This list was previously put on my blog years ago and I have been asked about updates. The varieties listed here were tested in North Las Vegas with at least five trees per variety for at least 5 years before they were given a rating and the “green light” for planting. Some didn’t make it, either because of winter cold temperatures (citrus, Mexican nopal cactus), possible low humidity problems (sweet cherries and ‘Hachiya’ persimmon) summer high temperatures (filberts, rhubarb), and poor growing conditions (filberts, rhubarb, blueberries, some blackberries, raspberries).
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| Citrus does grow in Las Vegas. It just depends on the microclimate of where its growing. |
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| Community Mulch Pile at the University Orchard in North Las Vegas. There is a second community mulch pile located south of McCarren Intl. Airport. Call 702-257-5555 during the week and get the details. |
What is a Microclimate?
Microclimates in landscapes can have different temperatures during the summer or winter (hot walls, shade, freezing temps), humidity (lawn, pool, fountain), sunlight (reflected glass), differences in wind (channeling between buildings) and all these affect plant performance in the desert. Plants do best when everything is still, plenty of sun (but not too much), temperatures
warm, and humidity moist.
Citrus
Citrus include kumquat, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit and others. By now you should know that kumquat is probably the most cold hardy of the group, followed by Myers Lemon, Grapefruit, and others. Citrus is not included here because we lost the citrus to low winter temperatures (below freezing weather) before the five years was up. However, in some locations around Las Vegas citrus was thriving. At another location, the same thing happened or they were heavily damaged by the winter cold. So be careful planting citrus here.
Low Humidity
Another characteristic of the Mojave Desert is its low humidity. Very low humidity. This is a problem for some fruit trees. Sweet cherries and ‘Hachiya’ persimmon also were not listed, because they seldom produced much fruit unless there were spring rains. Yet in some locations in Las Vegas sweet cherries produced every year! I think it was because of the low humidity. Residences with lawns or a swimming pool close by produced fruit. Some tropical species also have problems with fruit set at a humidity lower than 30%. It is believed to happen because of the drying of pollen.
I've seen some locals have success with Mangos. I am assuming the lack of humidity is the problem with those as well? What is your experience?
It is hard enough to sort through the fruit that will do well here. Trying things like mango and papaya I will leave it up to the locals. The purpose of the recommended list was to identify what fruit trees do well in the Mojave. Not just grow here but produce superior taste as well. That's why the fruit trees have a rating. If they were rated whether they grew in the Mojave then they would nearly all get 5 stars! The rating is based on taste. When I worked for the University and developed the University orchard I had a team of volunteers and chefs who provided input on what flavors they liked from different fruit trees. Those ratings established the star rating sort of like the Michelin rating. One year of ratings was not enough. I would try to get a minimum of three years and five years was ideal. If the trees are listed, then they definitely grew in the Mojave. The rating provided a reflection of how they tasted. So I stay away from fruit trees that are difficult to grow in the Mojave, mango, papaya and the tropicals as well as some borderline fruit trees like citrus.
By the way, I read an email recently that woodchips were available for pickup at the University orchard in NLV. For more information call M-F, 702-257-5555 for more details on how to do it.
I have a donut peach planted right next to a mormon apricot. The apricots do great. The peaches are never donut shaped and dont seem to ripen. Could they be cross/pollinating? What about a plum? Any thoughts on planting a Loquat?
Pollen from the apricot will not affect the fruit from a donut peach. If you are not getting donut peach from that tree then it was mixed up somewhere before you got it. Remove any suckers from the bottom of the tree. Could be fruit production from a sucker growing from the rootstock. In any case, replace the tree. Plums do great in the Mojave Desert. See my selections from my list for plums and pluots. Logquat does well in the Mojave Desert. Plant it with some afternoon shade but with morning sun for at least six hours or more.
Use my search engine on this blog and type in "loquat" and you can get more info.