Know your region before you plant – Raintree Nursery

Know your region before you plant USDA hardiness zones tell you about winter survival — but they don't tell the whole story. Regional disease pressure, humidity, and local climate patterns are just as important to your success as a grower.

At Raintree, we select varieties for delicious flavor and ease of growing — and we provide extensive zone guidance to help you choose wisely. But one factor we can't map for every customer is regional plant disease pressure, which varies by elevation, rainfall, humidity, and even neighborhood microclimate. That research is best done locally — and luckily, excellent free resources exist to help you do it.

Why your region matters

Region	What to know	Common disease pressures
Pacific Northwest	Cool, wet springs create ideal conditions for fungal diseases. Apple scab is common west of the Cascades, and peach leaf curl can defoliate and kill non-resistant peach varieties. Fire blight is episodic — serious in some years, minimal in others.	Apple scab, peach leaf curl, brown rot, fire blight (episodic)
Rocky Mountain / Front Range	Warm, wet springs followed by rapid heat spikes create high fire blight pressure for pome fruits (apples, pears, quince) — among the most challenging conditions in the country. Note: fire blight does not affect stone fruits such as cherry, peach, or plum.	Fire blight (pome fruits), cytospora canker, bacterial canker
Southeast / Gulf Coast	High humidity and warm temperatures drive fungal disease year-round. Brown rot is one of the most destructive diseases of peaches and stone fruits in the Southeast. Bacterial spot is also a major challenge, and blossom blight can be erratic depending on spring weather.	Brown rot, bacterial spot, peach leaf curl, blossom blight
Midwest / Great Lakes	Variable springs and humidity make fire blight and apple scab common. Cedar-apple rust is a concern where eastern red cedars are present.	Fire blight, apple scab, cedar-apple rust
Mid-Atlantic / Northeast	Humid summers and mild winters support a wide disease range. Fire blight is a perennial challenge for pome fruits, and brown rot is one of the most destructive stone fruit diseases in the region — crop loss can be severe in a bad year.	Fire blight, brown rot, black knot, powdery mildew
Southwest / Arid West	Low humidity suppresses many fungal diseases, but alkaline soils and heat stress can weaken trees and create conditions for bacterial problems.	Crown gall, verticillium wilt, phytophthora

How to research your site before you buy

1. Find your state cooperative extension service

Every U.S. state has a land-grant university extension program with free, regionally specific plant disease guides. Search "[your state] cooperative extension fruit tree disease" for guides written by local horticulturists who know your climate.

2. Check your USDA hardiness zone — and then go further

The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is our starting point for cold hardiness. But also research your region's average spring rainfall, humidity, and temperature swings — these drive disease pressure more than zone alone.

3. Ask locally — neighbors and master gardeners know

Local garden clubs, master gardener programs, and neighborhood fruit tree groups often have firsthand experience with what thrives and what struggles in your specific area. This is invaluable information no catalog can replicate.

4. Choose disease-resistant varieties when in doubt

Many of our varieties are selected partly for disease resistance. When browsing, look for notes on fire blight resistance, scab resistance, and similar traits — especially if you're in a high-pressure region.

A note on our Arrive Alive guarantee: Our guarantee covers the health of your plants on arrival. Once in the ground, outcomes depend on your site, soil, climate, and local disease pressure — factors that vary enormously across the country. We want you to succeed, which is why we encourage this research before you order.

Extension resources by region

Pacific Northwest	WSU Extension — extension.wsu.edu
Rocky Mountain / Colorado	CSU Extension — extension.colostate.edu
Southeast	UGA Extension — extension.uga.edu
Midwest	Purdue Extension — extension.purdue.edu
Mid-Atlantic / Northeast	Penn State Extension — extension.psu.edu
Southwest	NMSU Extension — extension.nmsu.edu

Want even more local guidance? You can search by county to find your nearest extension office using the National Pesticide Information Center's county extension finder. Local offices can connect you with agents who know the specific disease pressures, soil conditions, and growing challenges in your exact area.

Still have questions about whether a variety is right for your region? Contact our team — we're happy to help point you toward the right resources before you order.