Small garden fruits ideas needed

[plantoneonme]

Anyone have ideas for different fruits that can be grown in a VERY tiny yard. So far I have a grape vine and 2 blueberry bushes. I plan on putting in some strawberries and maybe a couple of those column-type apples. I love plums so may try my hand on an espalier (sp?) one. I can easily get some thornless raspeberries but only if I can think of a way to contain them...

Any other suggestions??? (I also do vining crops such as melons)

Kim

[gardengirl72]

You must get the Stark brothers catalog. It is sooo cool. You will get hours of planning fun out of it as well. They have such an incredible selection of edibles you will die.

My dwarf peaches fruit more then the apples, and my plum trees are community service to the wildlife.

The grapes and blueberrys paid of with 12 jars of super sweet jam this year, that I keep stashed like it is pure gold!

[AbbeyLehman]

Whoa, I got that catalog. Dangerous stuff. Two of each (you know, for pollination purposes ;) ) would be, like, thousands?? LOL

[plantoneonme]

I just found out about these little beauties and would love to have a couple starts. They require the same soil conditions as blueberries and I would like to underplant my new bushes with them. Anyone heard of them and know where I can get some? Kim

[AbbeyLehman]

Here's one place:
http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=Lingonberries
I want some, too!!!!!! I might use these as ground covers and skip the regular cranberries!

[plantoneonme]

If anyone is interested...maybe we can place one order and split them.

LMK, Kim

[AbbeyLehman]

Do we get a better price? I didn't see anything....

[plantoneonme]

I haven't been able to look at the website you posted as the computer I am currently on blocks any "commercial" sites.

I only asked because I would only like 2 or 3 plants to start with since my space is so extremely limited. I am very patient so can wait for them to spread on their own. Kim

[AbbeyLehman]

At first glance they are $7.50 per bare-root plant. Here's a dwarf variety that might fit the bill for tiny spaces:


(V. vitis-idaea minus) A native to Northern Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, it grows only about six inches tall but densely covers the ground with lush foliage and bright pink blooms. Its beautiful in rock gardens and beds, yielding small crops of pea size fruit. 4" Pot.

There's 4 varieties, but that one is good for tight spaces....

[plantoneonme]

Oh my, I can now get into the Raintree site...I am in trouble. I found another unusul fruit I need to try called Aronia. Check it out. Kim

http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/productdetails.cfm?ProductID=BD701

[plantoneonme]

oh my gosh...I am going crazy looking at this Raintree site. I found even more fruit that is perfect for small gardens.

Something called ALL FIELD BERRY...
(Rubus arcticus x stellarcticus) variety Betta. Rarely seen in the United States, these super hardy groundcover raspberries were developed in Sweden. Thick raspberry foliage grows only one foot tall each spring and dies completely back to the ground each winter. Therefore, the potted plants which we offer may be without top foliage if purchased in winter.The pink fragrant flowers and juicy, delicious bright aromatic red berries add to its landscape attraction. The fruit ripens over about six weeks starting in July and looks ripe before it is ready to pick! Wait until it separates easily from the plant to harvest. The plants are fully hardy since they are a hybrid of Alaskan and Swedish arctic raspberries. They appreciate a well drained soil and full sun. Plant at 1'-2' spacing and weed and water well to get the plants established. They will take 3 years to start fruiting. Select two cultivars for pollination.
Climate Zones: 3 to 7

NAGOONBERRY
Because of their excellent flavor, Nagoon berries are a favorite for eating fresh, making jelly or wine. They are closely related to R. articus and considered to be a form of that species. The spineless groundcover grows to six inches tall. The plant has attractive pink flowers and produces small, very flavorful, red, raspberry like fruit ripe in August. The flowers are either male or female with boht sexes eventually present in the same plant. It is easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. This plant is smaller than R. articus and has smaller fruits. These plants were collected near Juneau, Alaska.
Climate Zones: 2 to 7

ARONIA
Aronia melanocarpa) This shrub is so beautiful, easy to grow and so productive that it will become a staple in the American backyard, as it has in Eastern Europe. It is widely being used in delicious juices, soft drinks, jams and wines. It is not an aronias conclusion that this and sea buckthorn are the most productive fruiting bushes in captivity. The handsome, disease resistant bushes, with dark green oval foliage, grow to 5-6' tall with an equal spread. Enjoy white flowers in the spring and pretty red fall color. In August, harvest many clusters of round flavorful, blueberry size fruit. The fruit is tasty eaten fresh when fully ripe. It is very high in Vitamin C. It is native to the eastern U.S. but the best varieties were bred in Eastern Europe and Sweden

Ok, I gotta quit. My last site has discounts if you purchase a pack of 18 mix and match plants and many of the things I would like are listed. You save $15 if ordered this way...

http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=Eighteen%20pack%3B%204 %20inch%20pots

[plantoneonme]

If anyone is interested...maybe we can place one order and split them.
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mary.supy
Car Auctions (http://cars.gov-auctions.org)

I thought of the same thing but RainTree charges the same amount no matter how many plants you order...usually around $7.50 each. I have been searching for other sources though. Kim

[Sinfonian]

Sorry Plantoneonme, but the post you quoted was spam. I'm quite familiar with it these days. /sigh.

I'm so glad I found this thread. When I first read it and Patti recommended Stark Bros, I looked at their site and my heart sank. Patti loves them so much but being in Missouri, there's little chance a plant would do well in the Pacific NW. We may be zone 8b, but we're closer to England than Missouri in terms of climate. /sigh

Then I read on and found folks raving about Raintree. For grins I checked out their site. OMG can I tell you I almost woke the kids across the house I was so excited to see that they're based 60 miles south of me in the little town of Morton, Washington!

If only they don't buy from Monsanto, I'm all over this company! I have no room, but have some great new space between some newly planted highbush blueberries that will take years to fill in. Pefect for strawberries or other ground fruit that doesn't mind acidic soil!

Word of warning for folks in other parts of the country, something bred for the PNW might not work elsewhere. I understand we've got a fairly unique climate. Something to look into when you are looking to order for someplace with 4 seasons, hehe.

[AbbeyLehman]

I am finally able to get back to this board, and you all have been plotting to empty my wallet for me! :eek: I already had SO many ideas for my yard, and it's not ANY BETTER now! :D

Geez, what should I plant first???? Should I do the stuff that takes longest first, or the fast stuff first for some early gratification, or a mix?? My wallet is not fat, so I have to be picky....

[Garden Green]

http://www.summerstonenursery.com/categories.cfm?category_id=7

Free shipping. A ton of dwarf varities. Gazillion pear, apple, plum, cherry, apricot...

Yea. Just go look. They are inexpensive and they will start shipping out here in the next couple of days.

They have a sister site. At least I think it is a sister site, it looks exactly like Summer Stone that gives free plants when so many are ordered.

http://www.autumnridgenursery.com/search_results.cfm?Rowcount=1&pageIs=1&link=brand&brand_id=78&category_id=7

[gardengirl72]

You may want to check out Nature Hill's website as well.

[gardengirl72]

These are some images of espalier fruit trees from The Cloisters in NYC. I am going to do this next year with a bunch of apple and pear trees.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_XibMit6oe4M/RrleM1oXfVI/AAAAAAAABhI/a6Tg1F8kmrI/s320/Picture+235.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_XibMit6oe4M/RrleM1oXfVI/AAAAAAAABhI/a6Tg1F8kmrI/s1600-h/Picture+235.jpg)
http://bp2.blogger.com/_XibMit6oe4M/RrleOFoXfWI/AAAAAAAABhQ/XY-6Xxx3O1w/s320/Picture+238.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_XibMit6oe4M/RrleOFoXfWI/AAAAAAAABhQ/XY-6Xxx3O1w/s1600-h/Picture+238.jpg)