In my last fruit tree article, I covered peaches, plums, apples, pears
and pecans. These are wonderful choices, but the options for home
fruit trees far exceed those five basics. For example, you can also
grow pomegranates, persimmons, loquats, and figs. All four are
super-easy to grow in central Texas and they require little if any
care to thrive.
Pomegranates This is probably the most common and most eye-
catching of this collection. They’re as easy to grow as a crape myrtle
and just as showy, with their abundant bright orange flowers. They
can often be found growing on old homesteads around the state.
The wonderful pomegranate is the large, juicy “superfood” that’s
been the subject of so many healthy eating articles lately. Other
ornamental varieties are also available, including flowering only
types, and compact growers for smaller beds needing a little color.
Oriental Persimmons Here is another super-healthy edible to
grow in your yard. There are 2 types of fruit to choose from: astrin-
gent and non-astringent. With the astringent varieties, you have
to let the fruit fully soften for it to become sweet. The non-astring-
ent varieties are sweet from the start and can be eaten firm or soft.
Persimmons make delicious jelly or can be eaten fresh, scooping
out the flesh with a spoon. Eureka and Hachiya are good astringent
choices and Fuyu is a widely grown non-astringent variety.
Figs For those who love figs, but don’t want to shell out $5 for a
little basket at the store, then a tree in your yard will provide you
with all the figs you will ever need. Probably the most restrictive
problem to overcome is having enough space. In Texas figs tend to
be very large bushes (I mean can get to 15’-20’ round large). In
cold winters they can die to the ground which doesn’t allow them
to be trained into tree form. Many people look for figs with a closed
eye (on the fruit) because this helps keep out pests and disease.
Celeste is one option with a closed eye. Some of the other more
common varieties for Texas include the Texas Everbearing (aka
Brown Turkey), Alma, and Black Mission. Many figs can be found
around Austin that have been growing unaided for decades and are
still producing, although the severe cold snaps from a few years ago
killed some of them.
Loquats I must confess that until last year I had never tried a loquat
(and I suspect I am not the only one). We have grown loquats in
Texas for years and most of the time they are planted as an attractive
evergreen understory or specimen tree and not for their fruit. But the
loquat is high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. The leaves are even
used as a tea in Asian countries. You have to watch out for the seeds
like many fruits, but they have a wonderful taste similar to apricots
(some describe the flavor as more apple-like). Harvest loquats as
soon as they are soft, as they will ripen on the tree in late winter to
early spring.
🌲 🌿 🌵
The great thing about growing your own food is that you alone (well,
also maybe the birds) control what is put on the tree so that you are
absolutely sure that what you are eating is safe. Freshly picked fruit
also always tastes better and lasts longer than fruit that has been sitting
in a warehouse for a while before it makes it to the produce section
in the grocery store. Happy Gardening Everyone!
🌲 🌿 🌵 