A lemon tree heavy with fruit beside a fig and a row of stone fruit trees, mulched with straw on red Mallee soil at sunset
Fruit trees · Swan Hill and the Mallee

Fruit trees that suit the Mallee.

Swan Hill is one of Australia's great fruit-growing regions. The climate that suits the commercial orchards suits your backyard too: citrus, stone fruit, figs, olives, almonds and more.

Home of Australia's stone fruit industry400 to 600 chill hours a yearBare root trees in winter
Why Swan Hill is different

If the orchards do well here, so can your backyard

Most nurseries give general fruit tree advice. We give Swan Hill advice. Long, hot summers, cool winter nights and irrigation from the Murray make this one of Australia's most productive growing regions, and they're exactly what many of the best fruit trees need.

The Swan Hill region grows about 70 per cent of Australia's almonds, more table grapes than anywhere else in the country, and some of its best stone fruit. It also gets more sunny days a year than the Gold Coast.

Stone fruit gets far less brown rot here than in wetter climates. Citrus loves the heat, figs love the dry summers and olives are right at home. The hard ones are the trees that want a cool, wet climate, and we'll tell you honestly which those are.

Peta-Lyn and John have grown fruit trees on their 3-acre block outside Swan Hill since 1981, salty soil and all. When they recommend a variety, it comes from experience, not a catalogue.

THE MALLEE CLIMATE

What it means for fruit trees

  • Hot, dry summers cut fungal disease on stone fruit, a real advantage over wetter climates.
  • Cool winter nights give 400 to 600 chill hours a year, enough for stone fruit, figs, olives, pomegranates and almonds.
  • Low rainfall and irrigation mean you control the water. Deep, infrequent watering is the secret.
  • Some salty soil in parts of the region. We'll point you to the most salt tolerant trees.
  • Sandy loam soils drain freely and warm up fast. Stone fruit, citrus and almonds love them.
What to grow

Fruit trees for the Swan Hill climate

Rated honestly for here: what thrives, what grows well, and what's worth a try with the right variety.

Stock changes with the seasons, so not every tree is in the nursery all year.Call 0409 389 586 to check

Thrives hereEvergreen

Citrus

Lemon, orange, mandarin, grapefruit

The safest bet in the Mallee. Hot, dry summers are exactly what citrus loves: the long season sweetens the fruit and dry air keeps disease down. Water regularly, mulch the root zone heavily and protect young trees from hard frost in their first winter. Self-fertile, so one tree is enough.

Try: Lisbon and Eureka lemons, Washington Navel orange, Emperor and Afourer mandarins, Ruby grapefruit.

Loves the heatYoung trees frost tenderSelf-fertile

Thrives hereFruit Nov to Feb

Stone fruit

Apricot, peach, nectarine, plum

Swan Hill is the home of Australia's stone fruit industry, and the orchards along the Murray Valley Highway grow the same fruit you can plant at home. Dry summers mean much less brown rot than in wetter parts of Victoria. Most apricots are self-fertile, so one tree gives a full crop.

Try: Moorpark, Trevatt and Goldrich apricots, Anzac peach, Fantasia nectarine, Mariposa and Santa Rosa plums.

Frost hardySalt on raised bedsBare root in winter

Thrives hereFruit Jan to Apr

Figs

Ficus carica

The Mallee's secret star. Drought tolerant, unfussy about soil and happiest in dry summer heat. Figs handle alkaline soil and moderate to high salt better than most fruit trees, and one self-fertile tree crops generously for very little work.

Try: Brown Turkey, Black Genoa, White Adriatic, Preston Prolific.

Salt tolerantDrought tolerantSelf-fertile

Thrives hereHarvest Apr to Jun

Olives

Olea europaea

Swan Hill is one of Australia's biggest olive oil producers, and the trees that grow commercially here do just as well at home. Silvery leaves, good shape even when they're not fruiting, and very drought tolerant once established. One of the most salt tolerant fruit trees of all.

Try: Kalamata, Frantoio, Manzanilla, Corregiola.

High salt toleranceLittle water once established

Thrives hereFruit Mar to May

Pomegranates

Punica granatum

Made for a climate like ours. They love full sun and dry heat, with scarlet flowers in spring and jewel-like fruit in autumn. Once established, a deep water once a week is enough even in summer, and they cope with alkaline and salty soil.

Try: Wonderful, Elche, Desertnyi.

Heat loverSalt tolerantWeekly water

Grows wellHarvest Feb to Mar

Almonds

Prunus dulcis

A backyard almond wants what the commercial farms here get: dry, hot summers, dry weather at flowering and moderate chill. Most almonds need a cross-pollinator, so plant two compatible varieties close together. Nonpareil and Carmel are the classic pair.

Try: Nonpareil, Carmel, Price, Chellaston.

Drought tolerant once establishedPlant two

Grows wellHarvest Apr to Jun

Quinces

Cydonia oblonga

One of the most underrated fruit trees for the Mallee. Hardy and drought tolerant, covered in pale pink blossom in spring, with golden, fragrant fruit for jam, paste and jelly. Self-fertile and low maintenance.

Try: Smyrna, Pineapple, Champion.

Moderate saltDrought tolerantSelf-fertile

Grows wellHarvest Feb to Apr

Asian pears and nashi

Pyrus pyrifolia

European pears can struggle with our chill hours, but Asian pears and nashi are more forgiving of warm winters. They give crisp, sweet fruit and pretty spring blossom, and suit the region with the right variety.

Try: Nijisseiki (20th Century), Hosui, Kosui.

Lower chillMay need a pollinator

Select varieties onlyHarvest Feb to May

Apples

Malus domestica

We'll be honest: most apples need more chill than Swan Hill reliably gets. Low-chill varieties bred for warm climates can do well here, though. You'll usually need two trees for pollination. Ask us which ones give you the best chance.

Try: Anna, Dorsett Golden, Gala.

Low-chill varietiesPlant two
Understanding your climate

What are chill hours, and why do they matter?

Deciduous fruit trees need a spell of cold each winter to go properly dormant and set fruit the next season. It's measured in chill hours: the hours below 7°C while the tree is dormant.

Swan Hill gets about 400 to 600 chill hours a year. That's enough for the best stone fruit varieties, figs, olives, pomegranates and almonds. It's marginal for standard apples and European pears, but low-chill varieties bred for warm climates can still crop.

The catch: our warm days can eat into the overnight chill. That's why variety matters so much here. A tree bred for this chill range will do better, year after year, than one right on the edge of its needs. Ask us and we'll point you to the right one.

Approximate winter chill hours each fruit tree needs, compared with Swan Hill
Fruit treeHours neededIn Swan Hill
Figs and olives150 to 250Plenty
Pomegranates200 to 300Plenty
Almonds200 to 300Plenty
Stone fruit400 to 600Right in range
Apples and European pearsMore than we reliably getLow-chill varieties only

Approximate hours below 7°C while the tree is dormant. Swan Hill gets about 400 to 600 a year.

Bare root season

Bare root fruit trees, in winter

Winter is bare root season, when deciduous fruit trees are dormant and move at their best. Bare root fruit trees settle in faster, cost less and come in a much wider range of varieties than potted stock. Stone fruit, figs, pomegranates, almonds and pears are all usually sold bare root.

We buy our bare root trees from Victorian growers. Stock is limited each year, so ask us early and we'll make sure we order what you're after.

MISSED WINTER?

Fruit trees to plant in spring

Citrus is the pick of the fruit trees to plant in spring. Potted citrus is in the nursery year round, and once the frosts finish in early September a young tree gets a whole warm season to settle in before its first winter.

Plant it in full sun, water it deeply through its first summer and keep a thick layer of mulch over the root zone.

For salty soil

Salt tolerant fruit trees

Salinity affects plenty of gardens around Swan Hill, and Peta-Lyn and John have dealt with it on their own block since 1981. Some fruit trees handle salt remarkably well.

MOST TOLERANT

Olive and pistachio

The two most salt tolerant fruit trees. Both love hot, dry summers and are drought hardy once established.

MODERATE TO HIGH

Fig, pomegranate and carob

Dry-country trees with real salt tolerance. Figs send deep roots below the salty layer, and carob makes a long-lived shade tree.

MODERATE

Almond and quince

Fine on mildly salty ground. Almonds need good drainage, and quince takes dry conditions and moderate salt in its stride.

ON A RAISED BED

Stone fruit

Apricots, peaches and plums cope with moderate salt if you plant them on a raised bed or mound, above the saltiest soil. Apricots are the toughest.

We've gardened salty soil since 1981

The block where Peta-Lyn and John built their 3-acre garden has serious salt, the same problem many Swan Hill gardeners face. Over 45 years they've learned which trees do well despite it, which need the soil improved first, and what makes the biggest difference.

If your soil is salty, bring in a sample or some photos, or just describe what you're seeing. You'll get an honest answer about what's likely to work.

See all our salt tolerant plants

Mallee growing advice

Getting the most from your fruit trees

Water deep, not often

The most important thing in a Mallee summer. Shallow, frequent watering grows shallow roots. Water deeply once or twice a week and let the soil partly dry in between, so the roots go down where they can handle the heat. Most fruit trees that fail here fail from too little water over summer. A drip line or soaker hose makes deep watering easy.

Mulch heavily

A layer of 10 cm or more around the tree slows evaporation, keeps the soil temperature steady and cuts how often you need to water. Keep the mulch clear of the trunk itself.

Shelter from hot winds

Hot north winds at flowering and fruit set can make fruit drop early. A shelter belt, fence or wall on the north or west side improves the crop, and stone fruit benefits most during spring flowering.

Prune while they're dormant

Late winter, July to August, is the time to prune most deciduous fruit trees. Good airflow through the canopy matters even more in a hot climate: it keeps the tree cooler and cuts the pests that come with dense growth.

Fruit trees FAQ

Questions about fruit trees in Swan Hill

Which fruit trees are salt tolerant?

Olive and pistachio are the most salt tolerant fruit trees. Fig, pomegranate and carob handle moderate to high salinity, and almond and quince handle moderate salt. Stone fruit copes with moderate salt if you plant it on a raised bed. Our salt tolerant plants guide has the full list.

When is bare root season?

Winter, while deciduous fruit trees are dormant. Bare root trees cost less, settle in faster and come in more varieties than potted trees. Stock is limited each year, so ask us early if you're after a particular variety.

What fruit trees can I plant in spring?

Citrus is the best one to plant in spring. Once the frosts finish in early September, a young citrus tree has a whole warm season to settle in before its first winter. Water it deeply through its first summer and mulch it well.

How many chill hours does Swan Hill get?

About 400 to 600 hours below 7°C each year. That's enough for stone fruit, figs, olives, pomegranates and almonds. Standard apples and European pears need more, so choose low-chill varieties.

Can you grow apples in Swan Hill?

Yes, with the right variety. Most apples want more chill than we reliably get, so choose low-chill types such as Anna or Dorsett Golden, and plant two trees for pollination.

Do I need two almond trees?

Usually, yes. Most almonds need a cross-pollinator, so plant two compatible varieties close together. Nonpareil and Carmel are the classic pair.

Keep exploring

Related plant ranges

SALT TOLERANT

For salty Mallee soil

Trees, shrubs and groundcovers for the patch where nothing else grows.

 ADVANCED TREES

Shade this summer

Established mop tops, crepe myrtles and more.

 DROUGHT TOLERANT

Built for a dry summer

Plants that hold up through Swan Hill's heat.
Come and see us

Not sure what to plant? We'll help you work it out.

Pop in for a chat with Peta-Lyn or John. Bring your soil questions, the size of your block and your wish list, and you'll get honest, local advice about what will do well in your garden.

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