February, March, and April are great times to plant trees that produce fruit and flowers. The Tampa Bay area has a unique climate that can create a temperate growing opportunity for a number of those fruit trees. Here are a few of the best fruit trees to start growing late Winter and early Spring in Central Florida:
Apple Trees
Everyone knows the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” So why not try planting one of the most common and best fruiting trees available to the Tampa area?
Apple trees require a large number of hours under 45-degree weather before producing fruit (roughly 300 to 400 hours), so December through February are great times to start growing. Apple trees need well-drained, fertile soil, so getting started during the winter is prime.
Citrus Trees
Spring is the best time to plant container-grown citrus trees in Central Florida, yet they can be planted most of the year as long as it’s a conducive environment. When planting numerous trees, set dwarf citrus trees 7 to 10 feet apart and standard citrus trees roughly 15 to 25 feet apart.
Citrus consists of oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and more, and you can choose to your liking and preference. We have found that orange trees need more time to acclimatize to their new environment. Planting orange trees in early to mid-spring is best to allow ample time for the soil and tree to acquaint themselves and during the warmer spring and summer months.
Avocado Trees
Avocado trees are most often grown in tropical and subtropical areas and are Native to Mexico, the West Indies, and Guatemala. Tampa, fortunately, mirrors many of those climates and can be an excellent place for avocado trees.
Early Spring is suitable to plant avocado trees, as they are not a cold weather-farer. Do keep in mind avocado trees grow quite tall, and with the right Florida climate can become more than 30 feet tall. Just think of the big game day and being able to make fresh guacamole from scratch. Mmm.
Banana Trees
Bananas have been a staple for the human diet for centuries and have been growing throughout Florida since the 16th century.
Banana trees are more complicated to produce tasty fruit than other fruit trees in the area because it’s essential when germinating the banana seeds to keep temperatures at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fig Trees
Figs are excellent sources of fiber and are mineral-rich, in addition to their delicious sweet taste, they act as a source of calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium.
North and Central Florida fig trees produce more fruit than Southern areas of the state, and late winter/early Spring is best for planting bare-root fig trees. Expect fruit to ripen between July and October. Just in time for the holidays.
Other trees that do well in the central Florida climate are mango trees, guava trees, peach trees, and papaya. Some lesser-known trees that would make great additions to your yard are jackfruit trees, loquat trees, lychee trees, and persimmon trees, which we’ll expound upon more in part two of “Fruit Trees to Plant in Late Winter and Early Spring” next month.
Chuck’s Tree Service offers tree trimming and pruning, palm tree trimming, and tree removal in Pasco, Hernando, and Pinellas Counties. 24/7 emergency service. Call us today at 352-747-8182!
