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Washington Fruit Trees For Sale
Want to know all about growing fruit trees in Washington? There are different things to consider for growing and choosing from the right Washington fruit trees for sale, such as the
- Climate
- Soil type
- Precipitation
- Growing zones
- How to choose the best suited fruit trees for Washington
Washington Overview
Filled with indescribable mountains, falls, and forests, Washington is predominantly the ancestral home of the 29 tribes some of which include the Yakima and Quinault tribes. These native tribes have vast knowledge on how to take care of the land in ways that cultivate biodiversity, protect trees from diseases, and don’t harm nature. After white settlers colonized the region, Washington entered the Union in 1889. Due to the introduction of many different fruit varieties, Washington now has many orchards growing apples, peaches, cherries and many other fruit trees. However Washington State is the number one apple producer in the country and six out of every ten apples consumed in the U.S. come from this state. We have listed some recommended and best-suited Washington fruit trees for sale below.
Climate
The climate has a huge influence on fruit trees, just as trees have a large impact on the climate. For example, many fruit trees require a certain number of days of cold temperature in order to bear fruit in the spring (chill hours).
- Washington has a west coast marine climate characterized by mild summers and winters and abundant annual precipitation, in the west along the Pacific Ocean.
- However in the east, Washington has a semi-arid climate, characterized by hot, sometimes extremely hot, summers and warm to cool winters, with some to minimal precipitation.
- In fact there is a stark difference in climates because of the Cascade Mountains.
- The average high during the summer ranges from the 80s-90s.
- While during the winter, the temperature can range from 0° F to the 30s. However it can get much cooler in the mountain ranges than it will in cities like Seattle.
Soil Type
Most fruit trees need mineral-rich, well-drained, and loamy soil.
- Although Washington has many different types of soil, the state soil is the Tokul soil. This soil is not only the most productive in the world and supports Douglas-fir and other conifer trees, but also covers around 1,000,000 acres of fertile land.
- If you would like to know the soil in your county, check these USDA soil surveys.
If you would like to see what soil type you have in your backyard, you can do a simple squeeze test.
- When you do the squeeze test, you will know that you have loamy soil if after squeezing a handful of moist soil, the soil holds its shape but crumbles after lightly poking.
- If you want to also check for Ph, drainage, worms you can try these DIY easy tests.
Precipitation
Most established fruit trees will need about an inch or so of rainfall every 7-10 days in order to grow and be healthy. Annually this would mean a minimum from 36 – 52 inches of rain. Periods of drought can harm the tree while long periods of rain can cause diseases such as scab and canker for apple trees.
- Washington gets on average around 54 inches of rain annually.
- However, the southeast gets more rain (61 inches) than the northwest (50 inches).
- Additionally while snowfall is rare, it can happen during the winter months.
Washington Growing Zones for Fruit Trees
What is a growing zone?
Growing zones help growers know which trees will thrive in their region. It is defined by the temperature hardiness, or ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone. For example, certain peach trees which can grow in 5-8 growing zones, shouldn’t be planted in zone 3 because they won’t survive the low temperatures.
- Washington has growing zones ranging from 4a to 9a.
- The temperatures are warmer closer to the west coast.
The map below shows the growing zones of the different regions in the state, with some regions reaching -30°F and others reaching 25°F. You can find the zone for your zip code here.
Best Washington Fruit Trees For Sale
If you have bought an apple from the store, there is a 60% chance that it came from Washington State! Washington State not only produces the majority of the apples people consume in the USA but also exports 30% to countries worldwide. However there are many other fruit trees other than apples that will grow well in Washington such as sweet cherries, peach, plum and many others. In order to pick the right trees for your specific location and needs, you should therefore also consider the following characteristics for each tree. You can read more about these considerations here.
- Pollination
- Rootstock
- Chill hours
- Disease resistance
- This handbook from Washington State University can give an overview of the many varieties that you can grow in Western Washington.
- This page from WSU also describes some of the apple, pear, and sweet cherry varieties.
Some of our recommended trees to grow in Washington which are more unique and less commercial include
- Tart cherry varieties
- Japanese plum varieties
- Bosc Pear Tree
- Quince Tree
- American Persimmon Tree
- Mulberry Tree
- Paw Paw Tree
You can read more in our growing guide about how to take care of your trees. If you would like to discover our fruit trees, explore our fruit tree catalog or shop page.
