When to Plant Fruit Trees in Southern California

Written by David S.

In Southern California, fall is a great time to plant container-grown fruit trees: the cool air and coming winter rains let the roots settle in before next summer’s heat. Bare-root deciduous fruit trees, though, are a winter item, planted while dormant from about December through February. So fall is the season to get container trees in the ground and to plan your bare-root picks, with low-chill varieties the key to good fruit here.

Why Fall Is a Good Time to Plant

Planting in the cool season gives a tree a head start. Put a tree in the ground in fall and it has time to establish its roots before the spring dry spell and summer heat arrive.^[1] Cool temperatures and seasonal rainfall make fall an excellent planting window: roots keep developing through the cooler months, so the tree is better prepared to take up water once hot weather returns, while trees planted in late spring or summer face immediate heat stress.^[2]

Can You Plant Fruit Trees in the Fall?

Yes, with one important distinction. Container-grown fruit trees establish well planted in fall, taking advantage of the cool, moist conditions. Bare-root deciduous fruit trees are different: they are planted in winter while fully dormant, when they are least likely to be stressed by handling.^[3] So the honest answer is that fall is a great time to plant a potted fruit tree and to plan your orchard, but the bare-root trees themselves go in the ground a bit later, in winter.

Bare-Root vs Container: When to Plant Each

Bare-root fruit trees are sold dormant and bare (no pot, no soil) and are usually available from about December through February or March, which is also the ideal time to plant them.^[4] They are the economical way to buy deciduous fruit trees and give you the widest variety selection, so fall is the time to decide what you want and get ready for bare-root season. Container-grown trees, by contrast, can be planted across a much wider window in our mild climate, and fall is one of the best times to do it. For picking out bare-root trees, see our guides to selecting bare-root fruit trees and getting ready for bare-root season.

Choose Low-Chill Varieties for Southern California

Deciduous fruit trees need a certain amount of winter cold, measured in chill hours, to flower and fruit properly. A chill hour is roughly one hour below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during the tree’s dormant period, and each variety has a minimum chilling requirement it must meet to set a good crop.^[5] Southern California has mild winters and relatively low chill, so this matters: for coastal SoCal, low-chill varieties needing under about 300 chill hours are the safe choice, and inland areas get somewhat more.^[5] The practical rule is simple: choose varieties whose chill requirement is equal to or less than the chill your area actually gets.^[3] Our team can point you to proven low-chill apples, peaches, plums, and more for your part of Southern California.

How to Plant a Fruit Tree

Pick a spot with at least six hours of direct sun and good drainage, and give the tree room to reach its full size.^[3] Dig a hole wide enough that the roots fit without circling, and set the tree so the graft (bud) union sits several inches above the soil line, which keeps the graft from rotting.^[6] Backfill with the native soil you dug out (no fertilizer in the hole), then water the tree in slowly and thoroughly so the soil settles around the roots.^[6] Finish with a ring of mulch to hold moisture, keeping the mulch a few inches back from the trunk. To keep your new tree small and productive, see our guides to keeping fruit trees small and fruit tree pruning basics.

Ready to start your home orchard? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location this fall to pick up container fruit trees now, plan your bare-root order for winter, and get low-chill varieties matched to your neighborhood.

Planting Fruit Trees FAQ

Can you plant fruit trees in the fall?

Yes, container-grown fruit trees do well planted in fall in Southern California, because the cool, moist conditions help their roots establish before summer. Bare-root deciduous trees, however, are planted in winter while dormant.^[2]

When is the best time to plant fruit trees in Southern California?

Plant container fruit trees in fall so roots establish before summer heat, and plant bare-root deciduous trees in winter while they are dormant. Avoid planting in late spring or summer, when heat stresses a new tree.^[1]

When do you plant bare-root fruit trees?

In winter, while they are dormant. Bare-root deciduous fruit trees are usually available and planted from about December through February or March, which is the ideal window.^[4]

Do fruit trees need chill hours in Southern California?

Yes. Deciduous fruit trees need winter chill (hours below about 45 degrees Fahrenheit) to fruit well. Because SoCal winters are mild, choose low-chill varieties; for coastal areas, pick ones needing under roughly 300 chill hours.^[5]

How do you plant a fruit tree?

Choose a sunny, well-drained spot, dig a hole wide enough for the roots, and set the tree with the graft union several inches above the soil. Backfill with native soil (no fertilizer in the hole), water in slowly, and mulch, keeping the mulch off the trunk.^[6]

Sources

• [1] University of Florida IFAS Extension (Duval County), Fall Is a Great Time to Plant Trees: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
• [2] University of Florida IFAS Extension (St. Lucie County), Fall: A Time to Plant Trees: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
• [3] UC Master Gardener Program (Contra Costa County), Selecting and Planting Bare Root Fruit Trees: ucanr.edu
• [4] UC Master Gardeners (The Real Dirt), Planting Bare-Root Fruit Trees: ucanr.edu
• [5] Dave Wilson Nursery, Fruit Tree Chilling Requirement: davewilson.com
• [6] University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Bulletin 2411: Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees: extension.umaine.edu

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