Zone 8 Nut Trees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture put together the hardiness zone map based on the lowest winter temperature in each area. Zone 8 regions get temperatures that drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees C.). Lots of zone 8 nut trees thrive in the region’s moderate temperature. These include classic nut trees like:
Almond trees Hazelnut trees Chestnut trees Walnut trees
Hickory and pecan trees can also grow happily as zone 8 nut trees. When you are planning on growing nuts in zone 8, you’ll have to consider more than the temperature. To produce nuts, the trees must get a specified number of chill hours every year. A chill hour is an hour when the temperature dips below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees C.). The number of chill hours needed for trees to grow nuts for zone 8 varies from species to species. And the number of chill hours in a hardiness zone can also vary wildly. Ask your local garden store or university extension how many chill hours your area gets. Then find a zone 8 nut tree that would be happy there. Almonds, for example, need between 500 and 600 chill hours, while chestnuts only need 400 to 500. Hazelnuts need a lot, 800 to 1,200, which may eliminate them from the list of possibilities. Pecans require between 550 and 1,550, depending on the cultivar. When you are thinking about how to grow nut trees in zone 8, don’t forget to consider your garden’s exposure. Most of these trees do best when planted in full sun sites. Almost all prefer a site with excellent drainage. You’ll also want to consider the size. You’ll do better putting an almond tree in a small garden than a walnut tree. The latter grows over three times as tall. Other nut trees, like hazelnut, are more like bushes and quickly reach mature size. Also, think about the rate of growth. Slower-growing trees like hickories demand more patience than fast-growers like chestnuts.
