We are finally ready to plant our nut and fruit orchard this spring and I wanted to ask some questions. What companies have any of you bought fruit or nut trees from that you were happy with. We live in Virginia and are planning on getting almonds, hazelnut, walnut, pecans, apples, pears, cherries, and peaches. Also, what ideas do you have for keeping the orchard organic but still limiting the bug problems. Chickens are not too practical for us as the orchard is going to be quite a ways away from the house and we won't have water out there (I will be trucking water out for the trees) plus we would have problems with dogs, fox and raccoons which would mean they would have to be protected at night. What age trees do you recommend that we start with. There was a nice article on nut trees in MEN this issue but they didn't mention these issues. Thanks for the help.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), November 22, 2000

Answers

Colleen, look in the older threads for starters. I was there last night. I'm in zone 5 here. What's your zone? Is that what organic growers use for a pickup line? LOL!! Looking forward to hearing from folks as I'm Planning on putting in a small orchard this spring here at the new place. John

-- John in S IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), November 22, 2000.

My family and I have purchased over 2000 fruit trees from Stark Bros. in Missouri over the past 30 years. I'll be buying more this spring. They are located in the same zone that I am. Organic Gardening has a book on organic orcharding - try your local library first, as Ididn't find much in it that was helpful for me.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), November 22, 2000.

I've gotten a bunch of unusual antique varieties of apple, pear and plum trees that are doing well from Bear Creek Nurseries in Washington. They have a web site bearcreek@plix.com, but I'm not sure if itis working.

-- Christina W (introibo@address.com), November 22, 2000.

Duh, that was obviously the e-mail address. Just checked website (bearcreeknursery.com) but it's not running yet.

-- Christina W (introibo@address.com), November 22, 2000.

As a long time gardener I like to recommended:

Raintree Nursery, 391 Butts Road, Morton, WA 98356 888-770-8358, www.raintreenursery.com

They have great diversity and I always get the correct variety. There is nothing worse than investing 3 years in a fruit tree only to find out you did not get the variety you ordered in the first place. They are not the cheapest but the stock is very good and true.

Try some paw paws, gooseberries, ligonberries, and persimmons along with the fruits you mention. They are almost impossible to find in grocery shops and if you do, they are very expensive and usually not very tasty from being shipped via truck across country.

I have had no success growing organic apples. I am in New York State where the apple magots rule. Actually, I have always had the most success with small fruits and berries, such as I mentioned above, plus wonderous blueberries (low and high bush), mulberry, and strawberries.

I do not think the size of the plant matters as much as a healthy root stock plus a well dug hole and regular watering. Best of luck...

-- diane greene (cnnursery@ulster.net), November 23, 2000.

Raintree & Bear Creek are both good companies.I've ordered from both.Stark is ok for a commercial order but ships their crap to homeowners,or so an extension agent told me.Apples and other tree fruit are grown organically.We're just starting this,ourselves as we have young trees, but reference books are available on the topic.The Orchard Almanac is one,don't remember author.Here in KY extension has a phamplet that has spray recommendations,including,organic alternatives.Perhaps your state has this info as well.

We have fruit trees and the small fruits.First, Check with extension to see what does well in your area and what diseases are prelevant.Fire blight is a problem for us for instance. Then pick your varieties from there,given that extension will prob give commercial varities and there may be lesser known ones that are better for home grown. There are low spray apples.Liberty is supposed to be tasty.I have it but it's not produced yet,so I can't say personally how it is. My Bear Creek catalogue listed low spray varieties. I have planted mostly Heirloom varities and can give you further info on them, if interested.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 27, 2000.

I have had bad experiences with Stark. They replaced the trees, but they died a second time. Meantime the ones bought at a local bargain store doubled in size. I got some nut trees from the state nursery (as well as pines, etc.) for cheap and wow, they were healthy.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), November 27, 2000.