My parents live in zone 4. Other than Apple and Cherry, they're having a hard time finding fruit trees hardy to their zone. I can't imagine why their local nursery would sell them a Nectarine tree, which unsurprisingly is doing poorly. I advised my parents to pick fruit trees and vines hardy to zone 3 to be on the safe side. Their Issai Kiwi is not thriving. Their pear isn't producting but I think it's due to the lack of another pear in their area rather than the hardiness zone. Can anyone give me a list of fruit/nut bearing plants that are hardy to zones 3 and 4 that I can forward to my parents?
I come from Edmonton, which is Zone 3a, and this is a list of things I used to grow in my gardens, and that my grandparents who live in Zone 2 had success with. I've omitted the apples and cherries that I grew, since your folks have already got them. Hazelnuts Pembina and Black Plums (Prunus nigra does best, and is a good pollinator for other plums) There is an Apricot variety hardy to Zone 3a, I cannot immediately recall the cultivar name but I used to grow them when I lived in Edmonton Saskatoon berries Josta berries Black and Red Currents Gooseberries Concord Grapes of course, Raspberries and Blackberries High-bush Cranberries High-bush Blueberries If they buy a second pear tree, then they will get fruit from the one they have, and the Nectarine may simply be in a poor spot - in Z4 it is technically possible so long as you provide a windbreak. I also had good luck with Kiwi Issai, but I kept it in a fairly sheltered location that got full morning and afternoon sun.
