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Can Fruit Trees Withstand a Freeze?
Can Fruit Trees Withstand a Freeze?. Fruit trees that produce apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums and peaches grow well in the northern reaches of the country, certifying that they can withstand freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, citrus trees, like orange and grapefruit, take a beating when the mercury drops below freezing. Oriental...
Fruit trees that produce apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums and peaches grow well in the northern reaches of the country, certifying that they can withstand freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, citrus trees, like orange and grapefruit, take a beating when the mercury drops below freezing. Oriental persimmons do not mind an occasional dip in temperature, but are damaged by prolonged freezes.
Deciduous Fruit Trees
Most deciduous fruit trees are hardy to zone 5 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zone map. Zone 5, which includes areas where temperatures fall to as low as 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, reaches as far north as Michigan's Upper Peninsula and most of the coastal area of Maine, further proof that common fruit tree varieties can generally withstand the deep freeze of winter.
Citrus Trees
Those who crave fresh citrus and want to harvest an orange, grapefruit, lemon or lime from the backyard, need to transplant themselves to the southern reaches of the country. These vitamin-C-rich fruits flourish out of doors in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 11 because they cannot withstand prolonged exposure to below-freezing temperatures. A hard freeze can destroy not only the year's crop but the trees as well.
Uncommon Fruits
Pawpaws, an unusual fruit with a taste much like a banana, may surprise some with its potential for hardiness well into USDA plant hardiness zone 4, then south to zone 8. Some American-variety persimmons flourish in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 10. Oriental persimmon varieties are limited to USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. With proper winter protection, fig lovers can enjoy their favorite fruit as far north as USDA plant hardiness zones 5. All these uncommon fruits produce well in their given hardiness zones, but like all deciduous fruit trees, respond poorly to severe winters and bloom-killing frosts.
Freeze Hazards
Since buds, that form the flowers, that form the fruit, form on the tree the fall before flowering, a serve winter with prolonged, extreme cold spells can destroy the buds, significantly lowering production. Blossoms that precede the fruit cannot take a late season frost or freeze. After trees flower, every time there is a heavy frost or a killing freeze the chance of a bumper crop lessens because pollination, a requirement for fruit, will not occur if the flowers fall from the tree before the bees can do their job.
