About Cold Hardy Fruit Trees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a system dividing the country into plant hardiness zones based on coldest annual temperatures. Zone 1 is the coldest, but regions labeled zone 4 are also chilly, getting down to negative 30 degrees F. (-34 C.). That’s pretty cold weather for a fruit tree, you may think. You would be right. Lots of fruit trees are not happy and productive in zone 4. Yet, surprise: lots of fruit trees are! The trick to fruit tree growing in cold climates is to buy and plant only cold hardy fruit trees. Look for zone information on the label or ask at the garden store. If the label says, “fruit trees for zone 4,” you are good to go.
What Fruit Trees Grow in Zone 4?
Commercial fruit growers generally only set up their orchards in zone 5 and above. However, fruit tree growing in cold climates is far from impossible. You’ll find dozens of zone 4 fruit trees of many different kinds available. Apples Apple trees are among the hardiest of cold hardy fruit trees. Look for the hardy cultivars, all of which make perfect zone 4 fruit trees. The hardiest of these, even thriving in zone 3, include:
Honeygold Lodi Northern Spy Zestar
You can also plant:
Cortland Empire Gold and Red Delicious Red Rome Spartan
If you want an heirloom cultivar, go for Gravenstein or Yellow Transparent. Plums If you are looking for a fruit tree growing in cold climates that isn’t an apple tree, try an American plum tree cultivar. European plum cultivars only survive to zone 5, but some of the American varieties thrive in zone 4. These include the cultivars:
Alderman Superior Waneta
Cherries It’s hard to find sweet cherry cultivars that like the chill of being zone 4 fruit trees, although Rainier does well in this zone. However, sour cherries, delightful in pies and jams, do best as fruit trees for zone 4. Look for:
Meteor North Star Surefire Sweet Cherry Pie
Pears Pears are iffier when it comes to being zone 4 fruit trees. If you want to plant a pear tree, try one of the hardiest European pears like:
Flemish Beauty Luscious Patten
