How Do You Grow Fruit Trees In San Mateo County?
San Mateo County has three climate zones, with the inland areas, including Portola Valley, most conducive to fruit tree growth. In the coastal regions of South San Francisco and Daly City, too little winter chill and summer heat limits the types of fruit that can be grown there. Countywide, the best bets are temperate and subtropical fruit trees such as apple, apricot, peach, citrus and almond. Select a proper variety of fruit tree for the climate zone. Inland areas of San Mateo County such as the Portola Valley with hotter, sunnier summers and cooler winters are ideal for apple, pear, cherry, plum, walnut and almond trees. These trees require more than the 500 average “chill hours” (times temperatures are between 32 and 45 degrees F) found in the coastal regions. Insufficient chill hours leads to a lack of foliation and poor fruit development. The coastal regions, from Daly City south, are better suited for subtropicals such as citrus and avocado, which in inland areas could be suscep
