Fruit varieties for cold semi-arid climates

Cold, semi-arid climates, (as identified by the Köppen-climate classification system) can present a challenge to fruit growers because of the harshness of the climate. Extremes of heat and cold, dry conditions, poor soils and rapid swings of temperature can make it difficult to keep trees alive, let alone produce abundant crops. Careful selection of fruit tree varieties can help to partially overcome these challenges.

Rootstocks

A larger tree may have a better chance of success in the cold, semi-arid regions. Although dwarfing and small semi-dwarfing rootstocks have become popular in the commercial fruit producing world, the low vigor and small root systems of very small trees struggle to survive in the cold semi-arid ecosystems. Planting the larger semi-dwarf or standard rootstocks may help them to thrive. For apples, EMLA111 and BUD-118 are two of the larger semi-dwarfing rootstocks.

Escaping spring frosts

In areas where temperature is highly variable, trees may be "fooled" by a stretch of warm, sunny weather into thinking that it is time to blossom too early. Trees determine the "right" time to bloom by a combination of light and temperature. Blossoms get more and more tender to frosts as they progress through the stages of blooming. Two strategies can be employed to take this into account.

1. Trees that are early bloomers or susceptible to frost, yet ripen before the fall such as cherries, almonds, apricots, etc, can be planted in locations where they will receive winter shade but summer sun. On a small scale, planting these types of trees close in on the north sides of buildings or tall opaque fences will delay onset of blooming, this takes advantage of a local micro-climate with "colder winters" and a sudden transition to sunshine as the angle of the sun rises behind the structure. On a larger scale if north facing hillsides are available or south facing slopes that are north of tall mountains where winter shade is deep - these sites should be carefully examined or trial plantings should be done - in these locations one should avoid planting the trees in the bottom of the valleys to allow for cold drainage
2. Genetics should be selected for cold-semi arid regions to delay onset of bloom

Cherries

"Sour" or Tart cherries (Prunus Cerasus) are later blooming and more cold hardy than sweet cherries. Montmorency, although a very popular tart cherry variety is also one of the earliest to bloom - causing crop damage in 1 out of 3 years even in cherry growing regions such as the area around Travers City, Michigan, where climate is typically predictable. `