For now no dwarfing rootstocks for peach and plum, pruning is the only way to keep small. Semi-dwarfing rootstock keeps them to about 15 feet. I prefer to prune them. It's not a lot of work, as if you grow fruit trees, you will need to put all kinds of time in anyway. You have to prune to shape the tree, poor structure will result in poor results. Spraying is a must too.

You can buy genetic dwarf peaches, that is an option. The best ones seem to be developed by Zaiger. Some are ornamental only.

Cherries ripen early so you can't really spread harvest much, peaches and plums you can. Apples too. My best advice is to look though the threads here and they contain a wealth of information.

I am not sure zaiger dwarf peach/nectarine would be suitable in that environment thinking them likely to break dormancy too soon.

Pick an apple dwarfing rootstock suitable for your area (?) would be my advice. Try to spread the fruiting season out with successful apple cultivars to the area (County Master Gardener/Coop Exchange).

There are a few natural dwarf cherries too. Otherwise, not a whole lot to meet your limiting stated desires.

http://www.starkbros.com/tags/dwarf-fruit-trees

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I like my 2 apple trees on Bud 9 rootstock, wish all of the rest were. Spraying and pruning are not a big deal due to their dwarf stature. Being dwarfs, they must be staked/anchored and in my arid region irrigated a couple of times during Summer. These trees being dwarfs took only 2 years to come into near full production.

I myself don't worry about the trees breaking dormancy as once it is warm enough around here for them to break, the frosts are gone. Once a decade we get hit with a late frost, but that's it. Even trees with 900 hours chill are met by January here, according to MSU. So I doubt it matters here, but all gardening is local. I'm experimenting with low chill blueberries here. With blueberries they will not break dormancy if under 45F, and again once we reach 45F it's safe to start growing. Some places like Kansas get warm spells in the winter, so it would be a problem. We never get warm spells in the winter. Right now it is 11F going down to -6F tonight.

I plan on planting several blueberry bushes as well. I'd like to start a grape vine too. In an uncertain world, I think now is more important than ever to have some independence. Not to mention avoiding the gmo poison as much as possible.

URES,

Not sure how experienced you are in growing fruit trees. In most places including Indiana, fruit trees will require spraying. Different fruit trees have different issues and may need different treatments. You may want to learn about diseases and insects that could damage your fruit trees of your choice before planting them.

It's always good to choose disease resistant varieties if you do not want to spray a lot. However, disease resistant does not always equal taste.

Also, if you want to grow organically, it can be done but often requires more work and less effectiveness.

You are also right about a sunny area. Almost all fruit trees require full sun. It helps reduce fungal disease, ripening and quality of fruit. Lot of fruit trees do not produce well in partial shade.

My experience is limited to one apple tree. That's why I appreciate the knowledge. It was always being chewed up unless sprayed. I was hoping a dormant oil would do the trick, but if not, whatever is needed.