Should I Plant Fruit Trees in my Yard in San Diego?

Fruit trees give us food and they look fantastic in your landscape! And nothing says bounty like a tree with lovely edible delights on its branches.

Better still is the taste! A robust, leafy apricot tree graced the backyard of a neighborhood home where I grew up in Chula Vista. Golden with a delicate pink blush, those apricots were gorgeous, sweet, and super juicy. Apricots remind me of those carefree childhood summers, memories of standing alongside that apricot tree, barefoot in the grass with neighborhood kids, juice dribbling down our chins while we ate that fantastic fruit.

I find myself reaching for apricots in the supermarket, then have to remind myself they are absolutely nothing like those juicy gems of my childhood memories.

Fruit from a backyard tree contrasts starkly against store-bought fruit. The taste is so different, usually inferior. No time like the present to make the leap and plant a lovely fruit tree!

If you’re new to fruit tree gardening, consider these popular choices. They each need 6 hours of sun every day, and routine water.

Let’s start with FIG:

Fig Tree

It is classic and a looker! With gorgeous, distinct leaves and an attractive branching habit, the fig is drought tolerant and the fruit is divine. Mission and Brown Turkey the most common of the many varieties, but for fruit geeks everywhere, the Panache variety rises to the top and is highly recommended.

The Panache fig’s striking green and yellow striped pattern is even more impressive when cut in half. The jewel-red interior is a sweet and delicious show stopper. Laid on a platter with nuts, crackers, and hunks of parmesan cheese, you have a spread fit for royalty!

Pomegranate Tree

The namesake of Granada, Spain, here is another drought-tolerant favorite. The pomegranate can be used in a garnish, on cereal or yogurt, in smoothies, or eating out of hand. Paired with cilantro, it also goes beautifully with savory rice dishes—or just sprinkle over plain rice.

There are many varietals, with ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Parfianka’ being a big favorite. One thing to note is that the pom can be rangey and after a period of years have a rather large footprint. But if you have the space for it, it’s a low maintenance, low-water winner.

Avocado Tree

Easy to grow, pest resistant, pretty in the landscape, and proclaimed “the queen fruit of California” by my 12 year old, the avo stands alone. And you haven’t lived until you’ve made guacamole from avos sourced from your very own yard. Really… it’s cool.

Are avocados easy, difficult, somewhere in between? Some varieties of avocado are more prolific than others. I’ve grown several varieties for many years, and never had a pest problem. (Actually I take that back; a ‘two-legged squirrel’ poached my whole tree once!)

Probably the easiest avo to grow is the Hass (aka Haas), they are smallish, with pebbly, almost-black skin. They are reliable producers, but like all avocados they are thirsty, so routine irrigation is important. (Pro-tip: avoid Zutano. It’s all pit, scant fruit.)

Side note about avocados in San Diego: a fun song we old-time San Diegans remember is “A bagful of Avocados and a Bottle Full of Wine” off the old KGB ‘Homegrown’ series. (Findable on YouTube.)

Citrus Tree

Oh the mighty citrus. If you ever have any cold-climate clients or friends visit from out of town, take them to the beach and Balboa Park, but then make a point of showing them lemons or oranges hanging on a tree. Daily life for us, but a jaw-dropper for them.

If you decide to plant citrus, an orange tree is a popular choice. The Washington Navel is reliably seedless, findable at almost any nursery, and usually easy to grow. Thumbs up.

How about a seedless tangerine? We’ve all love ‘cuties’—can you grow something similar? The only tangerine I know that is seedless for a home-gardener is the Ojai (O-hi) Pixie. Warning on the Ojai Pixie: on some trees, ripe fruit stays a bit green on the outside, affecting its beauty but not its flavor.

So why can’t you grow ‘Cuties’? The answer is sexier than you expect. Turns out these seedless favorites are not self-fruitful, and get their groove on with a flowery little sex-life. Cutie growers employ a boyfriend and a girlfriend—together! Seedless trees of both sexes are planted in orchards together, so you don’t have any rogue pollinators goofing things up with their seedy genetics.

If you plant a tangerine in your garden, you don’t control pollination, and the fruit usually develops seeds. The Ojai Pixie is a new varietal that is seedless no matter the pollinator.

You can’t control pollination in your yard, but you can grow an Ojai Pixie!

Local conventional wisdom says the sours (lemons/limes) are best grown coastal, and the sweets (orange/tangerine) are best grown inland. I’m dubious as I’ve seen exceptions to that rule, but passing along this local lore in case there is a nugget of truth in it.

Apple Tree

Yes you CAN grow apples in San Diego! And not just Anna and Dorset. I grow Pink Lady and it produces terrific apples, crisp and sweet. Exciting news report: I recently got it on good authority that Honeycrisp grows well here too. That will be the next one I plant.

Mango Tree

Yes, mango grows in San Diego! And it is glorious!! The only caveat: get one that is on Manila rootstock (many are on Turpentine rootstock, which is great for Florida, but terrible here).

Banana Tree

Here is another one that surprises people, but yes you can grow banana in San Diego. They grow in my backyard and fruit once a year. The fruit is like the Hawaiian type, a little smaller than what you see at the grocery store, but has almost a cherry flavor. They are exceptional! A caveat: they are extremely cold sensitive and may not survive winter nights if you are too far inland.

When I talk to people who don’t grow fruit trees, a popular comment centers on pest combat. In truth, a healthy tree getting good sun and regular irrigation often resists pests naturally.

Growing fruit can be highly rewarding and fun. This is a favorite subject for me, so feel free to contact me if you want to talk about it! Happy gardening!