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I have a pecan tree that grows in 50% sun just fine. I get pounds and pounds of pecans every November and eat them through the holidays. I don't do anything to take care of it and it still treats me well.
The tree was in the backyard when I moved and is at least 10 years old.
Asian persimmons are very different from the native American persimmon -- non-astringent, for example -- but neither are they as cold-tolerant. Used to be that Asian persimmons were grown only in Florida and Texas, but you could take a chance here and try one. Global warming may be in your favor. I have family in Alabama who are growing lemons successfully... unimaginable not that long ago.
Asian persimmons are very different from the native American persimmon -- non-astringent, for example -- but neither are they as cold-tolerant. Used to be that Asian persimmons were grown only in Florida and Texas, but you could take a chance here and try one. Global warming may be in your favor. I have family in Alabama who are growing lemons successfully... unimaginable not that long ago.
I have two Asian persimmon trees. One is astringent, one is not.
The non-astringent tree bears ripe fruit earlier. I had a bountiful harvest in September and shared with friends and neighbors. The flavor is bland compared to the astringent type. The seeds are small and tender -- chew and swallow.
The astringent tree bears ripe fruit in late October and November. Don't harvest until after the first frost. Fruit harvested too soon will be powerfully astringent. Resist the temptation! Fruit harvested after frost will be (mostly) sweet. The astringent variety fruit is a bit smaller but rewards you with a stronger flavor. The seeds are larger and spittable.
Planning to plant a couple peach trees. What varieties do well in this area?
I'm looking for that deep peach flare, where you feel it in the back of your jaw. Any suggestions on the best tasting peach varieties?
We picked up a peach tree at Lowes a couple of years ago and it is doing well. Diseases are not a problem, squirrels are! I am not a big peach connoisseur so I can comment on deep peach flare. No matter what variety you put in, it will take about two or three years to produce any fruit.
I expect to install one of the zelkovas in the spring, to replace my sorry looking 25 year young bradford pear.
For the OP:
I would talk to the good folks at NCSU Extension for guidance on peaches.
They can be tricky, and may require a fair amount of attention to provide fruit. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/s...ategory=edible
I am not sure, but this is pretty good peach growing area. The Sandhills is the best area in the state for peaches. They are not no maintenance, though, if that's a concern for you like it was for the OP. Any fruit tree here is subject to pests be it insects, fungus, or those darn thieving squirrels and birds and deer. Check out the cooperative extension resources. https://peaches.ces.ncsu.edu/peaches-home-gardeners/
Thanks for the info and links.
We haven't planted peach trees because I'd read where they require regular applications of fungicide and insecticide and even then you could lose the tree to peach borers if you weren't careful.
Plus, you'd have to fight the squirrels for the peaches, and I figured I could buy great peaches at the farmers' market.
Well, I figured wrong. I haven't had an ache-in-the-back-of-my-jaw peach since I moved here. The peaches we get are just so so.
Fig trees are easy to grow. Our neighbors have one doing fine with a lot of shade. We had one in full sun. If you like figs, they are a good bet.
Blueberries aren't a tree, but can be grown into a tall hedge. As long as they are grown in loose, mounded soil so their roots aren't in wet, clay soil (we mix in a lot of compost and pine fines) they do great. Do need to net them or the birds will strip them bare.
Persimmon trees seem to do well. If you like persimmons.
Bradford Pear trees are gorgeous but don't actually produce edible fruit.
Spring blossoms are beautiful but have an unpleasant odor.
However, the big problem is that the trunk branches off. Eventually these branches split down. We've ben told that 20 years is about the maximum you can reasonably expect from a Bradford Pear.
A lot of Bradford Pear trees were planted after the devastation of Hurricane Fran in 1996. Twenty some years later, these trees are splitting apart.
We had our Bradford Pear pruned every other year. Finally, last year our tree guy said we'd have to start cabling it to keep it from splitting. We decided to cut it down. The trunk had a big gray split across the center.
I have a few pear trees that do well (Moonglow). I rarely get any of the fruit as a wide variety of critters seem to like them. I've observed 6 raccoons in the trees at one time.
Bradford Pear trees are gorgeous but don't actually produce edible fruit.
Gorgeous for one week. Spend the rest of the year worrying if the limbs are going to blow off. Can't wait to cut mine down.
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