How the Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program Works
Greg Peterson has been planting and growing fruit trees in Phoenix since 1975. He’s observed the lifespans of thousands of trees, and has come to understand what it takes to grow fruit in the desert. This fruit tree program is the result of almost 50 years of Greg’s experience.
The program is simple. Take these three steps, listed below:
Step 1 – Learn. It all starts with education. We are first and foremost all about education. We teach you how to plant your trees, bushes and vines to maximize your chances of success AND we only ever bring in trees that will be successful* in the low desert if you follow our directions. We do bring in a limited amount of experimental trees and that is clearly stated in our cart and catalog.
Starting in September each year, we hold on-going workshops and classes to cover all the basics and answer your questions.
- Take a class – online, pre-recorded or in person.
- Do your own research and create a plan.
- Click HERE to schedule a time to meet virtually with Greg.
Early Order Deadline for Citrus is Aug 31 and for Deciduous is Nov 4
Step 2 – Place your order. Our mission is to make the best quality trees available for your purchase. We have to place our bulk order of deciduous trees in April of each year for delivery the following January. Although we do our best to anticipate your needs, we do sometimes run out of popular items. Placing your order early is encouraged!
- November 4th is the Urban Farm Special Order Fruit Tree and Bundle order deadline. At that time the bundle pricing disappears.
- Use Greg’s personal recommendations! You will find Greg’s favorite trees noted in the shopping cart. These are the ones that he has grown and proven here in the desert.
Step 3 – Pick up your goodies. Please note – we DO NOT ship trees, vines, bushes, compost or fertilizer. You need to physically come down and pick them up during our pop-up nursery times in September for citrus and January for deciduous.
- January is the month when our deciduous fruit trees and some native trees are available for pickup. Deciduous trees are dormant in the winter, and we receive many of them bare-root (not potted). Getting them in the ground immediately is critical to maintain the health of their roots so they will be ready to go when they break dormancy in the spring.
- September is when our citrus are available for pickup. These plants arrive potted. Planting them this time of year gives them the best chance to get established before the frost arrives and plenty of time before the desert heat sets in.