Pennsylvania’s temperate climate, featuring four distinct seasons, supports a wide array of fruit species. Diverse soil types, ranging from loamy to heavier clay, coupled with the necessary winter chilling period, make the region a productive area for tree fruit and small berry crops. The cycle of cold winters and warm summers ensures that many temperate fruit trees receive the required dormancy time to produce a robust bloom and harvest.
Keystone State Pome Fruits
Apples and pears, classified as pome fruits due to their central core structure, are well-suited to the Pennsylvania climate. These deciduous trees require a specific period of cold temperatures, known as chilling hours, to break dormancy and ensure proper flower set.
Apples are the most widely grown fruit in the state, with commercial orchards cultivating numerous cultivars. They can be harvested from late August through October. Popular varieties thriving in Pennsylvania include:
- Honeycrisp (sweet and crisp)
- Gala (vanilla-noted)
- Fuji (versatile)
- Jonagold (sweet-tart)
- Golden Delicious (classic)
Pears are a hardy alternative to apples and are also tolerant of the state’s heat and humidity. Common European pear types like Bartlett and Anjou are well-suited to the region’s conditions. Asian pears are also successfully cultivated, and varieties like Moonglow are known for their early-ripening schedule in August.
The pome fruits’ deep dormancy allows them to withstand the harsh Pennsylvania winters better than stone fruits. Proper pruning and pest management are necessary to prevent issues like apple scab, a fungal disease favored by the humid growing season.
Common Stone Fruits
Stone fruits, or drupes, are characterized by a fleshy exterior surrounding a single, hard pit, and they present a greater cultivation challenge in Pennsylvania. The greatest risk for peaches, cherries, and plums is the vulnerability of their blossoms to late spring frosts. An early warm spell can cause the trees to break dormancy prematurely, making the delicate flowers susceptible to damage when temperatures dip below 28°F.
Because of this frost sensitivity, stone fruits grow most consistently in the south-central and southeastern regions of the state, where the climate is milder. Commercial growers in these areas often use elevated land, which allows cold air to drain away from the orchards, mitigating frost damage. Even with careful site selection, an unexpected freeze can result in significant crop losses, sometimes causing complete flower mortality in susceptible varieties like Red Haven peaches.
Peaches, such as the hardy Reliance and the popular Redhaven, are grown successfully, often ripening from mid-July through mid-September. Cherries thrive as both sweet and tart varieties, with sour cherries like Montmorency favored for cooking. European plums are also commonly grown.
Common Stone Fruit Varieties
- Reliance peaches (hardy)
- Redhaven peaches (popular)
- Montmorency cherries (hardy sour variety)
- Sweet cherries
- Stanley plums (disease-resistant)
- Italian prune plums (robust nature)
All stone fruit trees require deep, well-draining soil to prevent root issues, as they are susceptible to wet conditions. Nectarines are also increasing in popularity, and careful variety selection based on bud hardiness is necessary, especially in the colder parts of the state.
Small Fruits and Vining Crops
Small fruits and vining crops offer a diverse range of options for Pennsylvania growers, many of which are popular for “pick-your-own” operations. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are among the easiest fruits to cultivate in the region, providing harvests throughout the summer months. Raspberry and blackberry canes offer a tart flavor profile and are highly productive in backyard settings.
Blueberries, however, have a unique and demanding soil requirement, thriving only in highly acidic conditions with a pH range between 4.5 and 5.0. Growers often need to amend the naturally heavier Pennsylvania soil with materials like sulfur or peat moss to achieve this acidity.
The plants have a shallow root system, making consistent moisture management and mulching important for a healthy planting and consistent yields. Mulches like hardwood bark or aged sawdust help the soil retain water, but high-pH materials such as mushroom compost must be avoided. Blueberries can produce fruit for up to 50 years.
Grapes flourish across the state, with the diverse climate supporting both table grapes and wine production. Cultivars like Concord, a dark-skinned variety with a familiar juice flavor, grow well in the cooler Northwest region. Many cold-hardy hybrid varieties, such as the white Seyval Blanc and the red Chambourcin, are successfully cultivated for winemaking throughout the South Central and Southeast regions.
Pennsylvania’s wine regions successfully grow a mix of Vitis labrusca and Vitis vinifera hybrids. The state’s terroir supports a variety of wine grapes, including the white Riesling and the red Merlot, with flavors varying based on the specific growing location.