General comments on fruits for Albuquerque area.The most commonly grown fruit tree for most homes is the apple. The biggest
problem with them is that so many people plant them and then allow the worms
to infest them so badly that practically every apple will be affected. If you
do not wish to spray then you really should pick up all the apples that drop
so the codling moths can not complete their life cycle each year. We also have
a problem with alternate bearing. That means that many varieties will bear one
year and not the next. My favorite apple is the Gala but your tastes may be
different. Get a good nursery catalog and look at the ones you would like. It
will tell you whether you need another one for cross pollination. However, if
you are living in town there will very likely be a variety near you that will
do the job.
Apricots are another very popular fruit but as a general rule we only get
fruit about every five to seven years as the late spring frost kill the buds
most years. You can try to keep the blooms a little later in coming by
planting the tree in a very cool location such as on the north side of the
house. I like Starks Sweetheart apricot because the seeds are edible and
remind one of almonds.
Cherries are available in both sweet and sour varieties but are short lived
here because of a disease that is carried by a small psilid slug like insect.
That disease is prevalent in various parts of Albuquerque and will eventually
kill all the cherry trees in a neighborhood. So far, I don't know of any
resistant varieties. I have lost four trees in the last 30 years that I have
tried to grow them. I no longer even attempt to plant them.
I think my favorite of fruit trees are the peaches. Again they are short lived
because of borers but by planting one or two trees every five to ten years you
can have an ongoing supply. It takes about 4 years for a tree to begin
producing. Most catalogs will have a wide selection of peaches and depending
on you personal tastes you can select ones for canning or freezing or for
fresh fruit. I like Hale Haven although I have also grown some of the Elbertas
and enjoyed them very much.
Pears will also do well and again the variety will depend on your tastes.
Bartlett is good and so are the Orient type. They have a hard fruit that are
picked when greenish yellow before they are fully ripe as they spoil from the
inside out if left on the tree.
Plums also do well and can be bought in either the Japanese type or the prune
type. In my opinion the Ozark Premier is one of the best Japanese type. The
prune types are usually blue and ripen late.
Figs are also very good and can be marginal in some areas of town so they need
a warm southerly site. Celeste is usually recommended.
None of the citrus will grow here unless you have a greenhouse and a small
potted tree. There are many other fruits that you might want to try such as
grapes, raspberries and strawberries but none of them are tree fruits.