Featured Plants : fruit

The Intensely Flavored ‘Ambrosia’ Pomegranate

barb-nhn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:39:00 GMT

‘Ambrosia’ Pomegranate gets three times the size of other pomegranates, yet this cerise globe shaped fruit has the flavor of the juice and seeds that’s just as intense as any of the other pomegranates. Of course, each pomegranate has its own complex and unique flavor!

Similar to the ‘Wonderful’ Pomegranate, the ‘Ambrosia’ has the largest fruit of any pomegranate It is shiny, has pale pinkish skin, is long-lived, and it makes an amazing purple sweet-tart juice!

Pomegranates are arching deciduous shrubs, about 15' tall and equally wide in suitable climates. You can prune them into a tree if desired and grows to an ideal size for the small yard. Fruits are borne only at the tips of new growth, and it is recommended that for the first three years, the branches be shortened annually to encourage the maximum number of new shoots on all sides.

The tree is long-lived, self fertile, and tolerates many soils. Pomegranates can survive in an inland or coastal climate. ‘Ambrosia’ is a very adaptable variety that thrives in a southern Mediterranean type climate, which means dry, hot summers and cool winters; ideal for zones 8 to 10. It matures in September to early October and requires 150 hours of chilling.

‘Flavor Delight’ Aprium® is a unique and delicious fruit with lots of sweetness!

barb-nhn — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Being one of the earliest blooming trees, along with an early ripening fruit, 'Flavor Delight' Aprium® is a great selection for sweetness. It is a cross of an apricot and a plum tree. It has more apricot flavor than plum. The fruit is two inches long and ripens in late June; can be produced in zones 5-9..

The breeder crossed an apricot with a plum, then crossed the resulting hybrid with another apricot. In other words, 'Flavor Delight' is 75% Apricot and 25% Plum. This has created a very sweet tasting fruit! The flesh of the fruit is yellow and firm like an apricot, but contains the taste of both fruits.

This Aprium® tree is vigorous and upright. It requires a well-drained, moderately fertile soil and full sun. It is wise to thin fruit early in the season in order to maximize its size and quality. The tree needs no pollinator, and even though the ‘Flavor Delight’ is self-fruitful, larger fruit will be achieved by pollinating with any other apricot tree. With proper pruning this semi dwarf tree can be maintained around 10 feet tall.

The Large and Sweet Early Italian Prune

barb-nhn — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:03:00 GMT

Early Italian Prune has dark purple skin with yellow-greenish flesh. This flesh becomes a dark wine color when cooked. The prune separates easily and freely from its pit; a freestone fruit. Being a good commercial quality prune variety, it produces ten days to two weeks ahead of regular Italian. Early Italian Prune is a large fruit that has a rich flavor and is very sweet when fully ripe. Use it fresh, dried or canned.

The Early Italian Prune tree is vigorous and cold hardy. In the spring it offers a spectacular show of spring hues with its lovely white flowering. Providing attractive foliage and bark, it will look great in the yard all year round! No pollinator is required and it grows to 8-14 feet so does well in a small yard. Early Italian will need at least 6 hours of sun a day and will thrive in zones 5-9.

Prune trees are fast growing and usually begin producing fruit in 3 to 5 years after planting. Prunes are rich in dietary fiber that is effective in improving digestion. They are low in calories and contain ample amounts of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and carbohydrates.

What is a Chocolate Persimmon?

barb-nhn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:41:00 GMT

The Chocolate Persimmon was named 'Chocolate' because of its chocolaty-brown flesh that is a sweet and tasty. This persimmon is also spicy, firm, juicy, dark flecked, and late maturing.

The Chocolate Persimmon is a small to medium, oblong cylindrical fruit with a rounded apex and bright red skin. It has superb flavor and is often the choice of connoisseurs; astringent until ripe. It requires 200 hours of chilling.

Reaching a height of 12 to 16 feet, Chocolate Persimmon does best in areas that have moderate winters and relatively mild summer. Persimmons grown in cooler areas should have full sun with protection from cooling breezes. It is self-fruitful, very productive, and the fruit ripens in November. It grows as a multi-trunked or single-stemmed deciduous tree, and is a lovely ornamental tree with drooping glossy green leaves and branches that give it a flowing, rather tropical look.

The leaves offer fall colors with a wonderful display, turning dramatic shades of yellow, orange, and red. Chocolate is hardy up to zone 8-10. As an attractive ornamental, the Chocolate Persimmon tree fits well in any landscape.

Calamondin, the Miniature Orange

barb-nhn — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:00 GMT

Known as the "miniature orange" Calamondin has an orange flesh, a zesty acid juice with a fine lime-orange flavor. Because of this, it is often grouped with the limes. It is grown mainly as an outstanding ornamental, which is often trained as a bonsai. It will bloom year-round; filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossoms.

Originating in China, Calamondin has flowers and fruits that often appear at the same time! The juice of the Calamondin can be used like lemon or lime to make refreshing beverages, to flavor fish, to make cakes, marmalades, pies, preserves, and sauces. Calamondin halves or quarters may be served with iced tea, seafood and meats, to be squeezed for the acid juice. Since these fruits are thin skinned, they only will keep in good condition for 2 weeks at 48º to 50º F.

The Calamondin is a dwarf tree that has upright branches with very few thorns and can grow up to 10 feet high. It is erect, slender, often quite cylindrical, densely branched beginning close to the ground. Calamondin develops an extraordinarily deep taproot and tolerates a variety of soils. The flowers are self-fertile and require no cross-pollination. Calamondin provides a prolific fruit production on its handsome compact habit, and is popular and outstanding as a container plant.

This cold tolerant ornamental tree with small, sour orange fruit can survive in a temperate climate. This unusual lime can be grown in a pot and brought indoors during winter months. In a tropical climate, of course, it can be kept outdoors year round.

The Heavy Producing Chinese Apricot

barb-nhn — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:15:00 GMT

The Chinese Apricot is an early bearing, heavy producing variety of apricot tree that is recommended for difficult climates prone to late spring frosts. This apricot is cold hardy, frost hardy, and sets heavy crops of small to medium size sweet fruit. It blooms very early and needs well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is best to thin fruit early in season to maximize size and quality. Thin the fruits enough so each individual fruit has about 3 to 5 inches of room.

The fruit is of good quality with a yellow to medium-orange skin and flesh. Chinese Apricot is generally freestone quality which makes the fruits easy to prepare for canning, drying, or use in baked goods. For canning, use fruits that are firm and use fully ripe fruits for fresh eating or drying. Apricots contain carotenoids which are antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, reduce "bad cholesterol" levels, and protect against cancer.

The Chinese Apricot trees are gorgeous in the spring with white or pink blossoms, and ornamental in summer with their furrowed bark and heart-shaped, glossy leaves. The leaves are red when new and dark green when mature. This Chinese Apricot is sem-dwarf like the Gold Cot Apricot. It reaches anywhere from 15-20 feet in height and is quite handsome in the summer, displaying its furrowed bark and heart shaped glossy leaves. It thrives in full sun in zones 4-7 and does not require a pollinator.

The Ever-Popular Bartlett Pear Tree

barb-nhn — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:59:00 GMT

The Bartlett Pear tree produces a pear that is bright yellow and is the nation's leading pear variety. This pear tree tends to bear fruit for up to 50 to 75 years on a good site. It displays white flowers in April and May and is ready for harvest from mid August until mid September. The fruit is aromatic and is outstanding for fresh eating. Along with its very sweet and juicy flavor for eating, it is widely used for canning and cooking.

The Bartlett Pear trees are self-pollinating, however a pollinator will help the tree bare better fruit. They do require bees to help pollinate. Bartlett Pears do not ripen properly on the tree, so growers pick the fruit when it is mature but green. Bartletts turn from green to yellow, with a pink blush. Understand where the fruit grows on your tree. Bartlett pears usually flower and fruit on short twigs, known as spurs or old wood. So when pruning, it’s fine to prune back last year’s new growth as part of shaping the tree.

Fruit trees need a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunlight daily, and need water since they are not drought tolerant. The Bartlett Pear thrives in zones 4-9. Decide how much space you can devote to your pear trees, and select a rootstock accordingly. Dwarf trees should be planted at least 12 feet apart. Semi-dwarf and regular pear trees should be planted at least 20 to 25 feet apart. Your zone will also determine which varieties of pear will grow best in your area.

Cot-N-Candy Aprium - it is like eating candy!

barb-nhn — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:29:00 GMT

Aprium trees produce fruit that is extremely sweet. The fruit has a strong apricot overtone with a hint of plum. The Cot-N-Candy Aprium is an apricot-plum hybrid that resembles an apricot. It looks like an apricot, but has a distinctive flavor and texture all its own; skin has a slight reddish pink blush.

Cot-N-Candy's white flesh is extra sweet and juicy with a plum-like aftertaste; one of the earliest ripening fruits. The fruit is usually about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Blooming very early, it ripens in June; generally difficult to grow in late frost areas. It ripens one week later than Flavor Delight. Does best in zones 7-10.

It is a multi-stemmed, shrubby, small tree with a spreading crown. Cot-N-Candy is partially self fertile but you will get bigger crops if pollinated by an apricot. It is best to thin the fruit early to maximize size and quality. Cot-N-Candy needs well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun.

This is a semi-dwarf tree that will reach 3/4 of standard size (about 12—18'); but by pruning you can keep your tree at any height.

The Hardy Dolgo Crabapple

barb-nhn — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:59:00 GMT

The beautiful hardy Dolgo Crabapple Tree creates a visual impact during all four seasons. This tree grows upright with an open habit around 20 feet in height. It is very ornamental fruit tree and makes an excellent choice for use around homes, schools, parks, public and commercial buildings. This dwarf Crabapple Dolgo presents a spectacular floral display with its pink buds that open to fragrant, white flowers. This white flowering tree then produces bright red to purple fruits that ripen in August and are about the size of small plums. The glossy, dark green foliage turns yellow in the fall. Dolgos are excellent for jelly making and spicy butters which is good eating for humans, as well as great browse for birds and wildlife. Typical crabapple fruits remain a good food source for wildlife through the fall. Regardless of soil type, the Dolgo needs good drainage and is a must for tree health. Crabapples grow best in a moist, slightly acidic soil and full sun. Excessively moist areas and low spots should be avoided. The Dolgo is a superb apple pollinator for other apple trees and thrives in zones 3-9. Crabapples require little pruning, but occasional pruning is necessary to open up the center of the plant to sunlight and air movement or to remove a wayward branch. When pruning is done, it should be completed before early June. By mid-June to early July, flower buds for the next season are beginning to form in most crabapples. Pruning after July will reduce floral display and fruiting for the following year. Crabapples are differentiated from apples based on fruit size. If fruit is two inches in diameter or less, it is termed a crabapple. If the fruit is larger than two inches, it is classified as an apple.

The Old-Fashioned Braeburn Apple

barb-nhn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Originating in New Zealand in the 1950s, the Braeburn Apple Tree is one of the most important commercial apple varieties. The reasons for this are: this apple tree is fairly easy to grow, produces heavily and early in the life of the tree, it stores well, and withstands the handling demands of international supply chains. Being self-fruitful, it is harvested in October and November.

The Braeburn apple is crisp, without being hard, and is very juicy. It snaps cleanly to the bite, and there is an immediate rush of strong apple flavors. The overall flavor is sharp and refreshing but with a good balance of sweetness, and it is never sugary. This tangy flavor is superb for sauce, baking, juice and eating fresh. The skin is green overlaid with stripes of dark crimson and the delicious fruit stores for months in the refrigerator.

It is crucial to prepare the soil well before planting by adding plenty of compost and organic matter. Apple trees prefer an open sunny position, and planting is best done in late autumn-early spring. How far apart your apple trees are is dependent entirely on what type of apple tree you've picked.

Since the Braeburns are dwarf trees, like the Fuji, they can be planted as close as 30 inches apart, whilst your standard apple trees would need to be at least 30 feet apart to reach their absolute potential. It is important to stake the apple tree. Mulch around the tree on planting, and then again each spring with more organic matter.

Apple trees like the Braeburn are usually trained to a central leader, or main trunk. The leader is allowed to dominate, and the overall tree form looks something like a pyramid. The major pruning should be done in winter when trees are dormant.

Polly White Peach Tree is Self-Fruitful

barb-nhn — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:30:00 GMT

If you want to produce a delicious peach, but live in a colder region, Polly White Peach is one of the most winter hardy peach varieties. The tree was developed in Iowa and is hardy to 20º F. It likes full sun and will produce its first crop in 3 to 5 years. It does not need a pollinator since it is self-fruitful and produces a reliable crop of tasty, sweet, medium-sized, white-fleshed fruit. It is best to pick these fruits when they are firm-ripe, not soft-ripe. Sugar content and flavor are best when fruit are allowed to come almost to maturity on the tree.

Peach trees need full sunlight. They love the heat and should be planted on the highest point in the garden so that the cold air at night will be below them, and they will be warmed by the warmer rising air. Peach trees prefer a sandy loam soil, but most varieties can adapt to different soil conditions, and it is important that the soil be well drained.

Each tree will need its own space, that is about 6 feet in diameter. Peach trees produce fruit on shoots of the past season’s growth. Unpruned trees will set tremendous crops of very small fruit the season after pruning is omitted. It is important to keep the tree pruned, usually in a vase shape. Peaches are easy to grow and many varieties are attractive, especially when in bloom.

The Lovely Goldbar Apricot Tree

barb-nhn — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:46:00 GMT

Apricot trees can be lovely centerpieces in a yard when they display blossoms of white or pink; their foliage is bronze in the spring, deep green in the summer, and yellow in the fall. These small to medium-sized, trees have lovely spreading canopies.

This Goldbar Apricot is a vigorous tree that flowers heavily but sets a light crop, which increases fruit size. They are sweet and delicious when eaten fresh, however, they are often used as a dried fruit. This dwarf variety Goldbar grows to a height of 12-18 feet, prefers full sun, and grows well in zones 4-8; needs well drained soils for optimum health and production. It does require a pollinator.

The Goldbar Apricot produces very large, light yellow-orange fruit with reddish blush. The fruit is round to oval with slightly compressed sides and is very large. The flesh is light orange, very firm, meaty and moderately juicy. The light orange skin is believed to add acidity to the fruit. This apricot is not suitable for canning, but is an excellent fruit for desserts or eating fresh; a great source for beta-carotene which converts to Vitamin A.

Apricots bloom earlier in the spring than other fruit trees and have only a limited tolerance of high summer heat. Selecting the right variety and location for the tree is crucial. Dwarf varieties can be grown in containers, and in areas with severe winters, you can wheel them into the garage or other sheltered area until spring warms things up outdoors. There is no better summer fruit than the humble apricot, especially if it's grown on your own tree!

Beach Plum Shrubs, You don't have to go to the beach to enjoy them!

patti-nhn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:24:00 GMT

Beach Plum shrubs are often found on the East Coast, along the shoreline. If you live in a colder area, not on the beach, here is your best option. They can be grown from zones 3 to 6, the colder regions of the country. Full sun is required for proper fruiting and the soil should be well-drained. The shrub can handle some drought as long as the soil is loamy or sandy, slightly acidic and moderately fertile. It will not do well if your soil is heavy clay. This shrub matures from 5 to 6 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide which makes it easy to pick the plums. It does grow upright and has a medium growth rate.

Before the fruit sets, the shrub will begin flowering in early May with white blooms that can be single or double blooming. The flowers grow in clusters of two to three. This bush shrub is pollinated by bees and also can be carried by the wind. After pollination the flowers will become a whitish pink color. It will produce edible fruit that ripens in August. The fruits are round and 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter. This plum is delicious and decorative with its wonderful dullish purple coloring. They can be eaten right off the bush or used in fruit salads, made into jams or jellies and anything else you might like to try. How easy can it be to have ripe plums right in your back yard and you shouldn't have to climb tall ladders.

Bunchberry Is Great Groundcover

patti-nhn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:10:00 GMT

If you want something beyond the normal groundcovers, the Bunchberry Cornus canadensis would be a great one to plant. Bunchberry leaves sprout at the top of the stem in fours and its petals will also sprout in fours. Its fruits are orange and grow in tight clusters. In the fall the leaves are a beautiful shade of red.

It does best in cooler parts of zones 3 to 7 and prefers acid soil and filtered to deep shade. The Bunchberry will not do well in warmer areas and in drought conditions. It tends to grow to about six inches tall and will spread out considerably more but is a slow grower. It is one of the best groundcovers for your landscape and is well worth the wait.

Edelweiss Grapes, Like The Song, "You'll Be Happy To See Them".

patti-nhn — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:16:00 GMT

It's corny I know, but, I had to compare these grapes to the song "Edelweiss" from the old movie "The Sound of Music". The Edelweiss Grapes Vitis 'Edelweiss' are known for their sweet flavor and are often used in dessert wines and white wine making. They are wonderful fresh with their high sugar content that gives them a great flavor without overwhelming you. The Edelweiss grape is a grape that grows in large clusters and are greenish-white in color.

This Edelweiss Grape will mature from 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It will do bewt in moist, well-drained soil and full sun. The flowers are greenish in color when they pop out in June. The fruit is ripe in late August and after harvest, in fall, the leaves will have yellow-orange color that is very attractive. Grape vines are also attractive in the winter after the leaves fall off. Grapes need a trellis, arbor, fence or wall to grow on, something that will support the plant and the fruit after it ripens. The Edelweiss is cold hardy from zone 4 to zone 8.