Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
fruit crops. Ask other fruit growers, Master Gardeners, or local fruit special-
ists for referrals of nurseries you can trust. This goes for local nurseries as
well as mail-order companies.
Avoid the temptation to save a few dollars by buying at big chain stores.
At such places, you will rarely find salespeople skilled with tree fruits, and
chances are great that you will end up with varieties and rootstocks unsuit-
able for your area. Instead, try to purchase only from well-known nurser-
ies that specialize in growing the fruits you are interested in and that work
for your climate. You are generally better off avoiding nurseries that offer
everything from vegetables to ornamentals to fruits to herbs. Fruit growers
in Florida are likely to deal with different suppliers than those in Manitoba,
simply because of dramatically different climates. Avoid nurseries that sen-
sationalize or exaggerate plant descriptions. If it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
Before purchasing your trees, you should have a clear idea of the varieties
and rootstocks that you want. Be firm and shop around, if necessary. Do not
allow yourself to be pressured into buying varieties or rootstocks that you
do not want. You may find it necessary to make some compromises, as vari-
eties come and go in the nursery trade and not all the varieties and root-
stocks that you want may be available. When you select your alternate trees,
however, make sure you purchase something you like and that will perform
well in your orchard. Don't buy plants simply because a nursery is over-
stocked on that item or is sold out of what you want.
Bare-Root Trees
Fruit tree planting stock for commercial orchards and from mail-order nurs-
eries is usually sold as unbranched (whip) or branched (feathered), bare-
root trees that have been dug from fields and had the soil shaken from the
6 feet tall. They are usually dug in the fall, stored in refrigeration over the
winter, and shipped for spring planting. Particularly in warmer climates and
