of whom post here and know what works in your general region.
Also look at Southern Cultured Orchards on facebook. Larry Stephenson is the owner and he is also with the North American Fruit Exchange group. He carries Arkansas heritage fruit and other Southern classics of your region.
Above all good luck and welcome aboard.
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My favorite non-crab apple, MonArk, is a product of the UofArk breeding program. Many, if not most, of the great new blackberry varieties of the last 30 years are products of UofArk breeding programs.
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Another native Arkansan here. Hot Springs is one of my favorite places, and I lived there for several years not too long ago.
This article from Guy Ames (Fayetteville area) is worth a read. Granted, Hot Springs is warmer and more humid, but most of his advice still holds true:
My personal recommendations: The forementioned blackberries, American Persimmons (named varieties), blight-resistant pears (unless you’re completely surrounded by red cedars), Chicago Hardy figs, Salavatski Pomegranates, and muscadines. Blueberries should be viable, but most varieties tend to do a little better a few miles north of you. Maypops/Passiflora Incarnata should work fine, too.
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I am in SW AR, 100 miles south of you. Apples like Arkansas Black, Granny Smith, dolgo and eliza’s choice crabs do ok - if you can keep the coons out - which, so far, I have found impossible. The apples will be much more likely to produce if regularly sprayed. Kiefer pear does ok, but it has to be sprayed to prevent fireblight. Peaches will grow ok with a REGULAR spray schedule. Figs tend to get frozen back to the ground every couple of years. I quit trying with plums. Blackberries - my kiowas - do well. I have had good luck with several muscadine varieties
Hot and humid, along with coons and possums, make it very challenging.
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We have constant issues with racoons, opossums, and skunks getting into the chicken pen to eat eggs and their left over food as well as cup up to the house and eat the cats food. I honestly forgot they eat fruit too, I’ll have to keep an eye out my blueberry bush and strawberries are flowering right now.
Do you grow muscadines? I tried getting seeds to start but they never grew. We have a wild pear tree that was stuck by lightning 10years ago, its slowly coming back but since the lighting it hasn’t fruited so I was thinking of grafting on to it. I have a couple different varieties of fig cuttings that i have started to root, some I ordered from a local seller and some were gifted. I had initially ordered a variety pack from amazon and got celeste, Chicago hardy, brown turkey and Violette de Bordeaux in the pack but they are such sad little plants right now. The cuttings I got included smith, alma, Galicia Negra, raspberry latte, Tena, excel, and hative de argentuil, so far they all look like they are doing well. I want to grow any fruit/ berry/ nut that is edible and medicinal that I can so I can pass that knowledge to my daughter who is the reason I dived into the rabbit hole of gardening.
I just grow brown turkey figs. Last year they got frozen back to the ground. This year, they are doing well with quite a few very small figs. They seem fairly disease resistant.
I grow several varieties of Ison’s muscadines that do well. You have to net them if you want to pick any
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I can never get the seed to even start sprouting, I’ll definitely try again this year
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Do yourself a big favor and stop trying to grow them from sèed. Find a grape vine you like and ask to take cuttings. Even if they all do not root; you will get enough to plant out. You will have a trellis full in no time.
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etalos1, muscadine seed have to be promptly planted fresh from the fruit and kept watered for a few months. Even if you get a plant, most commercial varieties produce highly variable seedlings. It is better to purchase a few plants of known varieties from reputable sellers.
I grew some muscadines from seed. One plant of the bunch was half decent but still did not measure up as compared with highly selected varieties.
The muscadine seeds I tried to grow were from fruit that a friend picked in the woods so I’m not sure if they are wild or not. where would you suggest getting plants from?
I haven’t found any here that I can take cuttings from, there are some up in dardnell but I never go up that way. I’ll have to look around an see where to get some from.
Isons nursery sells a few good varieties. I suggest Paulk, Ison, Summit, and Supreme as 4 very good varieties. Screen them carefully to ensure they will be winter hardy in your climate.
https://muscadines.caes.uga.edu/cultivars/fresh-market-cultivars.html
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Thank you!!! They have a good selection of options!!
Our old farmer neighbor grows Darlenes with Dixie Red for pollination. Darlenes are super sweet. Huge.
They sound good, I have no idea the variety we tried but they were good, the skin was tart and had a tingle to it it you ate too many and the inside tasted like a normal sweeter grape.