Thanks to our year-round warm and mild climate, many Floridians enjoy planting and caring for fruit trees around their property. Fruit trees offer many benefits, from added visual beauty, fruit production, and wildlife sustainability. One of the most common questions prospective fruit growers ask is when is the best time to plant fruit trees.

The best planting times for fruit trees vary according to your climate, the type of tree you are planting, and how the tree has been prepared for planting. In this article, we’ll cover the best time to plant fruit trees in Orlando, The Villages, Clermont, and nearby central Florida areas

Planting Bareroot Deciduous Trees

Bareroot trees are trees that have been dug up from the ground when they’re dormant. These trees are usually uprooted in the fall and their roots are shaken free of all soil. Generally, bareroot trees establish themselves quicker and grow more vigorously than other transplants.

Because bareroot trees are dug up while dormant, they must be planted while they are still dormant, usually in late winter or early spring at the latest. January is the best time to plant deciduous fruit trees as this gives the roots time to establish themselves before the hotter months. When choosing deciduous trees for your central Florida property, it’s important to pick ones that have a low chill requirement as they fare better in our mild, somewhat warm winters.

The chill requirement, or “chill time”, refers to the amount of cold temperature a fruit tree needs to thrive. Deciduous fruit trees need a certain amount of exposures to cold winter temperatures each year to flourish and bear fruit.

Planting Burlapped & Potted Trees

Burlapped and potted trees may be planted year-round in central Florida, thanks to our mild and warm climate. Although container trees can be planted year-round, the best time to plant these trees is in the fall and winter, as this time of year is ideal for promoting root growth. A tree that is planted in fall or winter goes into spring with a vast expanse of strong, healthy roots. Strengthening your tree’s root system is imperative to ensure it thrives well in the spring and later on in its life.

When you purchase burlapped and potted trees, plant them as soon as possible, preferably immediately after bringing your new tree home. If you are unable to plant your tree the day you get it, make sure to keep the roots moist until you can plant it.

Florida may be known most for its orange groves, but many types of fruit trees thrive well in our area and produce abundant fruit.

Special Planting Circumstances

There are some special situations that call for planting times other than fall and winter. Typically fruit trees that are not as resilient against the cold and are lost easily during cold weather like banana, pomegranate, and citrus, should be planted in fall so they can establish themselves before winter. These trees can also be planted during late spring when the humidity and high amounts of rainfall will help them grow and flourish. Thankfully Florida doesn’t see much cold weather, making it easy to plant these trees during the fall and winter.

Fruit Trees That Thrive in Central Florida

Thanks to our tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate here in Florida, many types of fruit trees do very well here. Some fruit trees that thrive well in central Florida include apples, avocados, bananas, citrus, figs, guava, mangoes, mulberries, papayas, peaches, and tamarind.

Are you looking to plant fruit trees on your property?

If you’re looking for healthy, strong fruit trees for your central Florida property, stop by our plant and tree nursery or call us today at (407) 296-3042 to see what our current fruit tree selection may be. We provide the Orlando, The Villages, Clermont, and nearby central Florida areas with exceptional trees, shrubs, and flowers.