Easy to Grow Fruit Trees for Beginner Gardeners for AZ 9B

Here I share my opinion and examples of the easiest fruit trees to grow in our harsh climate in the Phoenix Arizona area (zone 9B).
These trees require no summer (shade) or winter (frost) protection and are adaptable to our soil.
1. Fruiting mulberry (pakistan, shangri la, dwarf ever bearing and other low chill varieties)
2. Acerola/Barbados cherry
3. Quince (Smyrna or other low chill varieties)
4. Figs
5. Apple (Anna)
6. Citrus (lemon, lime, orange, mandarin, etc.)
7. Pomegranate
8. Guava (Tropical Pink)
9. Fruiting Olive (Arbequina)

[@IVOrganic]

Awesome tour! So many fruit tree choices that thrive in the Phoenix area! Thanks for sharing! Charles 🌱👍

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks!

[@newbiegarden]

Gosh I've missed your videos. This was another, very helpful video. People in AZ are gonna ❤ you for this. Cant wait to watch the video of your top 15 😁 Keep them coming!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks very much! Coming soon!

[@davidschmidt270]

I live in Phoenix so it's nice to know what's up in terms of gardening and fruit trees from people who are here !!! Thanks 👏👏👏👏

[@johnmcneill923]

Gr8 to see you back on line. Nice summary on easy grow fruit trees for AZ 9B.

[@Faithfulsheperd]

Love this, I'm gona plant a few trees now! Very thankful to your efforts Eddie

[@KashmirMovieProduction]

Nice fruits

[@pablovegano]

Enlightenment Garden, thank you SO MUCH for all the great content you have created! Especially everything related to figs. I am also in 9b, across the valley from you. I put my first 7 fig trees in the ground this spring (going for 20 in-ground and many grafts) and I am sure you have saved me years of trial-and-error, and I now have a whole new plan based on your great videos. At the end of this video, you mentioned why you excluded stone fruits. Can I request a video on that topic? I would LOVE to get your perspective and what you have learned; there is so much conflicting information out there! Water and feeding of course, but mostly about shading and trunk protection and what can and cannot go full sun. I plan to have about 25 peach, apricot, plum, aprium, pluot, etc. Thanks!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thank you for the encouragement! Sounds like you will be in fig heaven soon! Afternoon shade requirements is why I consider nectarines, apricots, pears, plums and all the inter-specifics tier 2. Peaches are slightly better performers but still not tier 1. You can get them to grow in full sun potentially with good soil and lots of water but the fruit will scald and not properly ripen in full sun all day. For the best chance, plant some moringa around them to provide dappled light during Summer. I'll try to do a video as well.

[@pablovegano]

@@EnlightenmentGarden Thanks for that advice! I've already got 3 moringas and one mulberry in the ground as shade trees and adding many more soon.

[@dwightmann6297]

Cool

[@kmbrezina]

LOL, I thought it was something I did, My Anna apple popped out a few flowers along with my white peach and my cherry plum. Figs are also popping out.

[@leonnegro4504]

Hi I liked your video. I have a Brown Turkey fig tree but the Japanese beetles and some little brown beetles I believe they are called Coleopterous ruin most of the frut, do you know how to control them? Can I ask why are your pomegranates in bags? I have a tree also. I have a pink guava but every winter it dies down, it comes back in spring but I gess this affects the fruit production. I love Quince where can I get a tree I live in Tucson Az. Thank you so much. Take care and be safe.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi. Wrapping an organza bag around the fig fruit will help keep bugs out and spraying with neem oil may help detract the bugs from your trees. The poms are in bags to prevent insect damage from leaf footed bugs. I picked up my Smyrna quince tree from Richard's garden center in Phoenix. I'm not familiar with Tucson nurseries but if you call around you may be able to find one locally. Otherwise, you can mail order. There are many choices; an option is One Green World that has them available to order - onegreenworld.com/product-category/fruiting-trees-shrubs/quince-fruiting/

[@bvsowle]

Hello! Where did you pick up the olive tree? That looks like a great variety!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi! I purchased the Arbequina olive tree from Just Fruit and Exotics in FL because at that time it was hard to find. Many online nurseries sell it. One Green World has it in stock right now.

[@carlyanne38623]

I love Stark Brothers

[@seniyeshepherd3050]

Hi dear, I been fallowing your channel about two years and enjoying very much! Where did you get your Quince tree? I live in Las Vegas. Thanks! Seniye

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi and thanks! My quince came from Richards nursery in Phoenix but quince trees are also available in online nurseries nearby like One Green World - onegreenworld.com/product-category/fruiting-trees-shrubs/quince-fruiting/

[@DLittle82]

Where do you get most of your trees here in Phoenix? Thanks for the video.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

I bought many online but here is the full list -- docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BeyC1NwMzLaGeD2JSfAWIxAxxzEoc0IVFXF0PQzrsNs/edit#gid=0

[@emmanuelmendezmartinez657]

I love acerola, i live in the tropics Caribbean and i thought they can only grow here, i only need to know if they can grow in Columbia Sout Carolina, where some of my family members live

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

9A is probably the lowest cold it can take so if your family is growing in that zone it should be a good contender!

[@emmanuelmendezmartinez657]

@@EnlightenmentGarden It's an 8a, i think is too cold right? Maybe with protection

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@emmanuelmendezmartinez657 That would be below it's tolerance but container growing may be a good option in that climate to overwinter in a garage on cold nights where it dips below 30.

[@emmanuelmendezmartinez657]

@@EnlightenmentGarden Thats a good idea, i have other relatives who live near Orlando Fl, but they are not into trees, they even cut down an avocado tree that secsesfully grew from a seed my mom took from our garden here in the Domincan Republic (those can get up to 2ft long), from a 12b zone to a 9b, it was so amazing for me, well now if they want to eat avocado they have to spend in the store.

[@mezleona]

Im moving to San Tan Valley, it breaks my heart to leave behind my fruit trees, I would start from scratch. Could you tell me where you buy your fruit trees?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Best wishes on your new place. My full plant list can be accessed here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BeyC1NwMzLaGeD2JSfAWIxAxxzEoc0IVFXF0PQzrsNs/edit?usp=sharing and in the "About" tab

[@michaelagibbs9695]

What do you feed your citrus trees?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Here is a video on general care including feeding--kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3mwq36fiK11eqM. In general they get compost annually in Spring and feedings of Dr. Earth's in Summer and Fall. My compost has come from local J Barringer in past years.

[@stuartgross5728]

You mentioned white Marseille is not recommended. Why?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Honey figs tend to burn/get rubbery/inedible or abort figs in summer desert sun--White Marseilles is definitely on that list. It only properly ripens figs here in the Fall so fruit production is low overall. I only grow productive varieties so that's why I don't recommend it.

[@stuartgross5728]

Enlightenment Garden my second year tree is growing terrific but I did not get much production. What variety do you recommend that won’t get wider than 8 feet.? Height is less important.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@stuartgross5728 All fig trees will put on fantastic growth in our climate but not all of them are equal on production or fruit quality in the summer. There are not may fig varieties that are natural dwarfs but I have experience with 2 excellent dark skinned dwarf varities that pump out delicious figs reliably - Violette de Bordeaux and Chicago Hardy. They are easy to acquire varieties. You will always need to prune every Winter as fig trees fruit on new wood but with these varieties, growth is limited to a few feet high and wide in a year versus 6-8 ft so the amount of pruning required is light.

[@stuartgross5728]

Enlightenment Garden Thanks for the advice.

[@stuartgross5728]

Enlightenment Garden would you include Black Jack as a successful variety here? I know it’s somewhat smaller. Also I see your quince is extremely productive. We love them. We bake them for two hours and pour honey over them for dessert. Can they be left on the tree and how long can you store them? Thank you for all your help.

[@johac7637]

Wondering what Sq, Ft lot you are growing you paradise on. Temping to replicate.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi! My lot is just under 1/2 an acre around 18K sq ft and my garden space is about 1/2 of that with the house footprint and hardscape making up the rest

[@johac7637]

@@EnlightenmentGarden OK, that make sense, as I have about 10-11 K Sq and am slowly filling it up, has gobbled up about 100 cu yds of chips, manure, alfalfa pellets plant waste, Getting to where I can call it soil. Inspires others to garden, as most that attempt it aren't aware of the lack of organic matter. Keeps me busy hauling manure, chips that I get for free, to help others get the bug,they even load it, I'm 1/2 way to Tucson from Phoenix.

[@undercovergardener5632]

I think I heard a pond in the background!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Tiered fountain was running but a fish pond is coming. Will be breaking ground soon!

[@daniellestoker]

What about banana tree

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Interestingly, bananas are not a tree but a herbaceous plant. In my experience, they are not one of the easiest plants to grow. They need some shade in summer, ample water, windbreak, and frost protection to perform well and fruit in our climate. This video was meant to highlight fruit trees that produce without cold and heat protection in a desert climate, Despite those limitations, bananas can be grown in hot climates with success.

[@Mrbfgray]

Fig are a gopher delicacy, they'll kill'em.