Arizona has distinct mood zones establish on length of the growing season , average temperature in the wintertime and elevation . Phoenix is in the low desert zone that enjoy strong winters — with very hot summers — and a long develop season . For gardeners , this long season is idealistic , bring home the bacon the chance for almost year - cycle harvesting . Phoenix is in USDA works hardiness geographical zone 9 .
What to Avoid
Phoenix is not the idealistic mood for all fruit Tree , however . To grow successfully in Phoenix , trees require a certain act of cumulative hour in the winter when the temperature is below 45 degrees but above freezing . This tolerate the tree to emerge from its dormant state , flush as it should in the outflow , and raise yield .
In Phoenix , trees with lower scarey demand tend to have better yield yield because the winter are just too affectionate . This is generally accepted to be 600 hours or less of parky temperatures per winter season . Trees that meet this criterion include avocado — which does not call for any chilly temperatures — common fig tree trees , persimmon and pomegranate .
Citrus Trees
Citrus trees grow very well in Phoenix and surrounding desert areas . Citrus has been an important commercial-grade harvest for generation of Arizona farmers . The desert mood causes the fruit to have a marvellous commixture of spirit . The hot weather help make the yield peculiarly sweet ; the cool wintertime temperatures add a level of sour .
maize , hydrated lime , grapefruit , tangerines and orange are all good alternative for the backyard gardener . These definitely do not have chilling requirements , in fact some citrus tree trees are frost sensitive , such as lemon trees . report these on cold nights with burlap or sheet of paper .
works citrus fruit trees – and all fruit Tree – in grunge that drains well , so water system can attain the integral ascendant system of the tree . drain can be test simply by excavate a kettle of fish and filling it with water , then find how many minute it takes to drain out . Phoenix grease often has a hardened calcium carbonate called caliche that blocks the flowing of water through the soil .

Borderline Choices
When choosing the tree to imbed in your Phoenix backyard , take their cool down requirements into account to forfend being disappoint with the fruit yield . Plum and apricot Tree , reckon on the variety , require between 400 and 1,000 hour of cool temperature . search for a assortment at the low end of this scurf , and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree may digest yield successfully .
Golden Delicious orchard apple tree require 850 chilly hour per winter time of year , so these Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are not the best pick for a Phoenix gardener . Pear tree diagram are not either . The popular Bartlett pear has a necessary of 800 hours . The Red Haven variety of peach tree require 950 parky hour or more of chilly temperature , whereas the Desert Gold only needs 250 time of day .