
Hello Everyone.
I recently moved to Happy Valley from Portland and want to plant a few fruit trees in my back yard and had a few questions:
1) What is the best time to plant some new trees? I see a number of landscaping crews around the area planning trees. I would assume I need to wait a little more for the weather to warm up.
2) What varieties do you recommend? I was thinking of an apple and pear tree.
3) Any ideas on what the soil is like in HV? Been in the area less than a year.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jeremy

Hello Jeremy,
Welcome to the HOS forum. Almost all of our common fruit trees, such as apples, pears, plums, and cherries are very hardy and can be planted now. The most common time is in between now and May 1st or so. Another great time is after about October 1st. There are so many kinds of fruit that I can't begin to tell you. We are blessed to live in an area that can grow many types of fruit well. I don't know anything about the soil in Happy Valley, but if you hang out and read from this forum, you will learn a ton about growing fruit.
John S
PDX OR

Happy Valley, although an incorporated area, often gets claimed as a location by outliers, especially businesses along SE 82nd Avenue. Despite the valley name, it is a hilly place.
Is your lot on a slope? What direction does the slope face? Are you higher or at "valley" elevation?

My Sister had a place around 500 feet above the park. On the South facing hillside, everything I planted for her thrived. Her Asian persimmon was a neighborhood hit! Oriental plums did great, too.
I’d say your main concern would be ‘wet feet,’ and perhaps late frosts, where cold air pools from the hills above. I’d suggest you head up to the HOS Arboretum, no fruit at the moment, but a good indicator of what grows well ‘in your area.’ http://www.homeorchardsociety......arboretum/
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
1 Guest(s)