Alternative fruit trees for the desert

Pomegranate

Growing standard fruit trees in the low desert is challenging. Stone fruits, such as peaches, plums and apricots, require a certain amount of cold (called “chilling hours”) to produce fruit. Even “low chill” varieties may not fruit in a mild winter. Part of the problem, aside from chilling hours, is our fickle winters. A warm spell in January can prompt flowering, only to have the flowers killed by a February frost. And although citrus trees do not require chilling hours, they are high water consumers and need protection from heavy frosts all winter. If you don't want the fuss, here are a few fruit tree alternatives that are less water greedy and still produce tasty fruit. They are also attractive and functional plants, too.

Pomegranates have now become quite the rage because of the fruit's health benefits. The fruits are quite expensive in stores, so what a great bonus to grow your own! Even better: pomegranates start producing fruit even where they are only a couple feet tall.
Pomegranates do very well in the desert. They love our alkaline soil. They are very drought tolerant, but do need a little extra water while they are fruiting so the fruits don't split open. They make a lovely large shrub or small tree. Their flowers attract hummingbirds, too. Keep in mind they are deciduous. 

Another plant that does quite well here is the Pineapple Guava. This is an attractive, evergreen shrub or small tree with gray-green leaves that are white on the underside. The flowers, which are edible, are a pretty pinkish to white with distinctive red stamens. The fruit ripens from late fall into December. Don't pick them off the tree; they are only ripe when they fall to the ground. The fruit resemble kiwis, but are tart, and taste a bit citrusy.

Loquats are another option. This evergreen tree of small stature is unusual for a desert plant since it has very large leaves. These leaves are covered with fine hairs that protect it from the heat by reflecting off the intense suns rays. Loquat fruits ripen in the spring, and taste somewhat like apricots. It is also somewhat drought tolerant.

If you just gotta have oranges, why not try the Kumquat? The Kumquat is the citrus industry’s attempt at creating a cold hardy citrus tree. While they didn’t catch on as they’d hoped, they are available for purchase. Kumquats are more cold tolerant than regular citrus trees, but will still need protection if temperatures drop into the 20’s. The fruits are tiny, an inch or so long, and should be eaten without peeling, as most of the sweetness is in the peel.