I grow 'Flying Dragon' more as a child deterrent, but the fruit can be used (there really isn't much of it and it is very sour). I second the above post, those should all do well.

Pawpaws (like most fruit trees) would prefer full sunlight at maturity, but I see them growing along the edges of woods locally, getting dappled shade. Mine do well here, but they are fairly slow growing.

May I also suggest jujubes (prefer full sun, have date-like fruit, and a beautiful growing habit), che fruit (or 'melon tree', sort of mulberry/fig-like), goumi (Eleaegnus multiflora, smaller than autumn olive and has larger fruit), and Juneberries ('Serviceberries', come in all sizes and have blueberry-like fruit).

For persimmons, you may want to grow the 'oriental' (or 'kaki') types, because there are smaller varieties, some of which don't require cross pollination.

Medlars do well too, but I wouldn't grow one if I had a very small space, although they are pretty. Ditto for quince, gorgeous tree but not so useful really.

Plums also do well. And you can find small cherry trees (sour or 'pie' cherry trees are often self-pollinating) or grow Nanking cherry bushes.

Gooseberries and currants do well if you can provide them with some afternoon shade.

Nut bushes and trees do well also, keep in mind that hazelnuts spread.

I added elderberry bushes to my yard this year also, the berries are tasty (to me, anyway) and several varieties are beautiful to look at.

Keep in mind "problems" that you might run into, like ease of care and how much animals may like your fruits. Apples are a pain, but a neighbor of mine grows small apple trees organically and does well. Some years the birds get to my cherries before I do, but I'm not depending on a bucket of cherries to get me through, so I don't mind so much.

My bramble patch provides the birds (and squirrels) and myself with more than enough berries and it is also home to cardinals and mocking birds. So, whatever fruit you grow some other critter is going to attempt to enjoy it also.
--------------
You might take a look at Hidden Springs Nursery or Urban Homestead.

Sorry to add a dissenting opinion. We have grown fruits and berries here for 40 yrs. Apples, plums. peaches etc. The only problem is cleaning up the mess. I guess I am showing my age. Steve in Baltimore County

Steve it isn't your age. I got sick and tired of picking up rotting peaches or running over them with the mower when I was in my late 20's! I don't grow any trees that drop fruit all over the yard anymore. I stick mainly to berry bushes, figs and fruiting vines, less mess : )
Karyn

In addition to local nurseries you could check out this great business called Edible Landscaping, which specializes in fruit trees. They're located in VA so most of what they carry will do well in our area. http://www.eat-it.com

Juneberries/Serviceberries (amalanchier) are one of my favorite native fruits, and will do fine in some shade since they often grow in the forest. They have small red-purple berries with an edible seed inside. My husband says they taste like blueberries and I think they taste like Sweet Tarts (maybe I don't let them get all the way ripe!). The birds will love whatever you don't eat.

I'll eat a pawpaw or two in the wild but the kerosene like aftertaste stops me after that, so I wouldn't plant them in my yard. Some people don't seem to be bothered by them though.

Gooseberries and currants can also apparently take shade, especially afternoon shade (which side of your yard is the forest on?).

Otherwise most fruit trees will do better in full sun.
Figs THRIVE in my neighborhood in Takoma Park/Silver Spring. (There are so many trees within a few blocks of us, I have the theory that they're all cuttings off of one or two trees that have been passed around over the years.) I think the ones I like the best are Celeste, if I've identified them right. Animals seem to leave them alone, which is a major plus. You can dry whatever you don't eat fresh. If you've never had a fresh fig, there's nothing quite like it. I'm a huge fan.

In general most folks I know seem to think apples and peaches are too high-maintenance to be worth it. I have a peach tree in my backyard that produces massive amounts of fruits but the squirrels like to eat them when they're green, so I get very few. It's kind of heartbreaking -- every year I see the number of fruits and my hopes are so high for good, fresh peaches, and it never quite comes out that way.

We also have a pear tree that is not nearly as productive, but just as attractive to the squirrels. I have yet to eat a pear.

I have a neighbor who grows plums somewhat successfully but loses a lot to the plum curculio bug.

Mulberries grow pretty much as a weed tree in this area because birds eat so many of them and spread the seeds. I find them very tasty. You can easily feed yourself and the birds. You'd just have to stay on top of any seedlings that start coming up where you don't want them (especially along fences where birds perch).

This year I have plans to plant a sour cherry. Birds are supposed to like them less than sweet cherries. We'll see. I'm also looking into Japanese persimmon.

Blueberries also can do well here if you amend the soil to be acidic enough for them. You will have to fight the birds for them, too.

Good luck!

Hi!

I have about three dozen varieties of fruit trees here. I am in a difficult growing situation, and don't like to spray potential toxins around here lest they get in to my pastures. I have had zero luck at all with "stone fruit"; peaches, plums, cherries, and other fruit with pits. They get gummosis and other problems. Spraying might control this, but I'd rather not.

PEARS, on the other hand, have done beautifully for me, both European and Oriental. If they can grow well here, with no aid at all save pruing, when no stonefruit (or grapes) will, then I think they might do well for you too.

Best of luck with you pocket orchard!

Happy gardening,
- vladpup

Vladpup,

I'd love to know which cultivars of pears you are growing. I'm putting in an orchard of 10 fruit trees this spring.

My only apple tree died (fire blight) which has also been an issue for the dogwoods. I also have elderberries, raspberries and blueberries and I can wholeheartedly recommend the blueberries. You'll get more berries from two mature bushes than you can shake a stick at. Their foliage also turns nice colors in the autumn.

I have three bushes, with one of them being of a different variety than the other two and it sets smaller fruit later in the season. Birds eat the berries from that one but leave the others alone, so I don't fight with them about it.

The soil where I am is naturally acidic enough to keep the hydrangeas blue, so I don't do anything to it for the blueberries.

Raspberries are weedier and not as prolific - it takes a lot of brambles to get a fair amount of fruit. OTOH, raspberries are very expensive to buy and don't keep well fresh in the fridge, so it's worth having my own.

I have blueberries, which have yet to produce any fruit, but they're pretty, & figs, about 6 or so on the south side of the house, which have produced fruit & are also lovely.
I'm going to add some pawpaws next year, along the S/W side of the house, near a privacy fence & the other fruit that I'm seriously thinking about is an espaliered Asian pear-Hosui, 20th Cen, & Shinseki on one tree, planted next to a fence, on the N/E side of the house-this area is next to the garage, I call it the dead zone, it doesn't get alot of sun, there's only grass planted there, but it does get morning sun-do you think an Asian pear could thrive there?

I'm Tim Hoagland, on behalf of Casey Trees, and I wanted to share some of our resources with you on this topic as well.

We've got some things you may be interested in:
*We hosted a webinar on our regular segment, Tree Talk Thursdays, entirely about fruit trees.
*We also have a Tree Rebate program that enables individuals to receive a $50 rebate on any standard-size fruit tree (small or medium canopy - tree must reach 15 ft. tall and wide at maturity). (http://caseytrees.org/programs/planting/rebate/)
*We do not currently, but will have fruit tree profile/ other resources up on our website in mid-September. (check back!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Talk Thursdays - Fruit Trees

Quick question... I am going to be planting 2 fig trees I just purchased outside in my yard in the Catholic U area (slightly south of Silver Spring).

Should I plant it out in the yard or plant it in a pot and bring it inside every winter? What do I need to do for the winter?

I would like to grow lemons outside there is it too cold