Summary

Guide for choosing apples and pears for home orchards in Tennessee, with emphasis on matching tree size, site conditions, and management commitment. Covers key needs like full sun, deep well-drained soil, and spacing based on rootstock and mature tree size, plus the role of grafting and dwarfing rootstocks. Explains chilling requirements and cross-pollination needs, and highlights the importance of disease resistance and ongoing pruning and pest control. Includes cultivar suggestions for apples, European pears, and Asian pears, with notes on harvest timing, bloom groups, and common disease concerns.