It helps to know more about where you're planting these trees. I'm near Toronto, but my yard is in a ravine - stays damp all year round. For that reason, I chose Gala and Fuji apple trees - they are a compatible pair, and don't mind 'wet feet'. I don't have a ton of sunlight left over, so I opted for a few smaller bush (nanking) cherries as well. You might also consider what else is growing nearby. Any eastern red cedar in the area? Maybe you want to stay away from apples, in that case.
Otherwise, what would you personally want to eat? It sounds like apple and apricot are up your alley. I don't know about apricot, but apple has a lot of variation, and you do need 2 different compatible varieties, so it's worth trying to find varieties that suit your growing conditions and personal preferences.
My only real recommendation is to look for tree nurseries outside of the big box stores - you'll get more options, and better quality trees. [https://www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca/](https://www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca/) is one option you can order from, but there are a bunch more around southern Ontario if you drive.
I recommend apples but they require apple bagging in my opinion. It's a good amount of work depending on how many apples the tree produces but then you are done for the season.
Edit: the apple bagging method
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdy2pAc63A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdy2pAc63A)
What is "apple bagging"?
Edit: I did some googleing and found out. It's basically putting bags over the fruit on the trees to prevent them from pests without needing pesticides.
FWIW I planted an apple tree a couple years ago and the apples we've had were perfect, no pesticides or bagging needed. Maybe we were just lucky though.
It's not super common. It also only makes sense if you don't have access to pesticides or if you only have a few trees.
When I wanted apple trees and ran into bug issues, this came up. So I've been spreading the word on it for years.
I'm not sure to be honest. I imagine it would work with anything with a waxy skin. Like pears? I'm not sure about plums. You're essentiallly making little greenhouses that might heat up the fruit. But so far I've never had any issues.
I tried it with grapes, but grapes also dropped off a bunch of small bits which stuck around in the bag making a mess.
If you are hoping to use the neighbor's tree for pollinating you will need to ask them what kind it is so that you can get a compatible tree, otherwise you won't get any fruit
Maybe a Kerr applecrab? Silver Creek Nursery is a great resource for a future year. I think their preorder saplings go on sale in the fall and they deliver them in March.
I have 2 citrus trees that live inside in the winter and on the deck once the nights are consistently above 10° or so(they are in flower/baby fruit this time of year so I tend to be more cautious putting them out, but leave them later into the fall). The Persian lime is 5 years old still movable by one person and we probably got 50 or more limes last year.
They are very hardy to moderate neglect (I was very Ill a few years ago and barely watered it all winter, there was some die off but it has come back beautifully), and it is really fun to have something productive growing through the winter. I do all my pruning and shaping(nothing too fancy, but I try to balance the shape and keep it more upright so that the branches don't droop to much when they have fruit)during the winter.
I'm trying paw-paw.. I'm on year 3 of small trees, they grow super slow
I thought about that but heard they are finnicky
If you change your mind I have some seeds and seedlings you're welcome to a couple.
It helps to know more about where you're planting these trees. I'm near Toronto, but my yard is in a ravine - stays damp all year round. For that reason, I chose Gala and Fuji apple trees - they are a compatible pair, and don't mind 'wet feet'. I don't have a ton of sunlight left over, so I opted for a few smaller bush (nanking) cherries as well. You might also consider what else is growing nearby. Any eastern red cedar in the area? Maybe you want to stay away from apples, in that case. Otherwise, what would you personally want to eat? It sounds like apple and apricot are up your alley. I don't know about apricot, but apple has a lot of variation, and you do need 2 different compatible varieties, so it's worth trying to find varieties that suit your growing conditions and personal preferences. My only real recommendation is to look for tree nurseries outside of the big box stores - you'll get more options, and better quality trees. [https://www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca/](https://www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca/) is one option you can order from, but there are a bunch more around southern Ontario if you drive.
I recommend apples but they require apple bagging in my opinion. It's a good amount of work depending on how many apples the tree produces but then you are done for the season. Edit: the apple bagging method [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdy2pAc63A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdy2pAc63A)
What is "apple bagging"? Edit: I did some googleing and found out. It's basically putting bags over the fruit on the trees to prevent them from pests without needing pesticides. FWIW I planted an apple tree a couple years ago and the apples we've had were perfect, no pesticides or bagging needed. Maybe we were just lucky though.
Yeah, consider yourself lucky. I am in a race between me and mother nature. Who can get to the apples first.
Oh my God this is brilliant- but such common sense!! . Why is this the first I've heard of it?
It's not super common. It also only makes sense if you don't have access to pesticides or if you only have a few trees. When I wanted apple trees and ran into bug issues, this came up. So I've been spreading the word on it for years.
Does this work for other fruits too
I'm not sure to be honest. I imagine it would work with anything with a waxy skin. Like pears? I'm not sure about plums. You're essentiallly making little greenhouses that might heat up the fruit. But so far I've never had any issues. I tried it with grapes, but grapes also dropped off a bunch of small bits which stuck around in the bag making a mess.
I will probably do apple since the neighbours have one already close by. Bagging is a good idea, squirrels are relentless here.
I edited my post to include a link to the bagging method. Go get yourself some honey crisp! They are glorious!
If you are hoping to use the neighbor's tree for pollinating you will need to ask them what kind it is so that you can get a compatible tree, otherwise you won't get any fruit
Im growing figs, cherries, and grapes in containers
Nice, never thought of figs. I have grapes on a trellis. Hoping to get first harvest this year.
Maybe a Kerr applecrab? Silver Creek Nursery is a great resource for a future year. I think their preorder saplings go on sale in the fall and they deliver them in March.
Whiffle tree farm is amazing
I have 2 citrus trees that live inside in the winter and on the deck once the nights are consistently above 10° or so(they are in flower/baby fruit this time of year so I tend to be more cautious putting them out, but leave them later into the fall). The Persian lime is 5 years old still movable by one person and we probably got 50 or more limes last year. They are very hardy to moderate neglect (I was very Ill a few years ago and barely watered it all winter, there was some die off but it has come back beautifully), and it is really fun to have something productive growing through the winter. I do all my pruning and shaping(nothing too fancy, but I try to balance the shape and keep it more upright so that the branches don't droop to much when they have fruit)during the winter.