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SHOPPING FOR FRUIT PLANTS

© Connie Krochmal

Shopping isn't something I usually enjoy. When I go grocery shopping, I like to get there early in the morning before the crowds arrive. On the other hand, going to garden centers is fun. So I go when I have plenty of time to browse. When the local stores don't have the fruit plants you need, mail order is the solution. These days many of the mail order companies also have web sites.

For hard-to-find fruits, One Green World and Raintree Nursery can't be beat. One Green World has unique fruits as well as unusual ornamentals from around the world. The back cover features columnar apples in pots, red elderberry, and figs. In addition to listing the hardiness zone for each plant, it often gives a minimum temperature as well along with a recommended pollinator.

Raintree is located in Washington State, so it has many fruit plants well suited to the Pacific Northwest. It also gives the minimum temperatures and hardiness zones. The catalog features lots of information on growing each fruit. They seem to have every kind of plant imaginable, including coffee plants.

Stark Brothers is out of bankruptcy now, and issued its 2002 catalog. For 2002, they have an interesting addition, Stark Kwik Krop trees that should yield fruits during their second season, much quicker than most fruit trees.

Hartmann's decided not to publish a new catalog for 2002 since there weren't any price changes. They specialize in small fruits, and have an incredible large number of blueberry varieties. They have many other kinds of fruits suitable for both northern and southern climates. The catalog contains lots of information about each variety.

For heirloom varieties and unusual fruit plants, the Southmeadow Fruit Gardens in Michigan is unsurpassed. I've always been pleased with every plant I've purchased from them. Though the catalog isn't free, it is well worth the price. It contains lots of information about these unusual connoisseur varieties. It is illustrated with historic photos of fruits and fruit growing.

When gardeners want pre-trained espalier fruit trees, these can be hard to come by. Henry Leuthardt Nurseries specializes in these. You can choose the type of fruit and the exact shape of espalier that you prefer. Besides espaliered plants, they also sell various other kinds of fruit plants.

Not all varieties of fruits are suited to every hardiness zones. That's where regional fruit nurseries come in handy. The Sonoma Antique Apple Nursery is located in Healdsburg, California. Don't be deceived by the name. This nursery actually sells a number of other fruits, including apricots, and cherries. They offer a number of crab apple varieties, which are used for pollination purposes. But some bear delicious, useful crab apples.

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