Plants

Persimmons are among the easiest fruits to recognize once you become familiar with their distinctive appearance. They typically have smooth, thin skin, a rounded or slightly elongated shape, and colors ranging from yellow-orange to deep reddish-orange. Many varieties also have a prominent leafy calyx at the top, which gives the fruit an especially recognizable appearance. … Read more

Oranges are believed to have originated in southern China several thousand years ago as a natural hybrid between the pomelo and the mandarin, making the common sweet orange, scientifically classified as Citrus sinensis, a hybrid fruit rather than a truly wild species in its own right. Brazil has grown into the largest orange producer in … Read more

Apricots are small, round to oval stone fruits best known for their golden-orange skin, soft flesh, and sweet, slightly tangy flavor. Their relatively small size and warm color make them easy to recognize, but they are not the only fruits with this appearance. Several other fruits can look surprisingly similar to apricots, particularly when they … Read more

The Solo papaya is one of the most popular types of papaya grown for its small-to-medium fruit, sweet flavor, attractive orange-red flesh, and relatively convenient size. Unlike many large papaya varieties that can produce fruits weighing several pounds, Solo papayas are generally much smaller, making them particularly appealing for home gardeners and families. The name … Read more

USDA Zone 7 offers gardeners a particularly favorable climate for growing berry bushes. Winters are generally milder than in Zones 5 and 6, while summers are warm enough to support a wide selection of fruiting shrubs. Depending on the specific location, Zone 7 includes areas where average annual minimum temperatures fall between approximately 0°F and … Read more

Growing berry bushes in USDA Zone 5 can be a rewarding way to produce fresh fruit while adding attractive shrubs to the landscape. Zone 5 includes regions where average annual minimum temperatures can reach approximately -20°F to -10°F (-28.9°C to -23.3°C). While those winter temperatures can eliminate many tender fruiting plants, a surprisingly wide range … Read more

Papaya, scientifically classified as Carica papaya, is believed to have originated in the lowlands of southern Mexico and Central America, long before Spanish explorers carried its seeds across the Caribbean and eventually around the world during the age of global maritime trade. India has grown into the largest papaya producer on Earth by a wide … Read more

Passion fruit has one of the more recognizable profiles in the tropical fruit world, typically appearing as a round to oval fruit somewhere between 2 and 3 inches across, with a rind that ranges from smooth and taut when fresh to deeply wrinkled once fully ripe, encasing a mass of juicy, seed-filled pulp inside. This … Read more

Growing fruit trees in USDA Zone 5 can be highly rewarding, but it requires more planning than growing fruit in many warmer regions. Zone 5 includes areas where average annual minimum winter temperatures can fall to approximately -20°F to -10°F (-28.9°C to -23.3°C). That level of cold eliminates many popular fruit trees, but it still … Read more

Fast-growing trees can be a blessing when you need shade, a bit of privacy or if you need to block an unattractive view of your neighbors. It’s tempting to choose trees that grow as quickly as possible, but sometimes the fastest-growing trees are the worst choices. This is because many fast-growing trees grow so quickly … Read more