FEDCO Trees, Shrubs & Perennials
2021 “& so to tenderness I add my action.” —Aracelis Girmay FEDCO TREES 2021 We and everything around us need renewal from time to time. Welcome to Fedco’s 37th annual tree order. For some this might mean rehabilitating a garden lot or mending Our goal is to provide the hardiest and healthiest plants available a torn object. Others might retreat to a quiet place with candles or for cold climates, while supporting plant diversity, small-scale local birdsong. For many, renewal is grasping a few minutes of sleep agriculture, and a fair, cooperative and responsible workplace. Our amidst disruption and terror. We grab it where we can. We offer more no-frills operation helps keep plants affordable. Consider ordering when we can. But where do we begin when nothing is enough? Try in a group with co-workers, friends or neighbors to further minimize planting a tree, making it your neighbor and being kind to it. Pay your costs. Please note our discount structure for large orders, attention and learn from it. Share its fruit and shade. We can let our discount deadline, and the “Small & Light” this be practice toward tending relationships with all shipping option for those who desire only items our neighbors. that don’t require a giant box. Regenerative agriculture, restoration e r n or er n e ne r 5 ecology, and restorative justice offer other The 2020 tree season was a rugged one, but we steps toward renewing broken bonds made it! Thank you for ordering with us and and inequities within plant and human or o r fle t w e we to re rr n e communities. Within these pages, you o er t on on t e fl e t n o can read about tree migration in a time to those who donated to cover others’ of rapid climate change (page 43); unplanned shipping fees when we could not about what old trees might teach us in a hold a pickup sale. You all are great. pandemic (p. 7); and about how we can Heading into 2021, change is afoot. protect and partner with fragile woodland For one, we’re expecting public gathering erenn 5 we onte te restrictions to remain in place through tern t e e n t on o re tor t on we re spring 2021, so in planning for the worst extending our cooperative’s long-standing and hoping for the best: We are not setting pledge to not knowingly carry genetically te or n e r tree e n t n engineered seed to include plants and changes between now and then, we’ll plaster trees (p. 31). This year we will also pay our website with updates. We fully intend to n eno o t e on e o r et e resume the Tree Sale in future years once it’s e r n t e er n n e 56 safe to do so. We love it as much as you do. we e r e o r nt Due to a need for space and to restrict public selections. We offer most of the old favorites interactions at this time, we are discontinuing our every year and rotate through dozens of new or er o t on t t w o n e en o er n o n new r t tree orn ent n before Covid. We have run out of space for safely storing erenn t ro o t t e t o o e e t on or pickup bags as our tree crops have increased and our building square on ern o t o r or er e e ont t o re oo n to footage has not. Curbside is not logical in our model, so we are going place a very large order, drop us a line to discuss the options. We’re to ship all orders. We are not raising shipping prices this year even as ere to e o en t re e o t o r ee e o r rr er n re e t e r r te or ne re ent we e new n t o o en o t one we re rett re o fl t-r te n ee o on 10 er or er e o e t e t like those, too. Consider becoming a member of our cooperative. feasible for you to receive your trees! We invite you to share your experiences growing plants with us. n o o r e e t on re t ro o r e t on o now o something growing near you that we should be offering, please write to us. We welcome your comments and have included some of them in the following pages. Keep ’em coming! –Jen Ries & the Fedco Trees Team Contact us: [email protected] or (207) 426-9900
John Bunker, Laura Childs, Lauren Cormier and Jen Ries write plant descriptions. Elisabeth Benjamin edits with help from Susan Kiralis, Joanna Linden and Emily Skrobis. Elisabeth Benjamin, Laura Childs and Elizabeth Smedberg do layout.
Fedco Trees Guarantee Policy Please inspect your order upon receipt and notify us immediately if something is missing or incorrect. Occasionally, plants incur damage during shipping. If limbs or tops are broken, prune to the next good bud. e plant will do ne. We guarantee to ship you a plant that is healthy, will leaf out, and is true to name. We expect that you will care for the plant from the moment it arrives, plant it in a timely fashion, water it (about 1" per week a er bud swell) and protect it (see pp. 67-70.) Because we have no control over growing conditions such as weather, soil, cultural practices, pests, wildlife, or weed whackers, we cannot guarantee a plant’s survival past leaf break. If you see no sign of life, scratch the outer bark with your ngernail. If the inner bark is green, the tree is still alive. Some plants take longer than others to break dormancy, so you may need to be patient. If you have thoroughly cared for the plant and it dies, we will refund the cost of the plant. In some cases, we may choose to issue a partial refund. We cannot o er replacements. Inevitably, some plants die through no fault of yours or ours. If a plant dies during the rst growing season, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will work with you to determine what went wrong. We are partners in the endeavor of lling the planet with plants and we want you to succeed. Claims must be made no later than July 31 of the year the plant was received. We do not guarantee plants that are potted by you, except for perennials, which are the only plants we recommend for temporary potting. We are not responsible for the quality of plant material in the event your package is not promptly picked up or opened. For scionwood orders, we do not issue refunds or replacements based on diameter of wood. We are not responsible if your gra s fail. We limit our liability in all instances to the purchase price. e liability of Fedco Seeds, Inc., for breach of warranty, or any loss or damages arising out of the purchase or use of our products, including loss or damages resulting from any negligence whatsoever on our part, or strict liability in tort, shall be limited to the purchase price. By acceptance of the merchandise, the buyer acknowledges that the limitations and disclaimers herein described are conditions of sale, and that they constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding any warranty or liability. Failure to assert claims within the aforementioned time frame renders this warranty null and void. 2 (207) 426-9900 Important dates & deadlines • Volume discount deadline, Friday, January 15, 2021 • Ordering deadline (except scionwood), Friday, March 5 • Shipping e e nn n te r t ro r 23
• Scionwood order deadline, Friday, February 19 • Shipment of scionwood root to t rt ro n r 15 Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will not be hosting our Where is everything? annual Tree Sale. If we have leftover inventory, we will re-open begin on page on ne or er n - r C e o r we te or te e 4 Pears 18 For complete Ordering Instructions, see page 34. Stone Fruits 20 • Order online at fedcoseeds.com/trees. You can also check Raspberries 24 product availability and see color photos of most of our e err e 25 trees, shrubs and perennials. tr w err e 26 • Volume discounts: Order by January 15! Grapes 27 r er 100 o er e t 5 Kiwiberries 28 r er 300 e t 10 Vines 29 r er 600 e t 15 Nuts 30 r er 1200 e t 20 Shade Trees 32 • Group ordering: Earn volume Conifers 33 discounts and save on shipping by Rootstock / Scionwood 38 ordering with neighbors. Learn more on p. 34. Small Trees & Shrubs 40 • We cannot offer order pickups this year, but Maine customers Crabapples 44 on 10 fl t-r te n on n e or er o e 46 Elderberries 48 50 New for 2021 (or back after a long absence!) ro n o er 51 • New Fruits, Berries, Grapes & Hops! r en oot 53 er n ore roo 54 • Bud’s Yellow Twig Dogwood er eo erenn 55 • White Diamonds Hydrangea • Centerglow Ninebark er eo e n 63 t o ne e ow Tender Summer Bulbs 66 • Bunchberry • New Heathers! Ordering Instructions p. 34 • New Crabs and Roses! Order Forms center • New Perennials! Perennial Planting Guide 55 Tree Planting Guide 6 - 0 Complete Index p. 71 Indigenous Royalites e o w on te 10 o e on r et e e r n t e er n n e to e n n ro e t n ne t t wor n to re tr te Penobscot land and to create dialogue on healing throughout the extended o n t or ore o t n eno o t e ee e 56 Our Variety Descriptions – • All trees and plants are bare-rooted (except where noted), and even a r e or er n t nto t t on w on e e o t e n t re o e n with living commodities, size variations will naturally occur within each crop. • For fruit trees and berries, the exact dates of peak ripeness will vary from place to place. • The zone hardiness rating will aid you in determining whether a plant will be hardy for you. The average minimum temperature in your re eter ne o r one rt on 1 nt e r t on t the coldest hardiness zone. Your own soil conditions, microclimate and topography will be equally important in determining the best varieties for you. • Please note pollination requirements for fruits, nuts and berries. Some plants are self-pollinating, others require a second plant for pollination, and others require a second variety. • We strive to give you accurate information about all the plants we sell. o not e n r e e e et now re t on ME Grown rown n ne t one o o r o n r er e PVP nt tent t
fedcoseeds.com/trees 3 All- Fresh High Apple variety Season Purpose Eating Storage Cooking Pies Flavor 101 Alexander fall • • 102 Ashmead’s Kernel winter •• • 103 Baldwin winter ••••• 105 Bethel winter ••••• 106 flower winter • • 107 Black Oxford winter ••••• 108 Blenheim Orange fall • • 109 Blue Pearmain winter ••••• 110 Bourassa fall • • 111 Briggs Auburn winter • •••• 112 Brock winter •••• 113 Burgundy fall • • • 114 Calville Blanc d’Hiver winter ••••• 115 Canadian Strawberry fall • • 116 Chenango Strawberry summer • • 117 C err e winter •••••• 118 Chestnut fall • • • 119 Cora’s Grand Greening fall •• • 120 Cortland fall •• •• 121 Cox’s Orange Pippin fall • • 124 Duchess of Oldenburg summer •• •• 125 Dudley Winter fall •• •• 126 Esopus Spitzenburg winter •••• • 127 Fall Pippin fall ••••• 130 Frostbite fall •• • 131 Golden Russet winter •• • 132 GoldRush winter •• • 134 Gravenstein summer •• ••• 135 Gray Pearmain winter ••• • 136 Grimes Golden winter ••••• • 137 Honeycrisp winter •• • 138 Hurlbut fall • • 140 Keepsake winter •••• 142 King David fall •••••• 144 Liberty fall •• • 146 Macoun fall • • 147 McIntosh fall •• • 148 Milden winter ••••• 150 Moses Wood summer •• •• 151 Mother fall •• 153 New Brunswicker summer •• •• 154 Newtown Pippin winter •••• 157 Northern Spy winter •••••• 159 Opalescent fall • ••• • 160 Pomme Grise fall • • • 162 Pristine summer • • 164 Pumpkin Russet fall • • 165 Pumpkin Sweet of Orland fall • • 166 Red Astrachan summer •• 167 Red Canada winter •• 168 e e fall •• 171 Rhode Island Greening fall ••••• 172 Ribston Pippin fall •••• • 173 Rolfe fall • • 174 Roxbury Russet winter •••• • 175 Rubicon winter ••••• 176 Sheppard’s Sweet fall • 177 Spice Sweet summer • •• 179 Stark winter • •• 180 Sweet Sixteen fall •••••• 182 Tater House fall • • • 183 Tolman Sweet fall •••• 184 Trailman summer • • 186 Wagener winter ••••• 187 Washington Royal winter •• 188 Wealthy fall •• •• 189 e t e ee - o- rt er fall •• • 190 White Pippin winter •• 191 Wickson fall •• • 192 Williams Pride summer • • 193 Windham Russet fall • • 194 Winekist summer •• • • 196 Winter Banana winter ••• 198 Wolf River fall •• 199 e ow e flower winter ••••• 200 Yellow Transparent summer • • 201 Zestar summer • • 4 (207) 426-9900 Choosing the right apple Summer apples ripen in summer, are generally crisp only for a short period, do not store well, and are often best for cooking. Fall apples store longer and are useful for a wide variety of purposes. Winter apples r en to te tore we n re t e r e t fl or after weeks, or even months, of storage. Dessert apples are delicious eaten raw. Cider apples are especially suited to making fermented “hard” cider. Some cider apples are also good dessert fruit, but most are not. See the cider section on pages 16-17. Subacid means tart! Russet is a skin texture (fairly common on apple varieties and on a few Choosing a rootstock pears and potatoes) that looks and feels somewhat like suede. Rootstock determines the size, longevity, hardiness and growth habits Bloom n t r o rr n t- e e t on t e n o o e of a tree. After enthusiastic response from customers, we continue to varieties of apples, plums, grapes and blueberries. offer an assortment of dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks in addition to Hardiness zone: The USDA plant zone hardiness map (see page 71 for the standard. chart) is a guide designed to assist gardeners and orchardists in choosing We offer bundles of rootstock for grafting on page 39. suitable plants. The zones are based on the average annual minimum Standard rootstock: Most of the apples we offer are on standard winter temperature. The lower the temperature, the lower the zone rating (full-sized) Antonovka rootstock. Standard trees have deep, substantial— number, and the “hardier” the plant. Zone 3 is about as cold as it gets in and therefore hardier—root systems. By selecting the varieties appropriate any part of New York and New England. Most of northern New York, to your district, grafted on standard rootstock, you may well be planting a Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine would all be Zone 3. The central tree that will be picked by your grandchildren’s grandchildren. Standard part of the four states would be Zone 4. The southern half of each state trees will grow to be large, but you can manage the size with pruning. would be Zone 5 or 6. The largest trees in our orchard are now about 30 years old, yet the tallest When choosing apple varieties, note the zone rating at the end of are well under 20' due to careful pruning. Although standard-sized apple each description. If an apple has a Z3 rating, you will be able to grow trees may be planted as close as 10–15' apart, they were typically planted it successfully in the coldest locations in Maine, as well as two or three 30' apart in 19th-c. orchards. We generally plant standard trees 20–25' zones “south.” In other words, if the rating is Z3, it may be in its prime apart with good results. (Trees on standard stock are 3-6'.) in Z3, but should do well down to Z5 or 6. Typically, it will not perform Semi-dwarf and dwarf rootstocks: We offer an assortment of semi- well outside of that approximate range. Note that hardiness works both dwarf and dwarf apples on Bud 118, M111 and V1 rootstocks. Each has ways: you can’t grow mangoes in Maine, and you can’t grow most apples great advantages for some growers, but beware! These size-controlling in Florida. rootstocks also have their limitations. Please read on and decide if they Choosing a variety: Not every variety is right for you. All-purpose are what you want. If you are uncertain, stick with the good old standards. apples are just that—they’re good for a bunch of jobs. If you’re planting Trees on Antonovka (standard rootstock) are extremely rugged, hardier, just one tree, start there. However, if you’re a history buff, consider the more tolerant of drought and poor soils, very long-lived, and more historical varieties and maybe plant one that originated nearby. If you capable of thriving under a regime of benign neglect. (Trees on semi- don’t eat many apples fresh but love pies, go for the pie apples. If you’re dwarf stock are 21/2-5'; dwarf stock, 2-5'.) e ert onno e r t e ot er n o or t e fl ore • i arfin rootstock produces a tree about 85–90% of dessert varieties. Some are strictly for cider. Some are great to put out at standard size or even larger. Sometimes Bud 118 trees are called semi- the camp for summer use. Some are perfect for those who want fall fruit standards or even standards. Plant about 20–25' apart. Considered to be but don’t have a root cellar. Others keep all winter and into the following more precocious (fruits at a young age) than standards, and probably summer. Read the descriptions and consult the chart. If you have a more productive. Very hardy, though not as hardy as Antonovka. e t on o t e r et ro n e tree e o ee o 108B Blenhei range 1 0B Keepsake We’ll try to help! 116B Chenango Strawberry 150B Moses ood Care: Apple trees are adaptable to a variety of soils and climates, though 118B Chestnut 159B pales ent they prefer well-drained fertile soil. See pages 67–70 for information 121B Co ’s range Pippin 176B Sheppard’s Sweet on soil preparation, planting and pest control. Varieties that bear fruit 12 B Du hess of ldenburg 180B Sweet Si teen annually are noted in the descriptions; others normally bear every other 126B Esopus Spit enburg 18 B rail an year. With diligent annual pruning and thinning, most apples will produce 130B Frostbite 192B illia s Pride an annual crop, one heavy, the next light. 132B oldRush 201B estar Pollination: All apple trees require a second variety for pollination, 136B ri es olden but any apple or crabapple blooming within a quarter mile will probably • i arfin rootstock produces a tree about 65–80% of do. Customers frequently ask us about pollination and apples. Early standard size. Sometimes M111 trees are called semi-standards. You can season, midseason, late season plant them closer together than standards, about 15–20' apart. M111 may bloomers—what does it all not be more precocious than trees on standard. However it will likely be mean? Should you be in a tizzy more productive. It has a relatively shallow spreading root system, does about pollination? No. If well in light soils, and is relatively drought tolerant. It is less well-rooted, there is at least one other not as long-lived, and not as hardy as Antonovka. apple tree somewhere in your neighborhood, the 102C Ash ead’s Kernel 157C orthern Spy bees will do their thing, and 103C Baldwin 162C Pristine you’ll get fruit. It can be a 107C Bla k ford 16 C Pu pkin Russet wild roadside apple tree. 112C Bro k 167C Red Canada It can be an ornamental 113C Burgundy 168C Red eld crabapple. It can be old 11 C Cal ille Blan d’Hi er 17 C Ro bury Russet or young, in your yard 120C Cortland 175C Rubi on or your neighbor’s. But 131C olden Russet 191C i kson it must be different from 137C Honey risp 19 C inekist yours. In other words, avoid 1 C Liberty 223C 237C All ider arieties planting ten Honeycrisps 1 7C M ntosh 52 C 533C All rabapples if no other apples are in • arfin rootstock produces a small dwarf tree about 55% the t o t e flower size of a standard tree. You can plant trees 10–15' apart. Trees on V1 are at about the same time so er r o ew t re t re t nt er er tt e n o timing is almost never be staked or wired for support. We have been happy with our V1 trials. an issue. However, if 1 err one o e er w r n root to ntro t on ro you live on a desert the Horticultural Experiment Station in Vineland, Ontario, Canada, 1958. island with only an early bloomer and 120E Cortland 1 E Liberty a late bloomer, you 132E oldRush 1 7E M ntosh should plant a midseason 137E Honey risp bloomer, too. fedcoseeds.com/trees 5 Bethel Winter. Unknown parentage. Bethel, VT, before 1855. Well- known all-purpose Vermont heirloom. Large dark red fruit with prominent dots. Orchardist and author Michael Phillips wrote to me, “Fruit quality is always excellent, with very little scab and generally too late for maggot fl ntere t ne e t n e t t r t ont o t e tree crispness starts to fade, Bethel still lays claim to being a prime pie apple for the holidays. We use it as well in cider: think pearmain aromatic with body. Apples develop good color even within canopy so I tend not to prune Bethel quite as heavy.” We also like it baked. Although brighter red than Blue Pearmain, you can see why it’s in a collection of varieties known as the Blue Pearmain group. Blooms later half of midseason. Z3. ME Grown. 105A Bethel, $30.25 Malus spp. lack illi o er Fall-Winter. Probably from Connecticut, well before Apples 1800. Well known in old Maine orchards where it’s called Sheepnose. Rootstocks Sometimes called illi o r. Very old easily recognizable American We offer most apple varieties on standard-sized Antonovka rootstock. cooking heirloom with medium-sized long distinctly conic fruit, shaped Where like a sheep’s nose. The skin color ranges from dark green to deep purple to nearly black. Fruit quality is subacid, aromatic and dry. Old timers A follows the item number in the apple section, the variety is on used it for mincemeat. Older editions of Joy of Cooking have an excellent standard rootstock. mincemeat recipe: chopped beef, suet, sugar, cider, raisins, currants, B, the variety is on Bud 118 rootstock, ME Grown = grown in citron, lemon and orange peel, sour cherries, nuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, C, is on M111 rootstock, and Maine at one of our o e n ot o e flower wo e er e t er e w t brandy. Also recommended for drying. Keeps until February. Blooms E is on V1. small local nurseries. late. Z4. ME Grown. For more about rootstock, see pages 5 and 39. 106A Bla k illiflower, $30.25 Black Oxford Winter. Unknown parentage. Paris, Oxford County, ME, Alexander Fall. Unknown parentage. Ukraine, c. 1700. Originally about 1790. This outstanding apple, a favorite long ago around much of known as Aporta. Renamed Alexander in honor of Czar Alexander I Maine, has made a huge comeback. In 2020 it reclaimed from Honeycrisp (1777–1825). Very large round-conic fruit, best know for its cooking its status as our best-selling apple! Medium-sized round fruit, deep purple qualities, although also quite good tart fresh eating. Faintly red-striped in with a blackish bloom. From a distance you might think you’d discovered the shade and brightly blushed orange-red in the sun. Firm coarse tender a huge plum tree. Excellent pies, superb late cider. Leave the skins on t t rt fle rr e n t e n 1 35 n re for a delightful pink sauce. Best eating late December to March, but north. Long famous in Aroostook County and other northern areas where we e e ten t e n n t e were t te r n t t e it can be picked for several weeks, reaching its prime in late fall. One of get sweeter and sweeter as the months go by. Good cooking until early the parents of Wolf River. Good cropper. Very hardy. Resistant to scab. summer. Some insect and disease resistance. Unusual light pink blooms ME Grown. Blooms midseason. Z3. early to midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 101A Ale ander, $30.25 107A Bla k ford, $30.25 s ea ’s ernel Winter. Unknown parentage. Gloucester, England, 107C Bla k ford on M111, $30.25 about 1700. Possibly a seedling of Nonpareil. An after-dinner apple of Blenheim Orange Fall. From outside the walls of Blenheim Palace, unparalleled quality. Not for those who like mild sweet apples. Each Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, before 1800. Large beautiful rich- bite is an intense aromatic sting of sharp and sweet, with hints of other yellow oblate fruit with a prominent red blush and a big russet splash indescribable but absolutely wonderful tastes and aftertastes. Beginning surrounding the stem. The Apples of New York calls Blenheim “excellent to show up here and there in commercial orchards. A good sharp for either dessert or culinary use.” Crisp and juicy. Keeps until about addition to hard cider. Medium-small oblate and lopsided orange-gold- mid-December. One of the most famous English heirlooms and one of green russet fruits ripen in October. Store until the New Year to reach the few varieties from England to be grown successfully in Maine early perfection. Keeps until they’re all gone. Moderately vigorous tree may on, probably arriving here well before 1870. In 2014 we found four bear irregularly, but it’s worth the wait. Somewhat scab resistant. Blooms ancient Blenheim trees down near Boothbay. Our scionwood comes from ME Grown. midseason. Z4. the USDA collection in Geneva, NY. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 102A Ash ead’s Kernel, $30.25 108B Blenhei range on B118, $30.25 102C Ash ead’s Kernel on M111, $30.25 Blue Pearmain Fall-Winter. Thought to be Baldwin Winter. Wilmington, MA, about 1740. Also called Butters from Middlesex County, MA, 1700s. Our Apple or Woodpecker. Discovered on the Butters Farm by a surveyor favorite for baked apples—it was made to be planning the Middlesex Canal and noted as a favorite site for local t e o er te fle r en e woodpeckers. By 1850 Baldwin was the standard all-purpose home and slightly crisp, sweet with a bit of a tart and commercial variety wherever it was grown. It remained dominant ro n fl or n re e t in Maine until the terrible winter medium to very large fruit is streaked and of 1934 when tens of thousands splashed with purplish red, mottled with of trees perished and russet and covered with a distinct dusty blue McIntosh became king. oo n e t t eno r ne n Large round-conic a good balance of sweet and tart with hints of pear. Tart coarse yellow thick-skinned fruit, almost sauce cooks up in a couple minutes. Tasty eaten out of hand. One of New entirely blushed, mottled England’s most famous varieties. Mentioned by Henry David Thoreau and striped with red and as a favorite in his wonderful essay “Wild Apples.” Grown throughout deep carmine. Hard crisp much of Maine for well over 200 years. Massive trees still found here e ow fle and there. Keeps in the root cellar until midwinter. Blooms midseason. makes excellent eating Z4. ME Grown. and cooking. Makes top- quality hard cider, blended 109A Blue Pear ain, $30.25 or alone. Keeps till spring. Bourassa Fall. Europe or Quebec, before 1750. Very high-quality tender Vigorous adaptable hugely t r e ert r t w t r ro t fl or on te - productive long-lived healthy tree. When conic fruit features a prominent reddish blush that shines through a russet grower Dave Gott asked the late renowned web. Not a storage apple but keeps until about December. Was much- entomologist Ron Prokopy his opinion of loved in southeastern Canada, northern Vermont and Maine from before Baldwin, Ron replied that the apple is “not the American Revolution. After more than 100 years of popularity, it practical commercially due to biennialism disappeared, like so many old varieties, at the end of the 19th century. but the only apple that is both disease Several years ago, Maine fruit explorer Regina Grabrovac found three and insect resistant.” Blooms early to ancient russets in Dennysville, way downeast, not far from the Canadian midseason. Z4. ME Grown. border. We believe that two of the trees are the Bourassa. Leaves from 103A Baldwin, $30.25 those trees will undergo DNA analysis this year. Probably blooms 103C Baldwin on M111, $30.25 midseason. Z3. ME Grown. 110A Bourassa, $30.25 6 (207) 426-9900 Briggs Auburn Fall-Winter. Selected by Thomas Record, Auburn, err el - nter n Co n ntro C err e ME, before 1849. Subsequently named for John Briggs of Auburn by Dr. about 1850. Also called Collins. Popularized more than 100 years ago Holmes, editor of Maine Farmer. Large round-oblate clear yellow fruit C e o C err e n e ton n on o ne with glowing greenish shading and a slight blush. All-purpose apple with This all-purpose variety does everything well. We love it. Relatively r t we - n e fl or n n nt o n n n err tart with only a hint of sweetness. Makes a fairly quick tart sauce with Superior fresh eating well into winter and top-notch cooking. Peel it and a smooth texture—the skins mostly dissolve. Good in salads. Makes a it’s highly aromatic. Produces a thick creamy golden-yellow medium- fl ore e w t re t o or n te t re e ent e on sweet sauce. Excellent in oatmeal. In a pie, the slices lose their shape but pizza. Irregular conic shape, washed and striped with pink. Ripens about the crust won’t sink and pie doesn’t get watery. Medium-large reliably Oct. 15 and keeps until the end of March. Rediscovered with the help of bearing productive tree. Our scionwood comes from an old orchard in r er rown rr rown n t ton o C err e Waldo County, ME. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Historically, may have been grown in Kennebec County under the name 111A Briggs Auburn, $30.25 Benton Red, and in Illinois as Salome. Tree vigorous, hardy, spreading Brock Fall-Winter. ME 7-492 (Golden Delicious x McIntosh) and productive. Blooms early-midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Monmouth, ME, 1966. Very large conic all-purpose fruit is yellow with 117A Cherry eld, $30.25 ee r t -re Cre - o ore ne- r ne fle ro t weet and crisp. Small core makes it excellent for sauce. One of the featured varieties in the exceptional book Apples for the 21st Century where West Coast author and orchardist Warren Manhart calls it “similar to Golden e o t w t ore ro n fl or e or n ro w e in 1934 by Russ Bailey, as part of a UMaine program to breed hardy commercial varieties after the disastrous winter of 1933-34. Named for Henry Brock who popularized the apple when it was under test at his orchard in Alfred, ME. Fruits over a long period—a plus for home orchardists. Keeps till midwinter. Vigorous tree develops strong wide- angled branches. Scab susceptible. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 112C Bro k on M111, $30.25 Burgundy Late Summer-Early Fall. NY 161 (Monroe) x NY 18491 (Macoun x Antonovka) NY Ag Exp Stn, 1974. Northern Aroostook County fruit growers Steve and Barb Miller introduced Burgundy to us as Barb’s favorite cooking apple. Striking for its large (3") size and glossy r -re ro n r t e n r o re n t e r fle tron t n t e ro n e nt n e fl or w t t rt n aftertaste. One taste tester said, “Wow, hey, that’s really different!” Steve said, “It reaches out and grabs you!” Makes an aromatic well-balanced early cider. Bears annually, and fruit hangs on for extended picking. The Pandemic and the Ancient Apple Tree Stores about two months. Recommended for all northern districts. Ancient apple trees can be found scattered throughout much of Maine, Extremely hardy. Blooms late. Z3. ME Grown. behind old barns, by abandoned cellar holes, along roadsides, nestled in 113C Burgundy on M111, $30.25 thickets, sometimes even beside a gas station or parking lot. These are the survivors, the ones that lived through the 1816 summer-that-wasn’t; al ille lanc ’ i er Winter. Unknown parentage. France or that lived through half a dozen famously cold test winters, including Germany, 16th c. Also called White Winter Calville. Famous as a dessert the brutal 1933-34; through the hurricane of 1938; the drought of 1947; and cooking apple for more than 400 years. Steve Wood of Poverty n w e o ot rownt ot re t e e o Lane Orchards in Lebanon, NH, called it “the best culinary apple in the acid rain, polluted water. As we struggle to make sense of the Covid-19 wor r e fl tt e reen- e ow r t w t ee r n otte pandemic, we might look to these old apple trees for wisdom: or n e-re Cre -w te ro t ne- r ne fle w t weet t n t e e er e ent fl or o re o en e or ne r on t o You don’t need to convince old apple trees about the fresh cider and as a sharp (acid) component in fermented cider. Should value of “shelter in place.” They’ve been perfectly content to stand in e tore ont to re e fl or ee nt w nter er one spot for 200 years. They know that everything you need to learn is vigorous strongly upright vase-shaped tree with good branch angles. Not right where you are. for coldest areas though certainly hardy to Zone 4. Blooms midseason. il co nit The old apple trees are masters at creating Z4. ME Grown. community. They know the value of deep roots. They are the ultimate 11 A Cal ille Blan d’Hi er, $30.25 collaborators and know the folly of competition. They share everything. 11 C Cal ille Blan d’Hi er on M111, $30.25 They hoard nothing. Often I’ll come across one of these old trees with perfect unblemished fruit. Never sprayed, never pruned, never fertilized, Canadian Strawberry Fall. Unknown parentage. Solon, ME. living in a tangle of grasses, goldenrod, yarrow, milkweed, elderberries, Beautiful superb-tasting dessert apple. Surprisingly juicy distinctly tart alders, even white pine. How do they do it? By being in community -fl ore e -to- r e ro n - on r t tter - e ow above and below ground in an organization too elegant and complex for skin overspread with a veil of vibrant red-orange. Very good early season humans to fully grasp: a balanced ecosystem. cider. Perfectly ripe at the end of September in central Maine where, in a t not ant not Apple trees are the true conservatives. Give them oo e r o won t n etter e t o r Co on ro n r a dot of land, a scratch of soil, a few drops of water, a breath of air, and taste tests, it usually vies for the crown with Cox’s Orange Pippin. It they will thrive. In times of drought, they slow their growth; in times of was the overwhelming favorite in 2017 and runner-up in 2018 and 2019. plenty, they put on new wood and produce great crops of fruit. They don’t In 1996 the late Roy Slamm convinced me to visit and subsequently wreck the air and the water they use—they improve it. propagate nursery stock from the three ancient “Strawberry” trees on his at local To old apple trees, the local food system is the only food South Solon farm, thus saving the apple from almost certain extinction. system. They nourish themselves on what’s close by. Everything around Now spreading throughout Fedcoland. Fruit keeps about a month. Blooms them composts: leaves, twigs, branches, bark, even old logs, uneaten fruit midseason. Not to be confused with Chenango Strawberry. Z4. ME Grown. n t e o on rre or eer r ot n et fl e own 115A Canadian Strawberry, $30.25 the drain or dumped. Everything stays in the local web. Chenango Strawberry Late Summer. Lebanon, NY, or possibly rac an i ilit Give the old apple tree a heavy wet spring snow Conne t t 1 50 e ent ten er- nne ten er-fle e e ert n storm or a massive crop of fruit, and they bend. The occasional branch cooking apple ripens over several weeks in September and into October. gives way and breaks to save the tree. When a hungry porcupine creates Subacid and aromatic. Yellowish-white skin covered with soft pastel a mess up high, the tree responds with fresh young growth that in a few pinky-red “strawberry” stripes and a very long famously distinctive e r w e r r t en t e we t n too re t n o tree e conic strawberry shape. One of the more famous American heirlooms— down—next summer one of the younger branches will rise to become there’s no other apple like it. Originally called Frank, after the man who a fresh new vertical trunk. The old stump eventually rots away, but the r t ntro e t e r et not er e r non w on e tree lives on. possibly his last name. Also known by several other synonyms including Would that we all could enjoy traveling less, notice our places and Zepherus Chernogous. Wow! Tends to bear annually. Keeps only a week our neighbors more, tend our gardens, eat local, and express grace in or two. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. n i no o alti everything we do. 116B Chenango Strawberry on B118, $30.25 –John Bunker A version of this essay appeared in the The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener (Summer 2020). fedcoseeds.com/trees 7 Chestnut Early Fall. MN 240 (Malinda x open-pollinated) U Minn, 1946. A dessert crab with truly excellent fruit for fresh eating, pickles and sauce. Round 2" yellow and bronze-red apple with some russeting. r r ne- r ne er weet e ow fle or row n number of people in central Maine, late September is Chestnut apple time. Always scores high at our Common Ground Country Fair taste tests. A lot of people love this apple. For a few, despite its crispness and e t o fl or t too weet C e tn t one w t no r e sweet and subtle sauce. Not a keeper, but can be stored for a month or two. Vigorous, somewhat weeping, medium-sized productive tree tends to bear annually. Disease resistant. Beautiful in bloom, mid-late season. Z3-6. ME Grown. 118B Chestnut on B118, $30.25 ora’s ran reenin Fall. Unknown parentage, probably Duchess of Oldenburg Late Summer. Russia, well before 1800. originated on North Haven Island, ME, before 1850. Very large or even Also called Duchess or simply Dutch. Imported to North America in huge green blocky deeply ribbed high-quality all-purpose fruit often 1835 and named in honor of Catherine Pavlovna, Grand Duchess of with a brilliant pinkish-red blush. It hardly looks Oldenburg, sister of Czar Alexander. Extremely hardy. Medium-sized like an apple. More like gigantic bell peppers on round red-striped fruit is crisp, tender, juicy, subacid and aromatic. a tree. It’s become one of our favorites. Cook Highly recommended for all sorts of cooking, especially pies and sauce. it up, or eat it fresh. It’s tart and quite tasty. If you live where it’s cold and you’re looking for one apple, this is it. Brought to our attention by Becky Bartovics Historically planted extensively wherever growers needed extreme w o e r e ne t e tree t t een hardiness. Still popular in Aroostook county and other northern districts. leaning downwind for more than 100 years. Small to medium-sized adaptable tree. Duchess seedlings, rugged and Not knowing if it had a proper name, Becky hardy, make good rootstock for grafting. Scab resistant. Does not perform named it after Cora Ames, the single woman well in warmer districts. Blooms early-midseason. Z3. ME Grown. who farmed the property in the 19th c. One of 12 B Du hess of ldenburg on B118, $30.25 many ancient Maine-island varieties that only Dudley Winter Fall. Duchess x Hyslop crab. John Wesley Dudley made it to the mainland in very recent years. intro, Castle Hill, ME, about 1877. Also called Dudley and North Star. Incredibly rugged, long-lived and scab free. Hardy Duchess-type still grown in homestead orchards and sometimes Blooms early-midseason. Z4. ME Grown. commercially in northern New England and Canada. Firm but tender, 119A Cora’s rand reening, $30.25 ro t fle or re e t n n oo n e - Cortland Fall-Winter. Ben Davis x McIntosh. NY Stn, 1915. Although sized fruit is buttery yellow, overspread with red stripes and splashes. never as important as McIntosh, Cortland remains very popular through- n e r n e e tr e n ore e t n e n fl or out northern New England even in this era of many new introductions. not quite as tart as Duchess; and, in northern areas—where it reaches Medium-large slightly ribbed dull red fruit with a purple blush. Excellent its prime—Dudley will keep in the root cellar into winter. A highlight of e t n n oo n ow-o n w te ne- r ne r ten er 2017 was giving a talk at the Mapleton Historical Society, within sight fle er oo n ro e r r n e t er re of Castle Hill. Not only was it a fun evening, but it was an honor to have or fermented, in a mix or even on its own. Stores for a month or so. several Dudley descendants in the audience. Natural semi-dwarf. Blooms Vigorous tall upright spreading tree. Annual producer of heavy crops. early-midseason. Z3. ME Grown. A recent UMass study showed Cortland’s resistance to apple maggot 125A Dudley inter, $30.25 fl e r o n re o e r t or t e r t e r or two to o t nt n Esopus Spitzenburg Fall-Winter. Esopus, NY, before 1776. For growth. Susceptible to scab. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. more than 200 years “Spitz” has been a choice dessert and culinary 120C Cortland on M111, $30.25 r et ent one n ne r e er t o e t-fl ore e t 120E Cortland on 1, $30.25 subacid, crisp and juicy. Excellent acid source for sweet or fermented o ’s ran e i in Fall. Possibly a seedling of Ribston Pippin. cider. Medium-large bright red round-conic fruit, covered with russet Near Slough, Bucks, England, around 1825. Deservedly one of the three dots. Moderately vigorous tree with easily trained wide-angle branches. or four most famous of all apples. Not only one of the best eating apples Forever famous as Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple though it vastly ever but also one of the most sought-after in modern apple breeding; prefers New York and New England to Virginia. Moderately susceptible parent or grandparent of many other varieties. Revered in the U.K. to scab though we have never sprayed ours with fungicides and the fruit Medium-sized all-purpose aromatic fruit is red-orange to red with orange has been great. Blooms mid-late season. Z4. ME Grown. r et tr n n w er e t n e t fl or n 126A Esopus Spit enburg, $30.25 r ten er fle ro e w t tor e o er te oro 126B Esopus Spit enburg on B118, $30.25 moderately productive tree bears young and annually. Prefers cooler Fall Pippin Fall-Winter. Possibly a seedling of Holland Pippin or climates and higher pH (6.5–7.5+). The oldest Maine Cox’s I know is White Spanish Reinette, from New England before 1750. Medium- about 40, thriving in Mercer, Zone 4. Scab resistant. Blooms midseason. large roundish high-quality all-purpose yellow fruit, sprinkled with a Z4. ME Grown. scattering of russet dots, a pronounced russet splash around the stem, and 121A Co ’s range Pippin, $30.25 sometimes with a pinkish-red blush. Very good dessert quality. Makes a 121B Co ’s range Pippin on B118, $30.25 nice sauce. One of the oldest American varieties, dating from back when apples were passed around freely and no one cared much about what it was called or where it was from. The name conveyed “seedling apple that ripens in fall,” but it also had more than two dozen other synonyms, including Autumn Pippin, Large Fall Pippin and Pound Pippin. Our trees are grafted with scionwood we collected at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA. Fedco is now working with Tower Hill to reconstruct their entire orchard. (See page 11.) Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 127A Fall Pippin, $30.25 Frostbite Fall-Winter. MN 447. Parentage unknown. First fruited in 1 21 n e n ntro e nn n 200 e fl ore dessert apple, the one we most look forward to on our farm each fall. Likely t e o t t n t e o e n n fl ore e o e er try. Astonished eaters have described it as tasting like molasses, olives, sugar cane, cheap whiskey, yogurt, tobacco juice, and so on. We love it. e ro t r r t ne r ot-or n e fle w t t o on red staining, is so juicy it might run down your hand. The roundish fruit is medium-sized and entirely covered with dark bluish-purple stripes. Lost n t e t n o we r e or ne r 0 e r e ore t w n named and released. Extremely hardy, productive and reliable; at its best in colder districts. A parent of the popular Sweet Sixteen and Keepsake, and grandparent to Honeycrisp. Blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. 130B Frostbite on B118, $30.25 8 (207) 426-9900 Golden Russet Winter. Uncertain origin. Thought to be from England, Hurlbut Late Fall. Unknown parentage. General Leonard Hurlbut intro, New York or New England, before 1800. Round medium-sized russet Winchester, CT, before 1848. High-quality fall dessert variety. Beach fruit. Excellent eating; keeps all winter and well into spring. One of the t o er te r r t er ne ten er r er ro t best apples dried. The champagne of cider apples, ripening late in fall mildly subacid, good to very good.” We agree. Also makes a nice loose when the best sweet cider is ready to be made: sweet, balanced, thick mild pink sauce. Small to medium-sized roundish and slightly oblate and smooth. Also recommended as a sharp component for fermented fruit, largely covered with red stripes and dotted blush. With its large cider. For more than 100 years, orchardists have been attempting to sort russet stem splash, it looks like a small Wolf River. Quite likely one of the out the various russets. Several different apples have been called Golden r t r et e to e rown n entr n o t ern ne e o n two Russet. Most resemble one another visually but differ in fruit qualities old trees in Waldo County. One introduced to me by local fruit explorer and tree habits. This is most likely the Golden Russet of western New Bruce Brierley had collapsed to the ground decades ago and risen from York. Vigorous diverging up-curving tree with long willowy branches. the rooted branches to form a whole new tree. Keeps until early winter. Scab resistant. Blooms early to midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Blooms early. Z4. ME Grown. 131A olden Russet, $30.25 138A Hurlbut, $30.25 131C olden Russet on M111, $30.25 ee sake Winter. MN 1593 (MN 447 [Frostbite] x Northern Spy) U GoldRush Winter. Co-op 38 {PRI 2750-6=[Co-op 17 (PRI 1689-100) Minn, 1979. One of the best of all winter storage varieties. Fine-textured o en e o Co-o 1 4 e r t o t e e e-re t nt fle r r n weet e ent ro t fl or t w t varieties from the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois apple breeding program to about a month after picking before eating. Well named—keeps until July have superior storage qualities. Not only that, it’s probably the best- in the root cellar. Irregular conic medium-sized fruit is almost entirely tasting apple to come out of that program. Medium-to-large round-conic overlaid with stripes and a wash of very deep red. Same parentage as fruit has uniform deep greenish-yellow opaque chewy skin that turns Sweet Sixteen. Resembles Frostbite and Sweet Sixteen in appearance o en n tor e Cre w te reen-fle e fle r er r n t te t o t e fl or not te nten e r t e n e n t rt e ent fl or er e t e or e ert n e r r n somewhat small. Don’t be afraid to thin the crop each year 3 or 4 weeks March and no one will be disappointed. Becoming very popular with after petal fall. You’ll be happy you did. Moderately vigorous medium- cidermakers and commercial orchardists. Ripens late but successfully in sized tree reaches its prime in northern New England and the Upper central Maine. Keeps until May in the root cellar. Highly resistant to scab Midwest. Somewhat resistant to scab. Blooms late. Z3. ME Grown. n ow er ew o er te re t re t n e oo e on 1 0B Keepsake on B118, $30.25 to late. Z4. ME Grown. in Da i Fall-Winter. Chance seedling, thought to be Jonathan x 132B oldRush on B118, $30.25 Arkansas Black, Washington County, Arkansas, 1893. Stark Brothers 132E oldRush on 1, $30.25 r er ntro 1 04 n re t t on n nten e fl ore Gravenstein Late Summer. Thought to be of Russian, Italian or German e e n t te n e o on o fl or ne e t n er ne origin, before 1700. Brought to the U.S. in the early 19th c. Probably lemon, sweet, sour, tart, sharp, aromatic and spicy. You may wince or the most famous of all pie apples. Rightly so. It’s great. By 1880 it was o n or re o ee t r ne fle r et ten er n also the most popular summer apple in Maine, especially along the coast. distinctly yellow. Known primarily as a dessert apple, but also good for Fruit is medium to large, irregularly round, asymmetrical, usually ribbed. pies and sauce. Medium-sized round-oblate-conic fruit is very dark solid Thin tender skin, striped with yellow, red and orange. Tender crisp maroon—nearly black. Occasionally found in old Maine orchards. The ro t r fl ore r t rt fle t t n n e t n n tree is vigorous, bearing young and regularly. Ripens in fall and keeps cooking. Rated “very good to best” by Beach in The Apples of New York. until the beginning of the year. Its one drawback is scab susceptibility. We Still commonly grown in Nova Scotia, northern California, Oregon and grow it anyway. Blooms early midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Washington. Large vigorous productive tree with a nearly perfect wide- 1 2A King Da id, $30.25 angle branching habit that requires practically no training. Ripens over Liberty Late Summer-Fall. NY 55140-19 [Macoun x PRI 54-12 (PRI several weeks. Too tender for coldest areas of New England. Triploid: not Co-op complex cross includes Rome Beauty, Jersey Black, McIntosh, suitable for pollinating other varieties. Blooms early. Z4 or 5. ME Grown. Wealthy and M floribunda)] NY Stn, 1978. One of the best of the disease- 13 A ra enstein, $30.25 resistant varieties, particularly in the Northeast. Somewhat similar to Gray Pearmain Fall-Winter. Probably Skowhegan, ME, before 1870. Macoun. Handsome medium-sized round-conic bluish-pinkish-red o te e o e ert e w t t n t e r fl or n r e w t r w te fle o er oo e ert t w en e r e w te t rt fle te n n e ote o ow n Excellent cooking and sweet cider, too. Recommended for single-variety e - e t r e n n- e r t o t o e sweet cider. Keeps till late fall. Begins fruit production at an early age, greenish-yellow skin with a rosy pink blush, a russet veil, and a greyish bearing consistent heavy annual crops. Naturally well-structured sturdy bloom. Produces excellent juice. Pick late and eat them in the fall and all tree is easy to care for. Considered to be 100% scab-immune, though not winter. Until recently the only trees we knew of were at The Apple Farm resistant to insects or other lesser apple diseases. Don’t let it crop too n r e ro t e ne ro ow e n ro t e enero t heavily at a young age. Blooms early to midseason. Z4. ME Grown. of Marilyn and Steve Meyerhans, the Gray Pearmain is now grown 1 A Liberty, $30.25 throughout Maine and beyond. Annually bearing easy-to-grow medium- 1 C Liberty on M111, $30.25 sized spreading tree. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 1 E Liberty on 1, $30.25 135A ray Pear ain, $30.25 Grimes Golden Fall. Parentage unknown. West Virginia, 1804. Tart tr r en e r r t e e ent or ot e ert n oo n wonderful spicy fresh eating, pies, applesauce and cider. Medium-sized roundish fruit with opaque yellow skin scattered with grey russet dots and an occasional faint blush. All-around excellent variety grown in old Maine orchards for more than 100 years. This is a perfect apple for the New England homestead north to about Bangor. An added bonus is that the fruit doesn’t ripen all at once. In central Maine they begin to drop mid- October. We collect the drops and use them right up. Around Halloween we pick the bulk of the crop to store in the root cellar until late winter. Productive precocious tree. Blooms mid-late season. Z4. ME Grown. 136B ri es olden on B118, $30.25 Honeycrisp Winter. MN 1711 (Keepsake x open-pollinated) U Minn, 1991. Medium-large fruit, mottled and striped red over yellow. Sweet and juicy with hard snapping-crisp texture. Top quality in September. Improves steadily in storage. Unusual because it ripens in early fall yet keeps up to 7 months in the root cellar. First of the many excellent University of Minnesota intros to receive large-scale commercial attention, now has a huge following. Our second best-selling apple after Black Oxford. Probably best planted north of Massachusetts; less suited to warmer districts. Tends towards annual bearing. Relatively small low- r t or er w t e o o r t o re ter e e vigor upright spreading tree. Above-average scab resistance. Blooms I love their information, writing style, art, and advice on mid-late season. Z3. ME Grown. how to live. I can’t wait to meet the plants.” 137A Honey risp, $30.25 –Amy Rowe, Brooklyn, NY 137C Honey risp on M111, $30.25 137E Honey risp on 1, $30.25 fedcoseeds.com/trees 9 Moses Wood Late Summer. Moses Wood intro, Winthrop, ME, before 1830. An exceedingly rare central Maine heirloom, one of the last remaining Winthrop apples. Tart dessert and cooking apple, re o en e or te er e te ten er er fle e n te r t e - e ro n to on w t distinct ribbing and a crown around the blossom end. Pink blushed and red striped. Vigorous upright productive tree. Named for the itinerant Winthrop grafter who traveled on horseback spreading apple varieties around central Maine long before the days of Fedco. Rescued by Morris Towle of Winthrop who spent much of his life tracking down and saving old Maine varieties. Without Morris Towle several would now be gone forever. He gave scionwood to Bill Reid of New Sharon who passed it along to us. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Macoun Fall. NY 547 (McIntosh x Jersey Black) Richard Wellington, 150B Moses ood on B118, $30.25 NY State Ag Stn, Geneva, NY, 1923. This is an apple that many New Englanders know but no one seems to know how to pronounce. (It Mother Fall. General Stephen P. Gardner intro, Bolton, MA, before rhymes with town, not tune!) Highest dessert quality, especially loved 1811. Originally named American Mother. Also known as Queen Anne by those who grew up on McIntosh but now want something more. and Gardeners Apple. Very high-quality early-Massachusetts dessert Medium-sized ribbed lobed truncate fruit, almost entirely covered with a apple. In his 1884 The Fruit Manual, British pomologist Robert Hogg e t r r -re e er ro t w te fle called it, “remarkably tender, crisp, and breaking, very juicy, sweet, and r w t r weet fl or e ent or re e t n r e oro with a balsamic aroma.” Medium-large roundish-conic fruit, colored upright spreading tree. Moderately productive. Although susceptible with muted reds and oranges and covered with tiny russet dots. We to scab, the fruit appears to be less affected than McIntosh. Macoun believe Mother has the potential to be popular in the 21st century on a also shows some natural resistance to insect damage. Blooms mid-late commercial scale. General Gardner was a prominent Bolton entrepreneur on t e o ro etween o ton n reen e n w t w to e o e season. Z4. ME Grown. the epicenter of Massachusetts orcharding. There are still almost a dozen 1 6A Ma oun, $30.25 orchards in the Bolton area. Keeps into January. Blooms mid-late season. McIntosh Fall. Thought to be a seedling of Fameuse or perhaps St. Z4. ME Grown. Lawrence. Dundela, Ontario, 1811. First discovered by John McIntosh 151A Mother, $30.25 on his farm near the St. Lawrence River. Originally called Granny’s e t en nto e o et e e n n nto or New Brunswicker Late Summer. Thought to be a Duchess seedling. simply Mac. Beginning in about 1930, the most important apple in the Francis Peabody Sharp intro, Upper Woodstock, NB, Canada, about Northeast until Honeycrisp appeared. Although not planted in many 1855. An excellent all-purpose extremely hardy variety for pies, sauce other locations, it grows to perfection in our cool climate. There are and everything else. Highly recommended for the northern n tr n o nto o e e e te or tr t ot er t n fl or n grower. This is among the best. Medium-sized roundish fruit, red the variety has gotten a bad reputation. Despite the criticism, this is a blushed and striped with a lot of light yellow ground delicious aromatic apple. Excellent for sauce but turns to soup in a pie. color showing through. Sometimes confused Annual cropper. Large beautifully rounded spreading strong tree is easy with Duchess and often called New Brunswick to manage. Beware, however: it’s extremely susceptible to scab. It also Duchess. DNA tests in 2019 indicated that our New Brunswicker is identical to Duchess. This doesn’t keep well in ordinary storage. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. opens up as many questions as it answers. 1 7C M ntosh on M111, $30.25 Scionwood for our trees originally came from 1 7E M ntosh on 1, $30.25 a tree in Houlton, ME. We love it and for now Milden Fall-Winter. Alton, NH, before 1813. Also called il in and will continue to offer it. In the meanwhile, Winter Gravenstein. All-purpose Baldwin-type variety popularized we are resuming the hunt for the true New long ago for growing where Baldwin lacked hardiness. Still an excellent r n w er e w n o ot e t e to choice if you have a root cellar and are looking for the best choices scab. Blooms early season. Z3. ME Grown. for winter storage. Famous for winter pies. Large oblate-to-conic fruit 153A ew Brunswi ker, $30.25 ott e n e w t r t re e ne-te t re w t fle tinged with yellow, is coarse, quite juicy, sparkly, crisp and melting. Newtown Pippin Winter. Gershom Moore estate, Newtown, Long Good for fresh eating and cooking. Once fairly common in northern New Island, NY, perhaps as early as 1700. Called Albermarle Pippin in the England and still found in old Maine orchards. Recent work by Jared - t nt t te ne o t e e or ten o t ort nt n o Kane, executive director of Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills, NH, and American varieties. Very highly recommended for dessert, cooking and others are focusing on bringing back Milden and other traditional New cider. Large roundish green fruit with a pronounced russet splash around Hampshire varieties. Ripens late and keeps until spring. Large vigorous the stem. Keeps all winter in the root cellar. Although not historically common in Maine, it was hugely popular nearly everywhere else from tree. Blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. coast to coast. In many locations, it still is. Sent to England as gifts to 1 8A Milden, $30.25 royalty; coveted by Queen Victoria. If you forced Tom Burford to tell you his favorite apple, I bet it would be Newtown. Green Newtown and Fedco Cider T-shirts: “It’s Always OK to Be Bitter” Yellow Newtown are sometimes thought to be different apples although Celebrate your favorite fall drink with our popular they are likely synonyms. Our scionwood comes from Tower Hill cider T-shirt, featuring John Bunker’s full-color Botanic Garden, labeled as Green Newtown. Blooms midseason. Z4 or paintings of ten of the most famous English, Z5. ME Grown. French and American cider apples. Printed in 15 A ewtown Pippin, $30.25 Maine at Liberty Graphics. Crewneck T-shirts e e re t n r re e - t l a ot an l oo tees. 100% organic cotton grown in the U.S. Natural The late Don Johnson made nifty apple off-white, except 3XL, which is white. maggot traps. We’ve gotten into doing L667: Crewne k shirt, $22.50 so ourselves. In small orchards, the A s all natural B ediu natural traps alone may be enough to reduce C large natural D large natural the AM pressure to a tolerable level. E 2 large natural F 3 large white Here’s how: Cut up plywood (3/8" or 1/2") into 8x11" rectangles. Drill a hole along Fitted T-shirts r t t e w t oo ne the top edge. Paint the plywood bright yellow made from soft 100% cotton. Light-grey color, with a 2–3" red spot (the apple) in the center. except XL, which is white. Coat with Stiky Stuff (an adhesive found at fedcoseeds.com/ogs) and hang L668 Fitted shirt, $22.50 three in each tree in mid-June, positioning the traps at about chest height. A s all grey B ediu grey r w n o e t t t t to t e tr C e or fl e C large grey D large white Now and then, when they get too gooky, scrape the traps and add new Stiky Stuff. Remove traps around Labor Day. 10 (207) 426-9900 Northern Spy nter C n e ee n t oo e o t Pumpkin Russet Late Fall. New England origin, probably well before 1800. One of the most famous of all heirloom apples. Very large delectable 1800. Many synonyms, including Pumpkin Sweet and York Russet. all-purpose fruit, covered with pink and light red stripes. Very juicy and Medium-large, roundish-oblate, beautifully colored with swirls of orange, tender. Even when the thin skin bruises, the fruit keeps extremely well. red, yellow and russet. Very sweet low-acid fruit suitable for cooking, Cooks up quickly into a loose mild sauce. No need to remove the skins. cider, animal feed and fresh eating, if you don’t mind the lack of tartness. Its reputation as a pie apple is well deserved: makes a very Popular long ago in much of Maine where it was commonly known as good single-variety pie! Recommended as a source of Pumpkin Sweet. (Not to be confused with the solid red Pumpkin Sweet sharp juice in cider. Its one drawback is being slow to of Orland!) We’ve discovered old Pumpkin Russet trees in Penobscot, come into bearing, although for us it’s been worth the Kennebec and Waldo counties. We also heard stories of it in York County. wait. Medium-to-large moderately vigorous long-lived First introduced to me by locally famous horticulturalist Roger Luce, tree. Good scab resistance. Leafs out late and blooms who also introduced us to many of what became our favorite lilacs and late season. Z4. ME Grown. crabapples. Our scionwood this year comes from the Tower Hill Botanic 157A orthern Spy, $30.25 Garden collection in Massachusetts. Late blooming. Z4. ME Grown. 157C orthern Spy on M111, $30.25 16 C Pu pkin Russet on M111, $30.25 Opalescent Fall. George M. Hudson intro, Shultz, Barry County, MI, Pumpkin Sweet of Orland Fall. Probably Maine or West Thompson, 1890s. Originally called Hudson’s Pride of Michigan but eventually CT, before 1837. Sweet apple with very low acidity introduced to me sold as Opalescent by Dayton Star Nurseries, Xenia, OH, 1899. Highly years ago by Bob Dow of Orland, ME. He knew it as Pumpkin Sweet and fl ore e ert e we nown on o e tor er r e r nt described the fruit better than I can: “It has a real nice, mellow, sweetish, deep red white-dotted fruit. Crisp, sweet, tart, juicy—but most of all fl or ot r e e r t not Cre te t re re e fl or o on ere oo oo n e ee t Tasty right off the tree. You don’t have to bust your gums to get into it.” mid-late winter. Would be an excellent apple for the small commercial Also recommended for cider, apple molasses and cooking. Medium-large orchard farm stand or the CSA. Likely at its best from Massachusetts angular roundish-conic fruit, almost entirely rusty red and prominently north. Our scionwood comes from an ancient broken-down tree three speckled. Keeps until New Year. There are multiple “Sweet” red apples in miles from home. Every fall I stop by to grab a few fruits. Vigorous ne o e ete t e wor n n er r nt n now own t t medium-sized productive tree. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Pumpkin Sweet, Wardwell Sweet and Sweet Red are all the same variety. 159B pales ent on B118, $30.25 I now think all three are all synonyms of the Connecticut apple Ramsdell Pomme Grise Fall. Unknown origin. May have originated in Europe weet e o e to re t t o t e ore too on oo e on as early as the 17th c., and probably brought to Canada’s St. Lawrence Z4. ME Grown. Valley by French immigrants. Found its way into Maine about 150 years 165A Pu pkin Sweet of rland, $30.25 ago. Medium-small russet fruit with a longtime reputation as one of the very best dessert russets. Firm, crisp, juicy, rich, subacid and aromatic, with interesting aftertastes. Very good fresh eating. The combination of the chalky russet and the green ground color give the skin its grey (grise) appearance. Recognizably different from the various Golden Russet types. Vigorous dense round spreading tree prefers northern locations. Ours has been consistently productive. Keeps fairly well, still crunchy in January. Blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. 160A Po e rise, $30.25 Pristine Summer. Co-op 32. (Co-op 10 x Camuzat) PRI Co-op, 1994. Medium-large disease-resistant roundish-oblate clear-yellow fruit n r fl ore o et e w t n or n e blush. Resembles Yellow Transparent and Lodi but with better fresh- eating quality. It doesn’t ripen all at once—you can pick them over a week or more. Keeps more than a month in refrigeration. The eleventh variety released by the well-known PRI disease-resistant apple-breeding cooperative program at Perdue, Rutgers and Illinois universities. The original seedling is a complex cross planted in 1975 at the Purdue Horticultural Research Farm in West Lafayette, IN. From there it was selected and tested as PRI 2946 and then Co-op 32. Has since been torin o r ill otanic ar n rc ar widely tested around the U.S. and across the world, recommended for In the 1930s, agriculture was saying goodbye to small scale and diversity, both commercial and home orchards. Resistant to most apple diseases and large commercial orchards were replacing the orchards of the past. and scab immune. Blooms mid-late season. Z4. ME Grown. Traditional varieties were discarded in favor of Macs and Cortlands, Red Delicious, and a few other modern apples. Old orchards were cut down, 162C Pristine on M111, $30.25 the wood burned and stumps grubbed out. One of those delegated to rid central Massachusetts of its old orchards was Stearns Lothrop Davenport (1887-1973). Davy, as he was called (rhymes with savvy not gravy), realized that although he may be cleansing the landscape of old diseased trees, he was also killing off treasured varieties that had been nurtured for generations. As he located old varieties, he collected scionwood and grafted it to rootstock at his Creeper Hill Experimental Orchard. Over the next few decades, in collaboration with the Worcester Horticultural Society and Old Sturbridge Village, he and others created a collection of 119 historic apples. That collection wound up at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, MA. Each fall they held an apple festival and each winter they sold scionwood throughout the country. Many varieties were saved that would surely be extinct. What began as one person’s effort to save local apple genetic heritage became an inspiration to collectors around the world. t e or r rew o t e tree e n to er ro re t and other challenges. They had been grafted onto dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks, which are not long-lived. It looked as though the orchard and many classic apple varieties would be lost. Two years ago, Fedco and Tower Hill began collaborating to restore the collection. In January 2019, we cut scionwood from every tree, and our growers grafted the entire collection. The old trees were then cut down. Fedco is now the keeper of ME Grown = grown in this legacy. Next spring, we will send grafted trees of 119 varieties from Maine at one of our central Maine to Boylston on a truck. A new orchard will be planted, small local nurseries. the collection will be restored, and the varieties will live on for many generations. We are offering a handful of varieties from Tower Hill’s collection this year, including Fall Pippin, Newtown Pippin, Washington Royal, Pumpkin Russet, Red Canada, Sheppard’s Sweet and White Pippin. fedcoseeds.com/trees 11 Ribston Pippin Fall-Winter. Ribston Hall, Yorkshire, England, o t 16 re o en e r fl ore t - o ore partly russeted late fall dessert apple. In the words of Robert Hogg, the preeminent English pomologist of the 19th century, “There is no apple which has ever been introduced to this country, or indigenous to it, which is more generally cultivated, more familiarly known, or held in higher popular estimation than Ribston Pippin.” One should never assume an English apple will do as well in the U.S., but Ribston is an exception. It was brought to Kennebec County about the time of the Revolution and then became one of the state’s most important apples. Maine Farmer reported in 1854 that Ribston “does better in Maine than any where in the U.S.” Also well known as the parent of the even more famous Cox’s Red Astrachan Summer. Thought to be from Astrakhan on the Black Orange Pippin, as well as of Starkey, one of my all-time favorite Maine Sea, prior to 1800. The standard Maine summer cooking apple for apples. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. generations. Still found occasionally in old Maine dooryards. Juicy rich 172A Ribston Pippin, $30.25 w te fle re ent t n e w t re e o ore e e o e or t t n t e fl or n e e - e Rolfe Early Fall. Blue Pearmain seedling. Abbot, ME, about 1820. First somewhat oblate fruit, splashed or sometimes solidly covered with dark called Macomber. Medium-sized round rosy-red striped and blushed red. An obvious russet patch surrounds the stem. Looks like a junior fruit. Firm, sweet, mild and beautiful. Excellent fresh eating and cooking. version of a Wolf River. Fruit ripens over a period of several weeks in A good alternative for those who love McIntosh but don’t want to midsummer, making it perfect for the home orchard and lousy for the deal with scab. We never spray fungicides and we get excellent fruit. o er o w o w nt t e t on e ter n n t w to o r n t e 1 t ent r n o t o re on o ne n t e we en t e e tr e e to n n n n to ett n niche before Mac’s rise to fame. Our scionwood originally came from 1835. From there it quickly spread throughout New England and beyond. weet er r r n C er n Center e r n ent tree w n Keeps for a few weeks with refrigeration. Very hardy. Blooms early. Z3. cut down a few years ago after many decades of service and replaced by several young Rolfe trees grafted by Fedco! Keeps through the fall. ME Grown. Blooms midseason. Z4 or maybe Z3. ME Grown. 166A Red Astra han, $30.25 173A Rolfe, $30.25 Red Canada Late Fall-Winter. Probably Worcester County, MA, before 1800. Very old American variety once common in much of Maine, Bangor south. Firm, crisp, juicy, tender, aromatic: everything you want from a late-fall dessert apple. Large roundish-conic fruit, blushed dark red, striped red, and covered with large conspicuous light-colored spots. Originally called Nonsuch, later Old Nonsuch, and by the mid 19th c., Red Canada, apparently from Massachusetts growers who took it across the border. Not to be confused with an entirely different Canadian apple called Canada Red! Our scionwood comes from Tower Hill Botanic Garden. Keeps all winter. Blooms late. Z3 or 4. ME Grown. 167C Red Canada on M111, $30.25 e el Fall. Wolf River x Niedzwetzkyana. NY Stn, 1938. One of the e t n r e t o t e re -fle e e t o on ere too tart for eating out of hand, the medium-large fruit with opaque solid rusty-red skin is absolutely great in pies, makes wonderful jelly and turns sauce and cider red. We love this apple. Gained fame in the hard-cider wor t n to t e won er n e- r et e e er n e e blends made by the late Terry Maloney of West County Cider. Very sharp and bitter in cidermakers’ lingo. (SG 1.052) Flesh is two-toned: deep n n to w te ro n t e ore e flower re o two-tone deep pink, tipped with small white lightning bolts. And the bronze-red foliage adds further interest all season. Bears young, annually, and shows o e n e t re t n e n o r tr ne o t e er r t to oo e year. Z3. ME Grown. 168A Red eld, $30.25 168C Red eld on M111, $30.25 Rhode Island Greening Fall-Winter. Green’s Inn, near Newport, RI, about 1650. Also known as r nin . The classic New England cooking apple. Large roundish-conic-oblate green fruit often has a tannish blush. Roxbury Russet Winter. Roxbury, MA, early 1600s. Said to be the t e ow- reen fle r n t rt re t or e o e e ent r t n e er n e r et ne o t e e t te-w nter e ert for fresh eating. The number one green apple for a few centuries before apples—it would be hard to live without a stash of them in our root cellar. Granny Smith arrived from Down Under and stole the show. The most Our favorite for winter sauce. Hard medium-large patchy green and well-known of the various Greenings. Because of its high-quality fruit russeted fruit not uniform in size, shape or color. Rich, spicy and juicy. and adaptability to a range of soil conditions, Rhode Island Greening e t on e r e t n e n t rt w t e nt r t en t on established itself as one of the most important commercial varieties and a lingering good aftertaste. The aromatic juice has potential for cider, throughout the Northeast in the 19th c. Keeps well into winter. About fresh or fermented. Medium-to-large vigorous spreading tree. One of the as hardy as Baldwin. Old trees can still be found in central Maine. Not most popular commercial apples of the 19th century, largely because it recommended for northernmost districts, but cooks everywhere else will can store until summer. Scab resistant. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. love it. Blooms late season. Z4. ME Grown. 17 A Ro bury Russet, $30.25 171A Rhode sland reening, $30.25 17 C Ro bury Russet on M111, $30.25 Rubicon Winter. Paw Paw, MI, 1858. Also known as Paw Paw. Firm ne-te t re ten er - r o e r t or re e t n o co n r a in makes an excellent pie. Medium-large roundish-oblong rusty red striped Proc in ro t ir t nn al il fruit. We learned about Rubicon from Liz Lauer of Penobscot County, lin Po olo ical i ition by Matt north of Bangor. Liz received her grafting scionwood from Belinda Kaminsky. This 80-page compendium Toby of nearby Lakeville. Belinda said her relatives moved to Michigan catalogs 69 wild and seedling apple and generations ago and sent scions back to her great grandfather, Charles pear varieties collected and introduced by Boyce, who most likely grafted the family’s ancient tree. According to fruit explorers around North America. Belinda, it’s a “wonderful keeping apple...it freezes well...the goats even Stunning photographs and detailed tr e to t t t ne e e ent on e r o to descriptions depict a re-emergent Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts where it was added to their heirloom culture of wild pome fruit. collection. Extremely hardy. Probably blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. Available at gnarlypippins.com. 175C Rubi on on M111, $30.25 12 (207) 426-9900 Tater House Fall-Winter. Unknown parentage. New Sweden, ME. Extremely hardy volunteer seedling discovered in 1998 growing on the earthen berm beside a potato storage house in northern Maine. Large perfectly shaped beautiful red-violet fruit. The smooth and shiny skin is reminiscent of a ripe eggplant. Somewhat ribbed, but the overall appearance is round. Decidedly tart but excellent fresh eating by late e te er e fl or ro e r t nto n r oe not oo own t e er e ent e n e n e fl or Not a single-variety pie apple though could be good in a blend. We grafted it at our place and it has been fruiting now for several years. Cammy said, “I love them. They’re delicious.” Chris Drew, another fan and former head ranger at Baxter State Park, named it. Keeps remarkably well. No scab. Blooms mid-late season. Z3. ME Grown. 182A ater House, $30.25 Tolman Sweet Fall-Early Winter. Sweet Greening x Old Russet. Dorchester, MA, before 1700. Sometimes called Talman Sweet, Taulman Sweet, Tomey Sweet n n r t on ne o t e r t American apples and one of the few to remain popular for centuries. Truly an all-purpose fruit, used for cider, cooking, dessert and even animal fodder. Once popular for pickling, boiling and baking. Especially prized in Maine for apple cake. Unforgettably e r weet tr n e fl or er ow t e ar ’s eet Fall. Windham County, CT, before 1857. Moderately juicy medium-sized greenish fruit, Exceedingly rare. Medium-sized roundish light yellow fruit with pinkish sometimes with a bit of a blush and often marked stripes and blush. We know very little about the variety except that the by a suture line running from stem to stern. Long- tender pleasant low-acid sweet fruit was formerly recommended for lived heavy-bearing vigorous tree. Still often found “kitchen use.” Probably also has potential for fermenting. The only throughout central and southern Maine. Blooms remaining two trees may have been those at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Those are now gone. We propagated trees from the Tower Hill collection 183A ol an Sweet, $30.25 to help keep it from extinction. We will now grow it at the Maine Trailman Summer. Trail x Osman. Beaverlodge Research Farm, Alberta, Heritage Orchard and elsewhere. You might want to as well. Uncertain Canada, 1973. In spite of its small size, this is an exceptionally delicious bloom time. Probably Z4. ME Grown. r t or re e t n weet r r n o en- e ow fle 176B Sheppard’s Sweet on B118, $30.25 Visitors who try it in our orchard usually fall in love with it instantly. Spice Sweet Late Summer. Massachusetts, early 1800s. One of the Some have called it the best summer apple they’ve ever tasted—some best of all pie apples. Well named. The orangey-colored cooked fruit ac- even call it their favorite apple of any season! Ripens around Aug. 20 tually is sweet and spicy. Relatively low in acid, unusual for a pie apple. n entr ne r n ent e ow n or e n n w te Most sweet apples are unsuitable for pies, but Spice Sweet is excep- bloom and sometimes a brownish-red blush. Fruit the size and shape of tional. Very good fresh eating as well. Medium-size lumpy red an egg. Hangs on the tree for 2 weeks without softening. Precocious, fruit resembles Northern Spy. Laura Childs rediscovered it annually productive, moderately vigorous, somewhat drooping and in 2011 in Belgrade, ME, on the old Bickford Farm. The spreading tree. Exceedingly hardy. Might be tasteless south of Zone 6. Bickford grandparents always called it Old Spice. There ne o t e r t to oo e e r one 3 or e en 2 ME Grown. are historical records of multiple apples with the 18 B rail an on B118, $30.25 name Spice Sweet or Spice Sweeting. This Wagener Winter. Unknown parentage. Penn Yan, NY, 1791. Midwinter one is likely the Spice Sweeting described all-purpose storage variety widely grown in Maine during the 19th and by Dr. John Warder in 1867. Blooms early 20th c. Bright medium-sized blocky angular ribbed roundish yellow midseason. Z4. ME Grown. fruit mostly covered with a red blush of dots and stripes. Fine-grained, 177A Spi e Sweet, $30.25 crisp, tender, very juicy, subacid, aromatic and sprightly. Naturally small Stark Winter. Delaware County, OH, about 1850. All-purpose winter tree w tr t on nte er etween r e t n r tree storage variety that keeps in the root cellar until April. Large blocky The Wageners would fruit young and eventually be removed when the dull reddish-green fruit, sometimes confused with Baldwin. Hardier big Baldwins kicked in. Precocious annually bearing tree produces very than Baldwin. Commonly grown commercially in northern districts 100 heavily. The fruit lines up along the branches so thickly you’ve got to years ago. Many trees can still be found in central Maine. Not of Baldwin look hard to see any wood. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. dessert quality, but very good for cooking and drying. Ruth Smith from 186A agener, $30.25 York Harbor wrote to me years ago about Stark: “I was always amazed Washington Royal Winter. Originated on the farm of Joseph Hayward, at the color and thickness of the applesauce. I had to add a lot more Sterling, MA. Introduced later by Ephraim Robbins, Leominster, MA, water than the usual apple needed. It was very tart.”According to Hedrick e ore 1 55 er r re t fle r ten er n in his Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits, the tree is “vigorous, hardy, healthy, Recommended for fresh eating. Medium-large angular roundish-oblate productive, and very accommodating as to soils.” Keeps until spring. Not fruit is greenish-yellow, white-spotted and orange-blushed. Often to be confused with the Maine apple Starkey or Missouri’s famous Stark presents netted russeting. Probably dates to well before 1850, maybe Bro’s Nursery. Midseason bloomer. Z4. ME Grown. e en to t e t e w en o r r t re ent w on ere o e to e 179A Stark, $30.25 royalty. Another variety rescued from the Tower Hill Collection. Blooms Sweet Sixteen Fall. MN 1630 (MN447 [Frostbite] x Northern Spy) midseason. Z4. ME Grown. nn 1 e r t te nto weet teen w r r e 187A ashington Royal, $30.25 ne-te t re r fle ont n n to n n n Wealthy Fall. Thought to be a seedling of cherry crab, but recent DNA o e o n t on o weet n tt n fl or analysis proves old history wrong: one parent is Duchess. Excelsior, MN, with slight anise essence, sometimes described as 1860. A Maine native of sorts, the seed having come from Bangor. One cherry, vanilla or even bourbon. We of the most famous of all hardy varieties, with its perfect texture and always love Sweet Sixteen season. o e fl or - r o e e t on ere to e one o t e e t Truly excellent fresh eating, although it apples. We agree. Round-oblate medium-sized fruit is pale greenish- is too sweet for some palates. Also good e ow tre e w t r ne en er er weet fle for pies and sauce. Round-conic bronze-red w te o ten t ne re o t r nto oo e t n n medium-sized fruit, striped and washed with even better cooking. Wonderful pies! Good acid source for fermented rose-red. Annual bearer if thinned. Very hardy cider. Ripens over a long period. Productive moderately vigorous long- moderate-sized vigorous vase-shaped tree lived naturally small-statured tree. Blooms early. Z3. ME Grown. grows upright with willowy branches that 188A ealthy, $30.25 get loaded with fruit but do not break. Best grown in northern districts. Keeps till midwinter. Some resistance to scab. “It means so much to know that we can still count on planting to Blooms mid to late season. Z3. ME Grown. increase our long term resilience and short term sanity!” 180A Sweet Si teen, $30.25 –Corie Washow, Durham, ME 180B Sweet Si teen on B118, $30.25 fedcoseeds.com/trees 13 est el eek No urt er e t e -1 t ne o Williams Pride Summer. Co-op 23 [PRI 2845-1=(PRI 1018-101 the most famous of all heirloom dessert apples. Still loved by anyone x NJ50)] PRI Co-op, 1988. Probably the most popular summer apple who knows it. A Hudson River grower of 200 varieties declared it “the among PRI’s disease-resistant introductions. It’s actually crisp, which is best apple in the world.” Medium-sized roundish-conic fruit is dull rusty rare for a summer apple. Deep purple roundish-conic irregularly shaped red, yellow, conspicuously dotted and sometimes russeted. Highly fruit highlighted with areas of glowing rosy red and covered with a thin fl ore r tt e t weet tt e t o r r r n oo t re - o ore fle w t re t n n t n er t e n juicy. It has everything. The Apples Firm, crisp and very juicy. Has a nice acidic blend of tart and sweet, of New York calls it “rich, sometimes reminiscent of Fameuse. Long ripening period means you don’t have to astringent, peculiarly aromatic, eat them all at once. Vigorous annually bearing tree with some biennial sprightly, very good to best.” tendency. Well shaped with strong right-angled branches that do not Also an outstanding drying apple. re re re tr n n re t nt to re t e r e r t Keeps until early winter. Hardier and sooty blotch; resistant to powdery mildew. Scab immune. Blooms tree than Baldwin. Michael Clark early to midseason. Z4. ME Grown. provided our scionwood from his 192B illia s Pride on B118, $30.25 beautiful broken down ancient Windham Russet Late Fall. Parentage unknown. tree in Knox, ME. Blooms Massachusetts before 1870. Excellent dessert apple midseason. Z4. ME Grown. for the connoisseur. The darkish brown russet skin 189A est eld Seek o Further, $30.25 has a distinctly bumpy rough texture, unlike any other White Pippin Winter. Possibly from Virginia or Canada before 1800. russet we know. The stem area is sometimes lipped Also known as Canada Pippin, it io Pi in, and American like Pewaukee. We brought it to the Franklin County White Winter Calville. Extremely rare. Beach recommended it for CiderDays apple tasting in November 2013 and it won, o e e or ener r et r o e e r n t e fle t beating out some really great apples. First brought to the t n e w t e ow r o er te ne- r ne to tt e o r e attention of the Maine Pomological Society by DJ Briggs in 1885. ZA tender, crisp, juicy, sprightly sub-acid.” Large roundish conic greenish Gilbert, longtime president of the society, struggled to identify the apple. white fruit with a reddish blush and a short stem. Should keep quite well His best guess was Windham Russet. He wrote, “I have spent much time in the root cellar. Probably little-known in Maine but more common in n e r o o nter to t e ent t on o t r et o o e southern New England. This is another of those impossibly vague names russet is worthy of attention.” We agree. Said to be from Massachusetts that might apply to any number of apples. Our scionwood from Tower although there is no Windham down there. Maybe it’s the Windham in Hill Botanic Garden. Blooms midseason. Z3 or 4. ME Grown. Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine. This apple is making a 190A hite Pippin, $30.25 big comeback. Blooms midseason. Z4-7. ME Grown. 193A indha Russet, $30.25 Wickson Fall. Esopus Spitzenburg x Newtown Pippin. Albert Etter ntro o t Co nt C 1 44 ne o t e o t nten e fl or Winekist Summer. Unknown parentage. Carl A. Hansen intro, apples we list. Small roundish bright red fruit is crisp, juicy, tart, tangy Brookings, SD, 1949. Medium-sized fruit is wine red with patches and and spicy. Highly recommended for dessert. Extremely high in both stripes of darker red and very small white dots. Flesh is even deeper red sugar and acid. Sugar level of the juice is around 25%. Becoming one t n e e e er o r e fle o t o eet re er of the most sought-after American cider apples. Makes perfect single- oo t o e tre e t rt fl or e o or n fl or variety cider—the best there is! In September the tree looks like a mass addition to fresh cider or sauce. Good fresh eating for those who like of cherries. Bred and introduced by the generally unknown Albert Etter, it tart. We have not fermented it, though it would be worth testing. For one of America’s most innovative and important fruit breeders of the many years I assumed that the apple was the creation of the Winthrop, 20th century. Keeps until January. Wickson bears young, heavily and ME, fruit explorer and collector, Morris Towle. Dan Bussey’s research most years. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. has straightened that out. It must have come back east shortly after its 191A i kson, $30.25 introduction. Leaves are tomentose (soft and woolly) and have a dark 191C i kson on M111, $30.25 reddish cast. Blossoms are light pink. Tree is a natural semi-dwarf. Blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. 19 C inekist on M111, $30.25 ot o t Pr Apples and the Art of Detection: Tracking Down, Identifying and Preserving Rare Apples by John Bunker, 2019. 407 pages, softcover. I’ve been listening to John Bunker talk about apples for as long as I can remember. The old varieties and why we should rescue them, the Johnny Appleseeds of America, and the shocking truth that you can’t plant an apple seed and expect to get the same apple (gasp!). Because I’m an editor, I had the honor of contributing to my brother’s masterpiece: Apples and the Art of Detection. I realized right away that this book, brilliantly framed as a Sherlock Holmes detective story, belongs not only on the shelf of anyone interested in apples; it is also for those who want to learn about the old-timey experts behind the scenes. In other words, John’s mentors. We are introduced to these salt-of-the-earth characters and their apple orchards, and we fall in love with all of them. As a layperson, I especially enjoyed those sections, but I was also impressed with the precision and eloquence with which the science is presented. Apples and the Art of Detection has photographs and artwork galore, and is beautifully illustrated by the author himself. –Emily Bunker L669A Apples and the Art of Dete tion, $30.00 The Apples of New York by Spencer Ambrose Beach, 1905. Maine Heritage Orchard Stewardship Apple The Maine Organic 2-volume set, 764 pages, hardcover. This two-volume encyclopedia of Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) established the Maine apples grown throughout the U.S. before 1900 is an essential text for Heritage Orchard in a renovated gravel pit in Unity. The terraced apple enthusiasts. I refer to Beach almost every day of the year. Don’t polyculture orchard will be unlike any orchard anywhere. Nearly 300 be misled by the name—it’s not just about New York. Although it misses apple trees have been planted so far with many more to come. You many of our obscure local varieties, Beach covers hundreds of the most can join in this effort by becoming an Apple Steward. By purchasing important historic varieties you’ll come across. It’s not a searchable key, a Heritage Orchard Stewardship Apple, you become the proud keeper but it is fantastic with good-to-excellent histories, detailed descriptions of one of the varieties represented in MOFGA’s orchard. In the event and color images. Volume one includes a general history of apples and that the orchard’s tree dies, you’ll have the backup so we can collect n e n t on o re e nt ter no o re te to e ent t on scionwood for grafting another. We’ll send you a historic apple tree Original sets of The Apples of New York are still out there although w t e r t on t not te n t t o n or to o t prohibitively expensive for most folks. We’re offering a very decent After planting your tree, you return the form with the tree’s location to r o er re r nt oo or t o e w o w nt to o e on t e r r t MOFGA. MOFGA will contact you from time to time. $30 from the editions, and great for those who can’t lay out the big bucks for an sale of each tree goes to support the Maine Heritage Orchard (MeHO) original. No need to wait until spring to receive The Apples of New York. project. For more information go to mofga.org. All trees best grown from We’ll ship it within a few weeks of receiving your order. –John Bunker Z4-6. ME Grown. L670A he Apples of ew York, $175.00 267A Stewardship Apple, $50.00 14 (207) 426-9900 Where can I taste that apple? While we take pride in our variety descriptions, there’s nothing like the real thing. Frequently we’re asked, “Where can I taste a…?” One opportunity is Great Maine Apple Day, tentatively set for Sunday, October 18, 2020, at MOFGA in Unity. (Check mofga.org in case the event is canceled due to Covid-19.) To try more than 20 varieties, sign up for Out on a Limb Apple CSA (outonalimbapples.com) co-managed by Fedco’s John Bunker. Members receive biweekly shares of rare apples. i it an orc ar n ar o There are many great orchards out there. en one or two r re n n e wort t e tr e ow re o e ne orchards with good collections. For a more complete list of Maine orchards, go to maineapples.org. For a longer list of orchards around the northeast, visit fedcoseeds. com/trees and click on “Resources.” Winter Banana Late Fall-Winter. David Flory intro, Adamsboro, IN, about 1873. Originally called Flory Banana. One of the best-known o orc ar in ain old-time apples, possibly because of its catchy name. The large brilliant e e r r e o er et Co nt 20 453- 656 banana-yellow fruit is somewhat conical and somewhat ribbed— applefarm.us. A great collection of unusual old and new varieties. sometimes with a suture line and usually with a pronounced red blush. e r r te e n o n Co nt 20 54 - 6 0 ne o e e ow fle ro t t r n er the largest collections of old varieties in the state. Other fruits, too. oo or re e t n n e o e t e fl or or ro re e e the ubiquitous Musa ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ banana you can buy in every • Cayford Orchards, Skowhegan, Somerset County (207) 474-5200, grocery store in America, although there appears to be no record as to cayfordorchards.com. 57 new and heirloom varieties of tree fruits. what David Flory was thinking when he named it. With its potent and C e r t e n o Co nt 20 3 4-215 reliable pollen, it’s often planted in the Washington State orchards as a e r net or n or r o e r et e “pollenizer” for Red Delicious and other commercial varieties. Blooms • Doles Orchard, Limington, York County (207) 793-4409, dolesorchard. midseason. Z4. ME Grown. com. Mix of old and new. They have two un-named varieties crossed by 196A inter Banana, $30.25 the late Maine plant breeder Russell Bailey. Both are extremely rare, if Wolf River Fall. Alexander seedling. Near Wolf River, WI, 1875. not unique. Perhaps the most famous old-time apple in Maine, likely due to its catchy • Lane Road Orchard, New Sharon, Franklin County (774) 265-0614. name and its extremely large—even huge—round-oblate fruit. Pale Many interesting heirlooms and unusual modern varieties. yellow-green skin mostly covered with pink, deep red and bright crimson with a vivid yellowish-greenish russety splash around the stem. Creamy- • McDougal Orchards, Springvale, York County (207) 324-5054, w te o r e fle r t ten er ro t fl or er oo mcdougalorchards.com. Many unusual apple varieties. for cooking. Makes an excellent baked apple and a decent pie. Not much • Maine-ly Apples, Dixmont, Penobscot County (207) 234-2043, good for fresh eating, but particularly tasty when dried. Keeps until late mainelyapples.com. Excellent collection of old, new and rare varieties. fall. Large moderately vigorous productive spreading tree. Excellent scab • North Star Orchards, Madison, Somerset County (207) 696-5109, resistance. Blooms mid to late season. Z3. ME Grown. northstarorchards.me. Pick-your-own apples, cider mill, and farm store. 198A olf Ri er, $30.25 • Pietree Orchard, Sweden, Oxford County (207) 647-9419, ello ell o er Winter. Parentage unknown. Crosswicks, NJ, about pietreeorchard.com. Excellent assortment of heirloom and new varieties. 1742. Large conical pure-yellow fruit does everything well, including • Pleasant Pond Orchard, Richmond, Sagadahoc County (207) 737- ee n w nter n t e root e r r r o er te ne- r ne 4443, pleasantpondorchard.com. Apples, pears, plums, peaches, rather tender, juicy, aromatic, very good for culinary use and good for blackberries and pick-your-own highbush blueberries. fresh eating, especially after it’s mellowed for a month or two. Excellent for pies. Applesauce cooks quickly, somewhat coarse, bright glistening • Ricker Hill Orchards, Turner, Androscoggin County (207) 225-5552, e ow w t re t fl or n ew n e o o e t r e t - rickerhill.com. Organic apples and more, mostly modern varieties. n e n fl or ne o t e r t n e er n r et e n one o • Rollins Orchard, Garland, Penobscot County (207) 924-3504, t e r t e to e r te n nte n ne n re on - e rollinsorchards.com. More than 20 unusual old varieties. en o n tr n ent e tree n ne t ere rett oo • Sewall Orchard, Lincolnville, Waldo County (207) 763-3956, n e t e ow e flower oo e r - e on 4 ME Grown. ew or r o r n e n n o e o t e r t e e- 199A Yellow Bellflower, $30.25 resistant releases. Yellow Transparent Summer. Parentage unknown. Russia, probably • Sweetser’s Apple Barrel and Orchards, Cumberland Center, before 1800. Brought to the U.S. in 1870 and quickly spread throughout Cumberland County (207) 829-6599, maineapple.com. A great collection Maine. One of our most-requested varieties. Medium-sized light yellow of 39 old and new varieties. Don’t miss their Rolfe apples. fruit has a tender skin you can almost see through. Tart fresh eating and oo nto fl or t t rt t e ow e n 6 n te Skip the sugar. Skins will dissolve in your mouth as you eat. Transparents Heirloom Apple Collections ripen fairly early in August and beware: they come mostly all at once n l o or trees to begin and go by quickly. Get the sauce pot ready and don’t blink or you might your own heirloom orchard. Each tree in miss them. It’s okay to eat or cook them a little on the green side. When the bundle will be a different heirloom t e r t o t e to t e ro n t e re t w t n wee or o traditionally grown in northern New England. Incredibly hardy. Blooms midseason. Z3. ME Grown. Collections may include varieties not listed 200A Yellow ransparent, $30.25 in this catalog. Rootstocks will be semi-dwarf and standard. Trees Zestar Late Summer. (State Fair x MN 1691) U Minn, 1999. Also called are individually labeled within tar Extremely hardy high-quality mid-late summer dessert apple. each bundle. Sorry, collections Medium-sized blocky round fruit covered with red stripes and blush. are not customizable. Please note n r w t we - n e - weet fl or e that purchasing a bundle of 25 New Hampshire orchardist and author of The Apple Grower, said to me, will qualify your order for a 15% “When you tree-ripen Zestar, it’s fabulous.” Northern Maine orchardist discount if you order by the discount Steve Miller added, “That’s an impressive apple. From the standpoint of deadline. See order form, page 35, for e r n e n t t e re r t r te ee n o tor e to details. All hardy to Z4. ME Grown. weeks. Tree has moderately vigorous upright form; excellent horizontal branching habit makes it easy to train and prune. Precocious and annual- 222A Heirloo Apple Colle tion, bundle of 5, $136.00 222B Heirloo Apple Colle tion, bundle of 10, $257.00 bearing. Blooms early season. Z3. ME Grown. 222C Heirloo Apple Colle tion, bundle of 25, $605.00 201B estar on B118, $30.25 fedcoseeds.com/trees 15 Cider Apples Ellis Bitter Early Fall. Medium bittersweet cider apple. Newton Each year we offer a different assortment of the best European and St Cyres, Devon, Somerset, England. Particularly useful for its early American cider varieties. Many of these are NOT for fresh eating. They ripening, adding valuable bitterness to early-season cider pressings. do however possess qualities that make them very desirable for fermented (SG 1.033–1.053, acidity 2g/L, tannin 2.4g/L) Blend with other early cider production. Please note the descriptions for details. We also offer dessert apples or cider varieties. Large oddly conic fruit, sometimes crabapples suitable for cider; see pages 44-45. r e o t tr e n e w t re te-fle e weet crisp and juicy. Soft, astringent, tannic. Still grown in England’s West Chisel Jersey Late Fall. Full bittersweet cider apple. Martock, Country cider orchards and now being planted in the U.S. Fast-growing Somerset, England, 19th c. One of the most famous of the Somerset large upright rangy open vigorous tree produces regularly. Midseason bittersweets. Best blended with other apples, it makes a strong rich cider. bloomer. Z4. ME Grown. Medium acidity, highly astringent, harsh and high in tannins. (SG 1.068, 226C Ellis Bitter on M111, $30.25 acidity 2.2g/L, tannin 4g/L) Round to slightly conic slightly greasy fruit, Bittersweet colored with a beautiful combination of dull opaque reds, yellows and Fuel Service Fall. cider apple. Cammy Watts and John russets. In old English chesil means ‘pebble’—Chisel Jersey is small, Bunker intro, Palermo, ME, 2015. Medium juicy, medium crisp and high hard and bitter! Spreading tree may require encouragement to develop a in tannins. Begins to oxidize moments after cutting or grinding. (SG strong central leader. Consistent cropper. Closely related to Dabinett; they 1.062) Small 2" yellow fruit sometimes with a faint blush. Discovered should not be relied on to pollinate one another. One source recommends on a fruit exploring mission in Hancock County, ME, in the fall of 2015. Harry Masters Jersey as a good companion for pollination, but as usual, The small roadside wild seedling tree was loaded so we had to stop. Boy were we happy. You will be, too. Recommended for trial—we’re liking it most other apples should do the job. Late bloomer. Z4. ME Grown. so far. Uncertain bloom time. Probably Z4. ME Grown. 223C Chisel ersey on M111, $30.25 227C Fuel Ser i e on M111, $30.25 Medium-bittersweet Dabinett Late Fall. cider apple. Probably a Bittersweet seedling of Chisel Jersey. Middle Lambrook, Somerset, England. One Gnarled Chapman Fall. cider apple. Parentage of the most popular cider varieties in Somerset today and one of the unknown. Eric Shatt intro, Hector, NY, 2015. Large, roundish-oblate mainstays of Poverty Lane Cider Orchards. At a MOFGA workshop, and outrageously beautiful. Yellowy-green skin with a glowing orange Steve Wood of Poverty Lane and Farnum Hill Ciders said, “If you’re blush, netted and dotted with russet. Eric named this seedling in honor going to plant one bittersweet, plant this one.” Sugar content fair and of America’s most famous apple guy, John “Appleseed” Chapman. Look fermentation moderate. High-quality well-balanced low-acid cider with for it blended into Eric’s Redbyrd cider. Vigorous upright tip-bearing a soft-tasting tannin. (SG 1.057, acidity 1.8g/L, tannin 2.9g/L) Medium- tree. Recommended for trial in all cider-apple growing districts. Blooms sized roundish fruit covered with brownish brick-red stripes and blush. midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Picked last week of October, usually blended with other late varieties. 228C narled Chap an on M111, $30.25 Cro nn rower- r en tree w t fl t ter r n e Harrison Mid-Late Fall. inta ar cider apple. Parentage require help in developing a strong central leader. Not pollen compatible unknown. South Orange, Essex County, NJ, as early as 1712. One of with Chisel Jersey. Midseason bloom. Z4. ME Grown. the most renowned American cider apples, dating from the early days of 225A Dabinett, $30.25 domestic cidermaking. Harrison cider was famous and considered to be 225C Dabinett on M111, $30.25 better than champagne. Medium-small oval yellow-skinned fruit. Rich r r e ow fle or n to Co e n 1 1 t e “high coloured, rich, and sweet cider of great strength, commanding a high price in New-York, frequently ten dollars and upwards per barrell.” Vigorous productive tree. A Harrison revival is underway in several locations on the East Coast. Performing well in our central Maine trials. Appears to be plenty hardy. Z4. ME Grown. 229A Harrison, $30.25 229C Harrison on M111, $30.25 Harry Masters Jersey Fall. i ll itt r t cider apple. Often called Port Wine in north Somerset. Probably introduced by Harry Masters, Yarlington Mill, Woolston, Somerset, England, before 1900. High-quality bittersweet variety recommended for blending with other fall varieties. Soft astringent tannic. (SG 1.056, acidity 2g/L, tannin 3.2g/L) Becoming popular commercially in New England in recent years. One of the mainstays of Farnum Hill Cider. Medium-large oblate- conic fruit, mostly covered with bright red stripes and blush, and a splash of yellow russet around the stem. Narrow upright tree form. Harry Masters himself was the miller at Yarlington Mill. Harry Masters Jersey and Yarlington Mill are thought to be of the same parentage. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 230A Harry Masters ersey, $30.25 230C Harry Masters ersey on M111, $30.25 e e’s Vir inia ra Fall. Sharp cider apple. Probably a seedling t ll in t i of the native M. angustifolia, the Southern Crab. Introduced about “From the great diversity of soil and climate in the United States of 1700 in Virginia. One of the most prized of all American cider apples. America, and the almost endless variety of its apples, it followed that One of the rare varieties recommended for single varietal cider. In his er t o t te n fl or w e ne e r o n n t e er 1817 A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees, William Coxe devoted that is made from them.” –Colin MacKenzie, 1829 an entire chapter to making cider with Hewe’s. For the best cider, plant several varieties. That’s because when it comes to The red-skinned white-spotted fruit is small, round, cider, it’s all in the mix. Unlike beer, cider usually has only one ingredient: juicy, tough, astringent and acidic. e e ro e e er t n t r t nn n n fl or According to AJ Downing We classify the cider varieties into four categories: sharp (low in in 1848, Hewe’s “makes tannins, high in acid), sweet (high in sugar, little or no tannin, low acid), er -fl ore bittersharp (high in tannins and high acid) and bittersweet (high tannins dry cider, which, by and sugar, low acid). Tannin denotes naturally occurring compounds connoisseurs, is thought w o e tter tr n en e ro n e fl or o n o en o or n r e n fl or n What’s the difference between bitterness and astringency? An excellent other, and retains its soundness University of Reading publication us ainabl id r l rodu ion a long time.” Incredibly tte t to e ne t e tr n en r n er n en t on vigorous, productive and in the mouth in which the whole tongue is affected, while bitterness is healthy in our trials. The trees mostly perceived at the sides and back of the tongue.” look great. Evidently it inta refers to varieties with perfect qualities for single-variety loves cold weather. Quite cider. Most cider is best blended. hardy despite its name. Long We recommend you plant some sharp apples for acidity, some sweet ago used as a rootstock even as far north as Maine. apples for sugar and some bitter apples for the tannin. Our best cider has Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. been from about 40% bittersweet (astringent) apples and 60% mixed 231C Hewe’s irginia Crab on M111, $30.25 dessert and cooking apples. 16 (207) 426-9900 in ston lack Fall. inta itt r ar cider e aille ’ r Late Fall. Full bittersweet cider apple. apple. Parentage unknown. Somerset, England, Parentage unknown. Developed by M. Goddard of early 19th c. High in tannin and acidity. Boisguillaume, Rouen, France, probably mid-19th (SG 1.061, acidity 5.8g/L, tannin 1.9g/L) c. The gold medal of cider apples, introduced into Produces full-bodied vintage cider with a England in 1884. Full bittersweet, high in bitterness nice blend of acid, tannins and sugar. One of and astringency. (SG 1.053-1.059, acidity 2.1-2.7g/L, the noteworthy varieties that makes a high- tannin 4.4-6.4g/L) Combine with other late varieties. quality single variety hard cider, also good in Small-to-medium roundish-conic yellow fruit mostly a blend. We became fans of Farnum Hill’s covered with a netting of golden russet and sometimes tasty Kingston Black varietal. Now we make featuring a soft reddish blush. Wide spreading it ourselves. Also makes superb fresh cider. vigorous tree with good branch angles. Scab Even the fresh juice is a deep rich dark color. resistant but said to be susceptible to Medium-sized conical beautiful rich red re t oo te e on 4 ME Grown. fruit is mottled with red russet and deeper 23 C Medaille d’ r on M111, $30.25 shades of maroon. Fairly decent fresh orter’s er ection Late Fall. eating. The tree is a reliable bearer, but Medium bittersharp cider is gangly and needs careful pruning. apple. Charles Porter intro, East Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. Lambrook, near Kingsbury 232A Kingston Bla k, $30.25 Episcopi, Somerset, England, 232C Kingston Bla k on M111, $30.25 before 1900. Heavy cropper of Major Early Fall. Full bittersweet cider apple. Probably originated in small dark red-blushed fruit. central Somerset County, England, before 1900. Sweet, soft, woolly, (SG 1.054, acidity 8.2g/L, juicy and bitter. (SG 1.054, acidity 1.8g/L, tannin 4.1g/L) Recommended tannin 2.5g/L) Liz Copas writes for combining with other early cider varieties such as Ashton Bitter, Ellis that it “can produce an excellent Bitter and Nehou. Medium-sized pinkish-rosy-red roundish-oblate-conic cider. Its juice is rather acidic fruit, sometimes ribbed and usually featuring a small yellowish russet bittersharp and is better blended for a more splash around the stem. One of the English varieties now becoming balanced product.” When I meet cidermakers, I always ask them popular in the U.S. Vigorous tree with a good central leader and a about their favorite varieties. Eric Shatt of Redbyrd Orchard Cider in spreading branching habit. Similar to other Jersey-type cider varieties. the Finger Lakes region of New York replied, “Porter’s Perfection.” Scab resistant. Late blooming. Z4. ME Grown. Redbyrd’s website calls it an “excellent balance of tannins and acidity.” 233C Ma or on M111, $30.25 Often produces twins or triplets—two or more fruits fused together. Similar to the excellent Lambrook Pippin; the two varieties are thought to be of same parentage. Scab resistant. Blooms midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 235C Porter’s Perfe tion on M111, $30.25 e el See page 12 for description. Reine des Pommes Fall. Full bittersweet cider apple. Probably originated in northern Brittany, before 1900. Still known in Mayenne and surrounding areas. Also called o lin. The fruit is sweet, woolly and astringent (acidity 2.4G/L, tannin 4.7G/L), best for blending. Medium-sized oblate-roundish-conic fruit, mostly russeted over a beautiful blend of reds, oranges and yellow. Years ago Terry Maloney of West County Cider in Colrain, MA, wrote to me, “I think the Reine des Pommes has the most powerful and unique taste in a cider of any of the apples we grow. It’s a true spitter though. It does okay around here, with a tendency towards biennial bearing and an upward growth habit.” Recommended for trial in all locations. Blooms early to midseason. Z4. ME Grown. 236C Reine de Po es on M111, $30.25 Wickson Fall. inta ar ci r a l See page 14 for description. Yarlington Mill Fall. Medium-bittersweet cider apple. Yarlington, near North Cadbury, Somerset, England, 1898. Rich brown low-acid juice, mildly aromatic, fruity and not aggressively tannic. Above-average sugar content. (SG 1.053-1.075, acidity 2.2g/L, tannin 3.2g/L) Slow to medium fermentation. Medium-sized yellow distinctly conic fruit with a pinkish blush and overspreading darker red stripes. Considered an all-round excellent cider variety: reliable, productive and adaptable to tri t to t r ri n ro t a l orl varying conditions. We’ve heard reports of it thriving in Zone 3. Steve The apple world lost three elder champions of apple diversity, preservation Wood’s other favorite bittersweet (see Dabinett). Highly recommended and history: Nick Botner, 93; Tom Burford, 84; and Lee Calhoun, 86. for home and commercial cider plantings. You may need to head back e e w t n e wee o e ot er n t e w nter o 2020 the leader in early years to encourage strong laterals. Midseason bloomer. r i ton al o n of Pittsboro, NC, spent decades researching, Z3/4. ME Grown. tracking down and collecting historic apples of the South. He founded 237A Yarlington Mill, $30.25 the living collection at Horne Creek Farm in Pinnacle, NC. His book 237C Yarlington Mill on M111, $30.25 Old Southern Apples is an essential piece of American pomological documentation that blends history, varietal descriptions and a wonderful Hard Cider Apple Collections n l o or trees to begin collection of stories and yarns. your cider orchard. Includes an assortment of bittersharp and bittersweet Nick Botner of Yoncalla, OR, farmed and collected fruit varieties, apples. Bundle of 5 will have 5 different varieties. Bundles of 10 and primarily grapes, pears and apples. His nearly 5,000 apple varieties 25 will have at least 3 different bittersweet varieties. Collections may became the largest private collection in the world. He sold scionwood include varieties not listed in this catalog. Rootstocks will be either semi- to thousands of orchardists, primarily through Seed Savers Exchange. dwarf or standard. Trees are individually labeled within each bundle. Because of Nick’s work I was able bring home a number of varieties Sorry, collections are not customizable. Please note that purchasing a traditionally grown in Maine but thought to have been lost forever. bundle of 25 will qualify your order for a 15% discount if you order by o r or grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia the discount deadline. See order form, page 35, for details. All hardy to where his family had been growing apples since 1715. His book Apples Z4. ME Grown. of North America describes 192 of his favorites from around the country, 266A Hard Cider Apple Colle tion, bundle of 5, $136.00 including many offered in Fedco catalogs over the years. 266B Hard Cider Apple Colle tion, bundle of 10, $257.00 Through their passion, knowledge and generosity, all three contributed 266C Hard Cider Apple Colle tion, bundle of 25, $605.00 greatly to my life and the lives of thousands of fruit enthusiasts. They will be greatly missed. –John Bunker fedcoseeds.com/trees 17 Comtesse Clara Frijs Late Summer. Denmark, 19th c. Very old delec- Pears Pyrus communis t e e ert e r r t e r e n 1 5 ent en n t e n t e to te er te ro e n e r n row to 100 t n garden journal Dansk Haugetidende and thought to be from the village of the wild. Many pear varieties are hardy in New England but tend to take en e e - e t - nne e r- e r t otte e - on er to o e nto e r n t n e rt er o t e r ten to e r low-green, sometimes with a very slight pink blush like a spot of rouge. annually. However, in Maine, where they are approaching their northern e tter ro t fle r t not r w t no r t e limit, some varieties tend to bear biennially. Pick fruit when green and but not dripping. You can eat it in the car. You can eat it right down to r en t on t e e r or o t e t n tr er et - nothing. Keeps for a month. Solid rugged hardy tree. Z4. ME Grown. od: “…when fruits exhibit slight color changes, begin to test 290A Comptesse Clara Frijs, $31.75 pressure (using your thumb) near the stem. When there is a t e t e r t tore t or ne r 35˚ or or Dana Hovey Winter. Thought to be a seedling of Seckel. Roxbury, more days. Then remove them as needed, allow them to o t 1 54 ntro e 1 t - ent r r t ent t r n t t roo te or 2 4 w ow t e n w o e t n o e n onor o C o e o ton to r en to e fl or nurseryman and author of The Fruits of America. Sometimes called Some varieties are useful for perry, Winter Seckel because of its similarity to Seckel. Small squat rich the pear equivalent of hard cider. o en- e ow r ete r t nten e weet ro t ten er We’ve grouped these varieties tor e e r e e ent fl or o t e e t e t n o w nter together on the next page. pears. Keeps extremely well. Harvest in October and store in a cool dry Pear blossoms are less attractive ot t re t e t n n e e er o et e e en te e r r to bees than apple blossoms, so pears Hardy vigorous moderately productive spreading tree adapts to a variety should be planted closer together to of soils. No scab and relatively few bugs. Z4. ME Grown. en re o n t on t o o e 291A Dana Hovey, $31.75 pears appear to be self-pollinating, Duc esse e err ’ te Mid-Late Summer. Seedling from we recommend a second variety Co ne o nt- er n e t o o re- n er e re r n e 1 2 for pollination. oo te or er - t er e ert r t e - ne e t n all varieties are similar. sugary and aromatic. Medium-small roundish yellow fruit blushed red re t e o n ore and covered with brown dots. Vigorous upright habit. We’ve been on a common in Maine. We’ve begun mission to track down lost pears historically grown in Maine. Sometimes tracking which varieties are more sus- it feels a bit like looking for passenger pigeons, but then another one ceptible and will share that info when shows up. We found this one in a collection out west. We think it initially we have more solid data. came to Maine from one of the large 19th-century nurseries in Rochester, e r re on root to n NY. Productive vigorous upright grower. Z4. ME Grown. w re 25 or t er t t r t nt 15 20 rt 21/2-6 tree 293A Du hesse de Berry d’Ete, $31.75 Bartlett te er ee n o n n er ton n n ntro- as ar’s inter te - nter r n en or e to t e n t e te 1 00 o nown Williams’ Bon Chré- Germany. Very good tough-skinned storage tien. The most widely planted and well known of all pears, accounting e r w ee nt r n t e root e r or 5 o t e o er ro t e to n te n Greenish-mottled medium-small pear-shaped o r e e r- e reen - e ow r t er oo t fruit with some russet splashes or dots. Coarse re e nn ro t e nort o n or r e oro fle w t oo fl or er r o t e tree e -to- row on - e tree e r o n e t e to re t oo don’t begin to eat them until a month after o n tor or n e r not o n te e e 4 ME Grown. picking. Years ago this nameless winter pear 285A Bartlett, $31.75 o n t w ro t e ro e ne r r n en or to Beurre Clairgeau - te erre C r e ntro nte Unity, ME. The name came later, courtesy of grower r n e r 1 30 r e rt ett- e e ow r t w t e t Howard Wulf who calls it “the latest-keeping pear re r n e w t r et t t e t t e r t r fl ore e e er een t r t e r re o o tree e t n tter weet n ro t ro t to t e ro n e o en e or t o e w o w nt e r nto n r 4 ME Grown. 1 54 C r e o n t n e or nn n n ot er oo n e tree 295A Kaspar’s inter, $31.75 are beautiful, vigorous, unusually upright, healthy, very productive, Luscious r 31 w rt t 1 6 ro e nn bearing young and annually. Quickly spread throughout New York ro o e o e - e e r- e r t e o t ne n ew n n nto ne e o n n t o er n e tr - o -w te fle weet n fl or w t o t no r t e pear growing at that time. Now mostly forgotten—we’re pleased to be n e ow n o ere w t t n ot e r o e t bringing it back. Z4. ME Grown. n e ort ne ot e en e e t t t t ro e t w en 286A Beurre Clairgeau, $31.75 rown ne r rt ett or one o t e n e r Will not pollinate other Bosc ee n ntro e n on o r n e 1 0 pears. re t re t nt 3 ME Grown. o e Beurre Bosc. Long-necked fruit is dark rich yellow covered 296A Luscious, $31.75 w t nn on- rown r et t n t e weet r tter fl or e t n ten er w te fle oot te t re n e n ro The Hunt for Old Maine Pears Somewhat gritty around the core. Large vigorous upright spreading tree By Dan Newman, historian, pear enthusiast, and an active member of the e r e ro nn oo o n tor or ot er r et e on t e Palermo Historical Society favorite throughout central Maine. Z4. ME Grown. While pears have been grown in Maine since the 17th century, they’ve 287A Bosc, $31.75 never achieved the ubiquity of the apple. Most of the grafted varieties— Cabot Vermont n o e ert e r r 1 50 o ere n w et er t e were o er n or ro e n or n e to ro e Cabot, VT, a few miles west of the New Hampshire border and about satisfactorily, or even to survive Maine’s winters. Trees grown from seed r nort n or er or e ert e r w t e - r e occasionally produced a hardy tree with good fruit that enjoyed a mea- pear-shaped fruit. Yellowish skin has a slight reddish blush. Yellowish re o ttent on n ew n n n e on ew o t e e r et e weet fle o r e r ne e tre e w t no r t e ot e o t o ne n oor r ne e te o or r t t e e e only is it a delicious dessert fruit, it is also remarkable for its very rare o t e en ro n ore t w t won er tor n fl or n t e e o e flower orn ent ntro e to n e r o ancient Maine trees. r n o on o ot to e on e w t t e o e nt on or o ne e r e e e e t t t e n ett e r C ot nn n e - o n t n er r 4 or of Scarborough has been rediscovered. We’re on the lookout for the on n e rre re e ot ro on er on ro o e en 3 ME Grown. e e ton ro o oo e ro o n tern 289A Cabot Vermont, $31.75 e e n n een n e e enw ro n or e e tree re n n to t e oo w o t ener t on t to us to preserve these gifts left to our ME Grown = grown in care. Preservation is not an obligation Maine at one of our to those who have passed, but rather an small local nurseries. obligation to future generations who will harvest the fruit. Plant an heirloom pear n o n n o r wor 18 (207) 426-9900 McLaughlin ro or Co nt Tyson er en ntown o t 1 4 e e n t e 1 21 te t e ore 1 00 e ent - t e ert e r The Pears of New York on fl or e on on to e e keeps well into winter. Medium-large classic and says that the “tree is the most nearly perfect of any pear grown pear-shaped yellow russeted fruit, sometimes n er e - e ro n ee - e ow r t w t with a reddish blush. Sweet, rich, o e r et n n no r en not on ter rt ett o ore perfumed, extremely juicy and melting. e t on t n on o ere t n e erow on r we t ntro e to te e rr w o e o en ntown or e on t e ro n o t e n ton r en oo tree w nte o t 120 Widely planted here in Maine for generations. Our scionwood comes years ago. “Don’t despair [when] ro e re n e en n ne r ree o e o er 100 e r this pear comes off the tree like old, the annually productive tree lived through all the great winters of the a green rock in October. We shake 20t ent r 4 ME Grown. them down after Columbus Day when 303A Tyson, $31.75 the nights are getting cold. We bring them inside Pear Collection orte n e o 5 erent tree w ont n and place them in canvas bags, and start searching combination of heirloom and more recent varieties to start your orchard. in a week or two. The taste is sweet with a hint not n e n err e r r to 4 n ME Grown. of cinnamon, and the texture delightful, not 315A Pear Collection, bundle of 5, $142.00 e e r o e to e t o er napkin or cut it up and eat out of a bowl… yields heavily year after year. This pear is Perry Pears Perry is easy to grow, we do nothing to it at all except pick them in October.” fermented pear juice, the pear Through our best effort to identify this pear, we tentatively believe e ent o er t o t t to e n we ont n e to r t n e t e r t t ere can be made with any pears, it possibility it may turn out to be another Maine heirloom. Z4. ME Grown. is traditionally made in western 297A McLaughlin, $31.75 n n n nort ern r n e Nova Late Summer. Hammond, NY. Seedling discovered and intro- using small bitter inedible pears. e ent e o t wren e r er e ot The perry pear varieties we offer Large yellow rounded dessert fruit covered in greet dots with occasional this year all originate from western r et e e t n fle C r n r or te e r or England. None are for fresh eating. These e e e n er e een tr n w e ort ent o e r pears are thought to have been introduced to a few hours north of us in Penobscot County. He described it as “large n n t e o n 2 000 e r o e w t oot re te t re n t n n on er e ert e r o er o e e r n t r e nto t e t e e t nn n o o r 12 14 r et e o t e n t e r er landscape and were eventually pressed r t o ro o r tr n nort ern roo too Co nt not te and fermented. Local trees became r tten e r to e ree 3 ME Grown. famous. When we went to England 298A Nova, $31.75 n 2011 we te e err pear trees known to be more than Patten te er re 15 n o C tten ntro 300 e r o ree e r ter ow t 1 22 er oo re e t n w t weet we visited many large old trees in fl or ne- r ne o t fle n r t Normandy. The best book on perry e e re n ent o o n e n e pears is Pears of Gloucestershire Good canning pear. Tree is extremely adaptable, growing and Perry Pears of the Three Counties o er t e ort e t on w ow er fle e r n e C r e rte 2013 won t re e en n er t e we t o t e ro re incredibly well during the cold “test winter” several years Blakeney e n err e r n eter ne rent e ago when hundreds of northern Maine pear trees died ro t e e o ene n t e ore t o e n n n e o n to the roots. Extremely hardy and highly recommended o r 1 30 o et e e Painted Lady, Painted Pear, or o e t tr t oo o n tor or ot er Circus Pear, Red Pear and Brinsop Red Longtail. Traditionally used r et e re t nt 3 ME Grown. n oo n n rt r n err C e e - r err e r w t e t n e t nn n - e 2 299A Patten, $31.75 ro n re - e n r ete r t r n t not or re Seckel Late Summer. Seedling near Philadelphia, eating. Productive and best blended with other perry pears. Once grown e r 1 00 o et e e Sugar Pear. Often throughout much of the English West Midlands, still quite popular in the on ere t e e t-fl ore o e r e en t e n U.K. Perry makers across the U.S. are planting it now, too. Z4. ME Grown. is delicious. Small squat fruit is russeted yellowish- 316A Blakeney Red, $31.75 rown w t t re t n t e n ro t t r e o t e tree or r n Gin n err e r o ro e ewent n ripen later. We use Seckels to make our baked pear o e ter re n n r t re or e n 1 6 e - t e t won er er ro t e nn - e r n r e tree e to aromatic perry reminiscent of juniper, hence the name. Medium sharp grow. The most reliably bearing pear tree we have in our home orchard. with medium acidity and medium tannin. Not for fresh eating. Small n re t re t nt not o n te rt ett 4 ME Grown. 2 ro n r t reen - e ow n r ete w t n or n e- Considered to be extremely rare although currently begin planted more 300A Seckel, $31.75 frequently. Good disease resistance. Z4. ME Grown. Summercrisp er 33201 r o 5 ro t to 317A Gin, $31.75 t e ort e tn o n r n 1 33 e o ere w ee n nn 1 6 r e t er weet e ert n nn n Hendre Huffcap n err e r o e Lumberscull. e r w t reen n n re en n t n ne t ro or n te ne r t e e o ro errow n re e them fresh, can them in quarters, and juice the rest. Precocious annually n o e ter re n n e ore 1 00 weet n tr n ent w t e r n tree e - e w t t on t Con ere t e low acidity and low tannin. Charle Martell calls it “one of the very r e t r et n t e nne ot o e t on ree ro re t 3 best vintage varieties of perry pear with all the most desirable orchard ME Grown. ro ert e 2 or e ro n r t e ow - reen rt russeted and orange-blushed. Not for fresh eating. Z4. ME Grown. 302A Summercrisp, $31.75 318A Hendre Huffcap, $31.75 Pear Leaf Blister Mite Yellow Huffcap n ent n err e r o or n te Pear leaf blister mites can sometimes be a problem for pear growers in the on or ne r t e C n o r n r e n t e 1 t ent r n U.S. The tiny mites overwinter under the budscales and become active in synonyms including Chandos Huffcap, King’s Arms, Uffcap, Uffcup, spring. They are too small to see with the naked eye, but you’ll know you and Yellow Longdon. Medium sharp and astringent with high acidity have them if pear foliage looks like it has red blisters that eventually turn n e t nn n or n to Cr C e o eton C er or black. We recommend a dormant oil spray in spring just before the pears n e ow e t e r e t err o e o t o n o o r r n t e ro r te e ow- reen r ete r t n er 2 n eter w t t e ow w t rote t on e e re t on we r e o e r tree fle 4 ME Grown. w t r n t et- n t e r n e ore n o n 319A Yellow Huffcap, $31.75 organic treatments for fruit trees in our Seeds & Supplies catalog, or Perry Pear Collection n e o 3 erent tree to t rt o r err at fedcoseeds.com/ogs. We have noticed that trees often outgrow the e r or r r to 4 n ME Grown. infection even if you do nothing at all. 322A Perry Pear Collection, bundle of 3, $85.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 19 Asian Pears Pyrus pyrifolia Stone Fruits Prunus spp. ere re t o n o n e n e r t r n C n Widely cultivated around the world and adaptable to most of New En- w ere t e e een rown or ore t n 2000 e r e n ot rt r to o C n tone e n t e r t fle re on - e n e r o n n e r er ro n to t e t or tone n ree tone t ro w ro t e fle European pears: they are crisper and very juicy, sweet and mild with a nutty background, and are Sweet Cherries P. avium roundish in shape. Although partly self-fruitful, ener row nto r e tree t o t e flower re ten er n pollinators are recommended. The varieties we fruiting can be iffy in central Maine and north. We are testing some of the offer will pollinate one another. Some European hardiest varieties and hope to have more available in coming years. Most e r not rt ett w o t o n tor sweet cherries need a second variety for pollination. See descriptions e e t e et e t n t e ro on e or for pollination requirements. We recommend planting two or more r et e or e t re t t re tree re 25 30 t e tree 25 e en tw e r n t e r t two ont ter oo 1 to ensure large fruit. Leave about one fruit per spur. rt 2 /2-6 tree Unlike European pears, they should be tree-ripened. Benton er C 146- te e e 2003 When the seeds are black, the pears are ready. They ripen in fl or r e r ee re err re e e n late summer and keep several weeks with refrigeration. ower o t wee ter t n ot er weet err e Cultural requirements are similar to European potentially missing late frosts. Like many sweet cherries, it’s e r t o t e re on ere one t to now ow t w er or n o nort ern 5 nt n o n one 4 re n o nt ew n n nonet e e we re e te to tr t n ro- ro n e r re ro te 15 20' at climates and warmer locations. Less susceptible to cracking t r t nt tree 15 20' rt 21/2-6 tree than other varieties. Vigorous upright and spreading growth. Chojuro Late Summer. Chance seedling. Self-pollinating. We can’t promise hardiness, but if you w n w re e t re n o t think you have a good spot for a sweet cherry, it might be 1 5 weet n r w t t n t e tter ot wort ot ee o te PPA 5 fl or w en r ene on t e tree te fle r 332A Benton, $31.75 crisp, somewhat coarse and not overly juicy. Medium- Lapins Summer. Van x Stella. Summerland Res & e o te to o e r t w t reen - rown to rown e - e Ctr C C n 1 3 r e weet - t t n o er w t t n oot r et n o er r et t t - o n -re nne r t en wee ter been used to breed some popular varieties like Shinseiki. Short picking te - n w r er tr t er oro period. Unbruised early-picked fruit will store for a few months in the ro t e n r t ro on tent n entr ne root e r e - e oro en e er ro t e tree w t Self-pollinating t ene t ro nt n w t not er r et 4 5 re n t roo n or 4 5 ME Grown. 333A Lapins, $31.75 323A Chojuro, $31.75 Rainier er 1-6 0 n n ro o e ntro Niitaka te er no w r - o tn n 1 60 C e ert err er r e r t ntro Co e e o r t re ottor n 1 2 r e ro n t e ow n w t re r ne-te t re fle w t t n t or n e- rown r ete r t w t weet r fle C n - weet e o fl or Co or e e oo re or nne te re t nt to w t ro t fl or o r e re t or re e t n n nn n cracking. Ripens midsummer. Vigorous productive tree. Early to come Medium to low vigor, very upright, highly productive. Some say the nto e r n ne o t e r e t weet err e rrent e r n r t flower re o en- ter e ot er o r e ree t t et r t in some Zone 4 locations. Requires a second variety for pollination. we w en ro - o n te w t ot er n r et e or rt ett tore 4 5 Indigenous Royalties. two ont 4 5 335A Rainier, $31.75 325A Niitaka, $31.75 Van Summer. Empress Eugenie x open-pollinated. Summerland Res Nijisseiki te er- C n e ee n o n on r e Ctr C C n 1 44 ter t n ot er r et e n -t e e no e t o t C re e t re n 1 almost-black medium-to-large fruit. Very o nown Twentieth Century te fle -fl ore r r t o o ew t e t e to juicy, medium-sugar and high acid. Medium-large greenish-yellow semi- cracking. Heavy annual crops. o r t ro n -o te tore to 6 ont n oo tor e Strong vigorous upright t e e r t t on w t C o ro e o t e n e r n tr tree. Excellent pollinator, n n n e e t e t n r to w ot er re o re but requires a second e e ten e n o ern ne e e r ree n ro r ree variety for pollination. e - e r t n re n en o e o wee ter 5 t wort tr n n 4 t n n 4 5 ME Grown. 336A Van, $31.75 326A Nijisseiki, $31.75 Shinseiki te er e C o ro e w ntro re e t re tn n 1 45 te fle r weet n t rt w t ot o e e - e ro n -o te light to medium-bright yellow fruit, with little to no russeting. Shinseiki e n new ent r ee o t 3 ont n tor e en e re n re o o ro t e tree e e re t nt 4 5 ME Grown. 327A Shinseiki, $31.75 Shinsui er w e ort e tn t e n 1 6 e - e ro n -o te e ow - rown r ete r t w t r ne-te t re er weet fle ot r ot er n pears. One of the earliest to ripen each year. Pennsylvania grower and n e r on o e r ner on er t re t e r ee o t 6 wee n re r er t on Shinsui is translated as ‘new water,’ or t on n n t on n ore t o t e e on o one o n o t o 20t - rt t to n 1 -1 2 en o on t now n e o w e re o n e on o or r nt Relative ripening dates o o n wo en 4 5 t o o r t o o e on woo nt t t o we n t e nort e t 328A Shinsui, $31.75 we have customers all over the U.S.—up along the Canadian border, in Yoinashi ow er r er e ntro ew t e C o t 1 t e - t nt t te own n t e o nt n o ort C ro n n o t ne-te t re o -w te fle r ro t n weet r e west in the high desert—anywhere hardiness is important. We love having on t rown r ete r t e n oo e r n ne e t customers so spread out, and we do our best to tell you when a variety will oo r et ne o t e o t ow er r er e e r e t to r en n o r or r t t not e r t t t r en n e te er n n tt e t o to t r e t ter o n e ore n o northern Maine might ripen a month earlier in Pennsylvania. Ripening dates r t e - oro tree o er te to er n e to re t 4 5 also vary from year to year depending on conditions. Not only that, the fruit ME Grown. might be exquisite up north but rather blah farther south. That’s the nature 329A Yoinashi, $31.75 of these varieties, and it’s part of why we offer so many each year. We think o n r et e t t n t r e n o r re 20 (207) 426-9900 Pie Cherries P. cerasus Peaches P. persica o e Sour Cherries. Northern New England peach growing can be Delicious enough to eat right very successful. The trees can bear so heavily off the tree and especially good that the fruit needs thinning and the branches in pies. They fruit in early to need support. Some winters can be hard on midsummer and don’t mind heavy peach trees, and they may die. Other trees live soil. Pie cherries are generally for years. Replant and try again. They are worth divided into two groups: Morello the trouble, and since they bear young, you won’t types have dark red spherical fruit, e to w t on dark juice and relatively small Prune peach trees in spring after the buds begin to swell and show compact trees. Montmorency (or pink. Remove dead and inward-growing branches. Make a few bold cuts re e t e e t re t to bring main branches closer to the trunk. Peach trees grow vigorously fl ttene r t e r e n e - e each year and fruit on last year’s wood. The goal is to keep trees small somewhat open trees. n o en e r n e w re ro t e we t o t e ro ter e err e re n nt r er t n weet err e t n e cutting back any main branches, thin last year’s shoots and cut them r tr t n to row t o t e tree re r n one 3 flower to o t 12 1 en o re one t e tree e o oo buds may be damaged in colder winters. Some growers in Maine have something like an open hand reaching for a peach, with the tree not much reported large harvests only to have their trees die unexpectedly a year t er t n 10 or o or two later. We regularly hear reports of excellent crops, so we know Peaches are usually unaffected by pests or diseases in northern areas, it can be done. Pie cherries are self-pollinating, and do not require the occasional exception being peach leaf curl. PLC is not a fatal problem another variety for pollination. t re tree re 10 15 t nt but does need to be controlled if you get hit with it. Look for crinkled or 15 20 rt 21/2-6 tree puckered foliage in spring. Remove affected leaves and compost them. English Morello er et er n or er n e ore 1 60 Spray the tree with lime, sulfur or copper early the following spring Sometimes called ro ri a atafia, Grosse Lang Lothkirsche, w e t t or nt e ore n o en n on r or or et Griotte du Nord, Morris and Colorado Morello. Very dark red-black spray while leafed-out may also be effective. n r re fle n e e ent n r err Peach trees are self-pollinating t e o not nee e on tree or recommended for pies and all other cookery. Ripens late, o n t on t re tree w e 10 15 t nt 20 rt 3-6 tree after Montmorency. Distinctive small roundish tree with Madison te e e en tn 1 63 ne e or t e roo n r n e rown-rot re t nt e te t e ort w t r ne r to e en t r en n 3 wee ter name we know it by, it is thought to have originated ro n t e t e o t e Co on ro n Co ntr r e - r e on t e ro e n n n e ent n n t r t w t r t or n e n n r t re r n e- e ow r w to n n n t en ort er 4 5 ne-te t re fle w t e e ent er weet r e fl or n 3 0A English Morello, $31.75 ee e ree tone e e ent nner er ro t e e t on Evans Mid-Late Summer. Parentage unknown. to er n e to o o - e on ro t e o or te 4 onton ert o e Bali. Rescued 351A Madison, $30.25 ro o r t n 1 6 r e n n or Redhaven r - e en en tn 1 40 w o t w n e o r e - Con ere r t not r e n e e - e ro n entley of St. Lawrence Nurseries. Large crops r t w t e t re n o en- e ow n n weet r ne- of Morello-type fruit are excellent for eating, te t re e ow fle on- rown n e ent or e t n ree n jams, jellies, pies, dark red juice and wine. Can nn n n Co nt e e o to er t t e r or te be very hardy and produce good-quality fruit, but e o t e wor o t w e nte ree tone e r o r re t n one 3 e een n on tent t r tree e ro e ro n o t ern roo too Co nt or r dwarf tree, tolerant of a wide range of soils, although Vigorous highly productive disease-resistant spreading trees are tolerant re er t ert e o 3 4 to bacterial spot. Z4. 3 1A E ans, $31.75 352A Redhaven, $30.25 ar el lantation er r e nt t on e r oo e Reliance r - en- o n te ee n o nn 455 err rown or ener t on on n roo too Co nt r ne o o r ere t tn 1 64 Con ere t e r e t e o t ro n n n o r e r or r et e t t re ro e we e - e ro n ree tone t er re o er reen n t e r n o 0 r e tree n nort ern ne flowere n r te e ow r t e ow fle o t n or on ere r ter 44˚ r t re r t r to ont oren r ro t e t we o e t n ne ten ro e r e ro e r t n e r extremely long-lived, and proving to be very resistant to disease in our e e o e re t n e to e e r 3 4 nort ern tr t o t e or n tree on one t e on n t e 353A Reliance, $30.25 or o nn er e o n tree t t e ere to 100 or ore Saturn r - 2 602 03 t er tn e n t e r on t e e e o t e to ot to e e o - ntro 1 5 ro te or e eento e e o n t e e or en e or tr n re o nort ern ew n n 3 ME Grown. e e e e t e re fl t oo e t e ro t e ot er e 3 3A ar eld Plantation, $31.75 of the galaxy. Descended from the wild disc-shaped pan tao peaches in Mesabi er n n e ee n t 1 64 e n China. Once thought to be heavenly fruits that would bestow immortality n ter re fle w t e r e n rent e e t weeter on t o e w o t te t e r fle t rn r re or o - than other Montmorency types. Recommended for sauce and pies. We hardiness while maintaining the pan tao’s legendary sweet aromatic e e er r o o t e w en we e r re ort o 20- e r-o peachy deliciousness. Red blush over a creamy green background. tree n ne re n n e t n ro t e o t ten e r o te fle n e - ree tone e e we began a trial on our farm. Our tree has shown no dieback and is quite crop. Ripens around the same time as ro t e t o re ne ent re e e ree t r w r - e en e t nt to e ot 5 t e tree w row to o t 10 14 4 ME Grown. currently testing hardiness in Z4. 344A Mesabi, $31.75 We’ll keep you posted. Montmorency Summer. Seedling of Cerise Hâtive or Cerise Commune. 354A Saturn, $30.25 ont oren e r n e e ore 1600 ntro e to t e o t 1 30 e o t o o e err e ot w e rown n ro e or t on t e t n r o e e en e n t e ro t r - fle e r t re r t e e r t n e n or te for processing. Surprisingly hardy, though not as hardy as Evans. Our roo too Co nt te t or r tree re etter t n eteor o o re we ro entr ne o t e r to e re t nt to rown rot oro ro t e e - e r t- re n tree to er te r et o o 3 4 345A Montmorency, $31.75
or ot er t t r t e err e ee Corne n C err e 41 C r ne ewe n n n C err e e 46
fedcoseeds.com/trees 21 Hybrid Plums Prunus spp. La Crescent Late Summer. P. sal. Shiro x P. a. Howard Yellow. U Extremely hardy crosses between various nn 1 23 o nown Golden La Crescent or Golden Minnesota. n n er n e e r t Most of the hybrid plum varieties are colored with some variation of red even after severe winters. and orange with a little purple tossed in. Yellow-skinned La Crescent is Hybrid plums require a second one notable exception. The beautiful roundish tender thin-skinned yellow variety for pollination. Hybrid r t o et e e w t tt e n en er e ow fle o plum pollination has been glossed e e ent t weet ro t n e t e o r ot ree tone over—or avoided—in virtually all r t re n oro tree 3 4 ME Grown. catalogs and fruit-growing literature 366A La Crescent, $31.75 for generations. Here’s what we Lavina Mid-Late Summer. P. cerasifera x P. salicina. Developed in recommend: t n e r 2000 o e nown n e re r et n Plant a cluster of trees close enough the trade. Stunning golden-yellow skin is blushed dark red to pink when together for the branches to mingle. Our fully ripe—one of the most attractive plums in the orchard with fruit ter n er ro 3 to ne r o en we n n t t o er n o n e er fle e t w t n trees planted. They can be planted close to form fl or note o n r e en n - te e te er n t et or e 15 20 n n or r ett n n e n t e central Maine. Seems to bloom around the same time as Toka. Grower pollinators (Prunus americana seedlings or varieties) among the hybrids. e e te en r t r e o n o 26˚ w t on nor With some decent sunshine during bloom, you should get good fruit set. dieback. Highly vigorous growth. Semi-freestone and crack resistant. We suggest Toka and South Dakota as good pollinators in addition to Z4. ME Grown. P. americana or P. nigra seedlings or grafted trees in the orchard. We 367A Lavina, $31.75 n e t e er n ee n n t r e t on e e t Monitor te er 0 P. sal. r n P. a. nn 1 20 be the best pollinator for the hybrids. e - e ro n o te o nte r t t ee r e n oo t e re r or t e r et e we o er owe er o e n t n oo e t t rt tron -fl ore or n e fle r n o t o rower e een on erne t t t e er n n n o t the old Northwind Nursery in Minnesota described it to us as having a Dakota, bloom later than the hybrids. Some years, this can be an issue. tron e fl or on t e t rt e too t rt er or o t eo e e o wo nt t e t 4 erent r et e e r e o w t te t e t e r t fl or e e t too C n tone oro ones you plant, you should get a good mix of pollen when each variety is re e ro t e r t re n tree 3 4 ME Grown. n oo o e t e e on er o r r Co e t on to cover all the bases of pollination. 368A Monitor, $31.75 Pollination may also improve with heat. Growers in warmer districts Pamela Late Summer. P. a. often report better success with pollination. This may be because the seedling, Westmanland, ME. heat prolongs the bloom season, increasing the number of trees with e o ntro 2105 - simultaneous available pollen. t weet-fle e tot on o r n o e w t o n t on en t e freestone medium-small n oo t e oo t on e t t r t r re fruit. Reddish skin with yellowish ro 15 20 t undertones. Productive and extremely hardy. e e t e to not t n ro e n 3-6 tree ower w t n tone n e e ent American Plum Seedling P. americana 15-20 ot r t o n tor or r n er n n included here since it may be the best pollinator for hybrid plums. e r o on t e e o rower te e n r Seedling plum that grows in thickets and produces very decent red, Miller purchased a hybrid plum from another e ow n or n e 1 r t t e or re e t n nn n n ree n nursery. The grafted plum never did well Spectacular white bloom in spring. Red fall color. Plant singly as a but the rootstock sprouted from below the graceful specimen, or let the branches intertwine with other plums for r t n e ent r te t w o oo o n t on nt n one er n or e er 3 4 r t e e n to r t t ro n t e r en te e r t to o t tree en to er ree tree to n nt r er t n the plum, he just called it Pam (from P. americana). We decided to n t t 3 ME Grown. ee n root to ee e 3 tre e r 3 ME Grown. 358A American Plum Seedling, $21.00 370A Pamela, $31.75 Black Ice Midsummer. P. Lydecker [P. besseyi x (P. salicina Oka x Pembina Early Summer. P. sal. e ne P. n. n o ne P. sal. e nt o er 2006 r e 2 ro n n en ntro tn 1 23 r e o nt r t re - ree tone early-ripening high-quality hardy blue-black dessert plum. Very sweet r t w t oo r o en-or n e fle r n r ot re - r e e - ree tone fle re o o n ro t e fl ore ne o t e r t o t e r to r en n er o t t e tree w t n t r o t rowt t re r n t same time or a bit earlier than Underwood and well before the bulk of the whom we visited a few years ago on a fruit exploration trip in ro 3 4 Indigenous Royalties. the Upper Midwest. He graciously showed us all 371A Pembina, $31.75 t ro n n r er n er Pipestone te er 21 P. sal. r n P. sal. x P. a. He was growing many of his plums in o nn 1 42 e ow-fle e n tone w t huge tubs, manipulating bloom time using e e ent weet fl or o et t n n ee e r e ee re greenhouses and coolers. This enabled him to cross fruit with a golden blush presumably named in honor of the beautiful red species or varieties that would never normally t n te ro o e tone re te to r t t on eo e flower to et er o we re not n o nt oro re e r tree 3 Indigenous Royalties. tent n we re e e to o er r t or 372A Pipestone, $31.75 introduction. The literature recommends Toka or Purple Heart te er w n e er ntro n e 1 6 La Crescent as a pollinator. Now in e - e n tone r t w t re - r e n n fle o e trials at our farm. PPA. 3 ME Grown. say the most delicious plum we offer. Meaty, mild and rich with no 359A Black Ice, $31.75 tr n en t won er r n ro e n ter t w ro t to t e great plant breeder Professor Fruit-growing websites Elwyn Meader by a fellow Whether you use organic or conventional orchard practices, several who passed away before Meader websites can provide you with information about insect and disease could ascertain the plum’s origin. pressure, spray timing, frost predictions and a whole lot more. e nte o r ne t to Here are a few of the best: e ot re r t n we UMaine Cooperative Extension: umaine.edu/ipm/programs/apple/ Underwood also may be a Cornell University: fruit.cornell.edu/ good pollinator. Not as hardy University of Vermont: uvm.edu/~fruit/ as other hybrids. May show UMass Extension Fruit Program: ag.umass.edu/fruit tip damage following colder Holistic Orchard Network: groworganicapples.com/ winters in central Maine, some susceptibility to black PPA nt tent t n t or e ro t on o t e nt not 4 5 ME Grown. prohibited. The use of PPA in the catalog is for informational purposes 373A Purple Heart, on n oe not on t t te n en or e ent e o o nt tent n $31.75 22 (207) 426-9900 South Dakota te er 2 P. a. European plums P. domestica rent e n nown nn tn e o re n o ten rown o er or r ne tr e r ne 1 4 -to- e r t r e ow is a plum that can be dried without the pit fermenting. We’ve heard rec- n w t r t re e - r o en t on to n t e or 45 e on e ore r n t e e ow fle e t weet e - European plums produce smaller fruit and are generally not as hardy as ent re -e t n t ree tone the hybrid plums, though they can handle heavier soils and are less prone e e o t er on flower n er o to brown rot. Unlike hybrids, they are prone to the fungal disease black n er n e ree we re o en o t knot, which looks like black chewing gum and appears on ot o n tor or r n branches. While not necessarily fatal, it must be kept our orchard it’s still blooming when the other in check by removing and destroying infected e ro e t e r flower o r en ter branches. Trees grow upright and are usually the hybrids are done. Developed by NE Hansen before tr ne to entr e er t o Europe- 1 0 ne o n en t ent too t to t e ree n an plums are self-pollinating, planting program at the University of Minnesota where it was two different varieties will improve polli- ter ntro e oro tree 3 ME Grown. nation. (Will not pollinate hybrid plums.) 374A South Dakota, $31.75 t re tree re 15 20 or er e Toka Late Summer. (P. a. x P. sim.) NE Hansen in- 20 rt 3-6 tree tro, SD Exp Stn, 1911. Rosy red fruit is mottled with Long John o ert n er en darker purplish-red and covered with a faint bloom, ntro t te tn ene up to 11/2 n eter rower on o n on o ent 1 3 on te r roon o t fl or n weet t n t e freestone fruit with blue waxy bloom e t n fl or ot re o ew t or n e r weet-t rt fle oo freestone. Extremely vigorous tree blooms fresh eating or dried for prunes. Named after heavily every year. Diligent pruning may be renowne ree er o n t on ro required to keep it from becoming a bit of a Geneva, NY. Upright spreading form. Heavy monster. Considered a great pollinator for producer. Showing good cold hardiness other hybrid plums because of its long bloom and resistance to bacterial leaf spot in er o 3 Indigenous Royalties. our trials. Ripens in late September in 376A Toka, $31.75 central Maine. Z4. Underwood Midsummer. MN 91 [(P. sim. x 386A Long John, $31.75 P. sal. Shiro) x P. a. nt nn 1 21 r e Mount Royal Late. Chance seedling, Outremont, Quebec, before 2 re r t r weet o en- e ow e - 1 03 o r n e e n t e nort ern or n e r ree tone fle er oo or e t n n oo n on n e on o e ont- o o ere r Cor e n or ne r ontre oo e r er n on er t n o t r n e r to e er o et e etween 1 30 n 1 50 e r n nt nn ro o good pollinator for other hybrid plums, including Purple Heart. Northern e - e ro n r r e r t ten on ere t e weete t Maine grower Steve Miller considers it one of his most reliable bearers. o t e ro e n e fle reen - e ow n r e on r en n e on oro r e re n tree 3 ME Grown. re r e ro en nne n n re er e e - e tree o en 377A Underwood, $31.75 w t oo rot n e n re re on o er te r n n 3 aneta Midsummer. (P. sal. e P. a. Terry) NE Hansen intro, 387A Mount Royal, $31.75 tn 1 13 e e e w en r were n ort nt n Stanley te en r n e tn commercially viable crop. Named after a Yanktonai youth who won fame 1 26 o t o r ro e n r ne n n t e r o 1 12 n ter e e re t e e to r e er w t t e o e e e t on somewhat pointed, 11/2 2 re - roon n tone r t weet ten er o t n e ent or tr n ent or n e fle er t not r n e -t n cooking, eating, canning tart and easy to peel. Delicious overall taste. Hansen said of Waneta: “My and drying. Medium- e e t t n t r et e o ne t e e t o nt o t e n t e to-large oval fruits n t e ne e t with dark blue skin. probably the largest [fruit] reen- e ow r o o er 10 000 ee n but tender juicy Early blooming healthy ne- r ne weet open spreading tree bears fle e e r n re n o r or r 3 fast-growing adaptable ME Grown. Indigenous Royalties. medium-to-large funnel- 378A aneta, $31.75 shaped tree produces ME Grown = grown in Hybrid Plum Collection healthy vigorous annual Maine at one of our Our choice of 7 trees to crops. Z4. small local nurseries. begin your plum orchard, 389A Stanley, $31.75 including at least two Valor te er ne e r n e ne n tn nt r o pollinators, one of which will 1 6 n e e ent - r o e r e e - ree tone r t w t r e- e n er n ee n e e e n n reen - e ow fle e t or re e t n t P. americana. Trees are e t e ot er o oo r e or nne n o r entr ne tr individually labeled. this plum has been productive, high quality, cold hardy and resistant to r to 4 bacterial leaf spot. Ripens a bit after Stanley, in late September or early 383A Hybrid Plum October. Z4. Collection, 390A Valor, $31.75 bundle of 7, $195.00 Plum Curculio... and garlic Plum curculio is a small pesky insect, a terrible plum and apple pest. We have read that laying sheets of cardboard under plum (and apple) trees will smother the PC pupae developing in the soil. Many organic growers spray Surround clay o or n to re r tt e e e n erwoo powder on their trees to combat this weevil. (See seedling aided and abetted by Waneta and Toka took over his delivery our Seeds & Supplies catalog, or visit fedcoseeds. truck, put him in a head-lock and demanded he deliver them to me com/ogs, for this and other orcharding supplies.) r t t e were t re o e n o e own n t o e Many years ago we planted garlic near one of our e ee n wore t e t w t e t on t t n o t o e apple trees and neglected to harvest all the bulbs. Now we have a small re r te ter e e on t e e te et to wor colony of garlic plants around the tree. Recent reports are touting garlic re t en r n t e o e t or t e r o eterrent ne ot e en e e t t e r e n t e n ont e er wor n t o r e nt ore r fedcoseeds.com/trees 23 SUMMER-BEARING RASPBERRIES Small Fruits & Berries er- e r n r err e e r on e on - e r ne flor ne Raspberries Rubus spp. e on err e r en ro n te n entr ne e o e r err e re or ro en n oot e Brandywine Purple 631 ton tn 1 6 e n and especially pie. We even like the foliage—best taken r err ro w t ee r e o or n e e ent fl or r e ro t e r t- e r r o ne w e e o ro t r o r t r t rt n er e t or ot n e t te e n r t ne r er n sweet as Royalty, which we’ve offered for years, but we thought we’d minerals, and the leaf tea makes a great astringent and tasty switch things up. Similar ripening time. Semi-upright vigorous thorny tonic. The root bark is also medicinal. Raspberry season in 10 ne 4 ne - t ro t t e to ort er ro e n t e re ent e R. idaeus or R. 397A Brandywine Purple Raspberry, bundle of 5, $29.50 i. var. strigosus 53 erent Rubus species and subspecies live Latham 4 n o on nn 1 20 t n r r err in Maine. for almost a century, extremely popular and widely grown. Large bright e on r et not nee e or o n t on re 1 r t ro n r tt e r n r t weet - e e note err e e er ne ro root ten fl ore n ro t re t or re e t n nn n ree n they do not sprout from the plant stem after planting. This is juice or pie. Ripens over an extended season making it an ideal candidate o e t ent ee t e we w tere n t e o or t e o e r en C ne re 4 5 t n ro t e ot break dormancy, sprout from the roots and thrive for many as spiny as most raspberries. Widely adaptable and very winter hardy. e r to o e o o r r err ne re we roote re e e re t nt 3 root n ert e r - ree 398A Latham Raspberry, bundle of 10, $29.50 EVERBEARING RASPBERRIES Nova o t n o ne ent e o ot C n 1 1 er e r n r err e e r on r t- e r ne n o r tr o e r r not r er t n o ne n on r (primocanes). Particularly desirable for northern growers n r t t too e - e r o ew t r t re r t because they can die (or be cut) to the ground and still Upright productive minimally spiny canes produce long fruiting laterals ro e e ro t e o ow n e r n entr ne t t e err e e to 3 t e r t o t e e r en n - te t 399A Nova Raspberry, bundle of 10, $29.50 Anne te - 1 t en rr o 1 Prelude r 100 1 ton tn 1 en er er e r n weet fl or e e ow r err r en n early and produces a second small crop in the fall, just when we start to r e o e e on r t tore e ent r er t n r err e er r e re on - t r r t t t n other yellows. Semi-vertical canes may sucker less than w t tt e t oro w nter- r ne ter e er e r most everbearing types. Cut it entirely to the ground after the o tr n n r er o n e er wrote tron re o en season is over. Resistant to phytophthora root rot. Z4. re e t owe r ne e to o ne t w nter n r t t e 394A Anne Raspberry, bundle of 10, $29.50 e r e t o r et e e o er e er ree 4 August Red te r 102 w r 2 400A Prelude Raspberry, bundle of 10, $29.50 ee n or 2 1 10 r n n r err e e r on e on - e r ne er 20 0 R. strigosus selection)] Developed Black Raspberry e er 1 3 Con ere t e r e t o t e New Logan r n nown w rent e no e r 1 00 everbearing types—the last hope when no other raspberry we tern e r oo w t e - r e t rt t fl or o r w r e e - r e r on r t e e ent fl or blue-black berries covered in whitish bloom. Semi-upright productive Co t 3 e r e r er t n ot er e er e rer e en ne o r r t e r o er n ew o n o e o r o n ro t e er o t 10 n entr ee 3 Maine. We are very pleased to offer this rare variety, bred by 401A New Logan Black Raspberry, bundle of 5, $29.50 w n e er 3 ME Grown. err e e r on e on - e r ne 395A August Red Raspberry, bundle of 5, $29.50 Blackberry Nelson Midsummer. Nelson has been surviving Maine winters for at Polana te er t e e er ternte e n t o e t ent r ntro e to t e e en nt o e on ron o o o n or t re r e n o n 1 1 r e r w o e 1 2 oto r t en on t e r r nort e t o re err e w t er oo fl or on oro n ro t e r n ton ow t e err e row n t e rn o n e er ort ne er e r or n e er e r n r et n nort ern calls it “exceptionally hardy,” one of the most enduring blackberries he tr t t r en n te t or e r e te er n knows. Tall sturdy upright inch-thick canes can be grown on er or e we n o r e o tr or n to n e o t or ree t n n r t o er te r e n te of UMaine, “as near a thing to a sure bet.” Easy to pick: the juicy with true blackberry taste. Highly productive with berries hang off the tops of the plants. Suckers freely. Z4. 16 1 o o on t e entr t t e o t o n 396A Polana Raspberry, bundle of 10, $29.50 has seen on any blackberry. He gets four good pickings o er two wee n - t e ent e n Agri-gel Highly recommended oo re e t n e e re t nt n ert e r - or r err nt n ee 33 free plugs. Like all blackberries, spreads quickly so give it L664A Agri-gel, $3.00 roo 4 e one 3 we -roote 403A Nelson Blackberry, bundle of 5, $29.50 Growing Raspberries and Blackberries • Everbearing raspberries: nt 15 rt e e e er e r n Cane fruits have shallow perennial roots. They prefer full sun, good air t e e r r t on r t- e r n e on - e r ne o e o e o r t on n we - r ne o r n or n tter o o w ere o t on n w r er tr t o n e e t e r t- e r ne to o erw nter to toe e er ot toe tr w err e or w r e e rown after they fruit. The following year, you will get a light crop in early summer we - e t t n t 10 20 e r from those now two-year-old canes, followed by a larger crop later from the re re nt n o e n o o te n re 15 e r new r t- e r ne n o er re ener o wo t ne to or 10 e re er 100 t n e e r e eno to re t e ro n n te ter t e e e ro or n e r r n new r t- e r out the roots. Do not allow the canes will fruit in mid-late summer. ne root to r o t e e t • Summer-bearing raspberries: To make a hedgerow, trellis between two o n root n r - e L664A, w re o t 3 4 o t e ro n n 1 36 rt e nt 2 rt e 33 or 1 2 o r e ore ter r e t r ne to t e ro n t e ne t t rr e r t or re o e nt n nt 1 2 ee er t e t e o ow n r n n t e re r t- e r ne to o t 3 4 than the nursery line. Mulch apart. They will bear fruit next year. During the growing season cut back with a thick layer of woodchips. ne to 5 t e re en n o er e ere ert e er e r n w t • Purple and black raspberries and blackberries: nt n 3 4 rt to 100 n re or o o t 3 4 nt er e to enter o t or ort nee e r n n 8 lbs bloodmeal or 14 lbs soybean t e e er- e r n r err e t e n t n to 5 ne e er 100- t row o e o r e er r n t e e r er n t o r t e r ne to 21/2 recommend additional nitrogen 3 t w en o r e ter r t n r n e o r n w re ee n e ne n t etween or ter r n n t t not ne e r n t e o ow n nt re re 2 w ter er wee r n t t e e r t n ter to 12 during the growing season. 24 (207) 426-9900 Highbush Blueberries Vaccinium corymbosum Elliott er te 4-6 r n ton er e oneer Many of Maine’s lakes are lined with massive stands of highbush 1 4 re e on-e ten er Con ere t e te t o r et e ott e err e n t e to ort er r en two wee ter er e oo e ter o e - e er r r n t e ore re re on t e n -fl ore t e err e t re n o ew t t e e e we re er or noe e upright plant is highly productive every year, in part because it blooms beautiful vigorous shrubs are extremely easy late and escapes spring frosts. Z4. to row t o e ro t e n re e 10A Elliott Blueberry, $1 .50 planting several varieties, you can harvest Jersey - te 5- e ro er 1 2 e e o e o err e ro e r t ro o t o standard of blueberry introductions to which new varieties are compared. t e r r t ro 3 5 e r Medium to large dark blue berries in large loose clusters. Vigorous erect after planting. Productive for at least hardy bush. Productive, adapted to a wide range of soils, highly praised, 20 or 30 e r err e t rn easy to grow and suited to the New England climate. Z4. blue before they reach their 411A Jersey Blueberry, $14.50 e fl or e e t e on t e Meader r - 5- w n e er ntro tn bush until they are fully ripe. Check Durham, NH, 1971. Medium-large medium-blue fruit with excellent ew e ore o t e fl or weet w t nt o oro r t o en t re n Two varieties are required, three or er r 4 or e en 3 or more recommended, for pollination. 1-2 tr n nt 412A Meader Blueberry, $14.50 Blueray r - 4-6 Patriot r - 4 3 n -1 r e t n e 3 C -5 e o t ne 1 6 rt ow rent e t e to 1 55 r e r n o t e r e r err e w t e e ent fl or ro t e dark blue berries of high upright open spreading bush. Tolerant or resistant to some strains of soil dessert quality in small clusters. n r 3 Considered the best-tasting 413A Patriot Blueberry, $14.50 by nearly everyone who grows Sunrise r 5-6 1 oo t e r r et w t highbush blueberries. Very vigorous e - e er fl or ee e err e ten e r en n e on bush with upright spreading habit. o 4 5 wee r t re n or o r r t t e o er n Consistently productive. Z4. Sunrise, so let us know how you like it. Z4. 405A Blueray Blueberry, $14.50 414A Sunrise Blueberry, $14.50 Bonus - te 5-6 ee n e e te r rt r ott o tter e r t o to t e n 1 0 newer t r n w e w t e tr - r e on - e weet err e on - e n r t e t e r e t err et en tt e ter et oo n t e o e r en n r e - o er t on or ow t t rt Showing good disease resistance. Z4. 406A Bonus Blueberry, $14.50 Chandler - te 5-6 1 4 er r e e e ent r e berries. High-yielding moderately vigorous upright bushes. Extended row n e on o er 4 5 wee err e w e er r n heavy crop. Not as hardy as the other varieties we offer but worth trialing n w r er re o one 4 5 407A Chandler Blueberry, $14.50 Duke r 4-6 -100 n oe r e 1 2- -30 -11 Growing Highbush Blueberries 1 Con ere ro e ent o er r e on e ow-roote e err e e t o 4 0 5 2 the standard for early berries, Duke scores high points from Maine blue- with plenty of organic matter, good drainage, and plenty of water. Space err rower e - r e t e r r t w t e e ent weet t e 3 6 rt 3 or t e orter r et e n row 10 rt o r fl or on -t e to er o n n e e tne o soil lacks acidity, add peat, leaf mold, or 1 cup elemental sulfur per bush. eno ot Co nt e t e e t t n fl or o e t e t tw e t e e o t e root o e e t o of all the varieties they’ve bought from us and is the it and then mix it with soil at a one-to-one ratio. Plant at the same depth r t to r en on t e r r en ter te o 30˚ n t e n r er o not et t e root r o t t e o r n t e w nter o 201 t e r n e were t o e w ter t oro nt re re t e t 1 w ter er wee r n t e with fruit that summer. One of Seth’s favorites growing season. On most soils, blueberries require regular applications n - or o etter t n ot er o n tro en n t e r n -n tro en ert er 1/2 1 r et e n t e ree er oro r t - qt composted hen manure per plant. yielding bush. Long stems and loose clusters. Z4. r t ro e on oro one- e r oot o e t ne 408A Duke Blueberry, $14.50 ne e t e e o e tw n e ro t e e n r n n Elizabeth - te 5-6 o ere after three years. Head back long pieces of new growth et te te o n re e e n for a bushier plant. Cut out weak or dead canes and 1 66 r en n r t rower n enne o dead tips. Each bush should be allowed to grow Searsmont, ME, grows 17 different varieties of 6 10 ne r n n e ro 1 6 e r o n r te et n er Thereafter, remove dead canes and those over his top favorites. He describes the bushes 6 e r o to en o r e new re e ent ne as bearing dense clusters of large fruit e w t re r o er te r n n ro e w t n e fl or o weet n t rt the most berries. Stores well in refrigeration. Large err e nee net rote t on ro vigorous upright shrub has strong birds. One of the best arrangements spreading lateral branches. Z4. we e een o n e er nette 09A Eli abeth Blueberry, o e n e e o t 40 $14.50 bushes growing under a framework e o o t n 2 4 n completely covered in netting. Competition with grass may weaken and kill your blueberries. e 3 6 or ore e er Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium year with pine needles, cardboard, wood e re no on er rr n ow e err o or nt o re chips, hay, sawdust, even old slab wood. ntere te n or er o r n - or - o ont t w n r t When using sawdust you may want to Co (ewingfruitco.com). compensate by adding extra nitrogen. fedcoseeds.com/trees 25 Strawberries Fragaria x ananassa N N or t o e er er en t te e r e n e r e ow ne- e r n nt e n n tr w err e n entr ne e r n t e r e on e r n n ro e or to 5 e r strawberry season usually coincides Earliglow r 3 61 235 r n n w t t e er o t e t o no 2 13 e ow re ro tn 1 66 e - e one knows where the common name err e e t or re e t n n ree n e ent fl or or n e r strawberry originated, idle speculation err or te o tr w err rower n n en t n is that it comes from the practice of r e t nt to re te e n ert w t r t on er putting straw down between the rows ore ro t e n o t ern ew n n t n nort 3 for pickers to sit on while they sample L 20A Earliglow Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 the fruit and catch up with each other. Honeoye r - 140 r nt o tn 1 o Modern strawberries, developed about pronounce it honey-eye. Tough, hardy, vigorous, extremely productive 1 30 re r o F. chiloensis (native of n e to row e ree er- er o t e tr w err t ro e Chile) and F. virginiana n t e o ort er- r e on r t re r t o er on r t n e on r fle w t o e r n r t o t e C- e e o e t rt n r r n oo fl or e ent ree n t everbearing strawberries from wild plants found in wee e ore ewe ro t e o t o r o er err n t e Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. He crossed these with mod- Northeast. Plant in well-drained soil to avoid red stele. Susceptible to ern r et e n ntro e t e r t e er e rer n 1 0 ert w t 3 4 50 nt w nt ro 50 100 r - ree re-root to L421A Honeoye Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 V N Jewel - te 1324 en en n -5 o er e r n or -ne tr tr w err e flower re r e o en t tn 1 5 n een n o n r e te we ewe to on te er t re re etween 35 n 5˚ n ro e r t ro o r t e e en went o r to t t ewe t te o t oo ne to to er e re n o on ro t e o t 1 o r t r e t o we on t t n we o te t t r we were er nt t e r t e r n t e t e e on e r ro t t very impressed with the berry. Large shiny red perfectly shaped fruit is e n t t e r t e r e e on e r err e e re e n t e r weet n t ro t n e r e r ow n n otte t we t er n n re e n oo er we t er ter e on e r t rn ot er r et e ewe ee t e e on tre e o r w t under and start again. o er rower n ene or te oo ree n t ow Albion C 220 nte C 4 16-1 C- 2006 er e r n incidence of fruit rots and foliar diseases. Not resistant to verticillium or tr w err w t er r e on r r t e e ent fl or n oo red stele. Z4. shelf life. High yielding though requires more water and nutrients than L422A Jewel Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 ot er e er e rer e o e Co e w t e to on ro e e and never looked back. She says, “The best Seascape will have better Sparkle - te r er een tn 1 42 t o fl or t n t e e t on t on e n te no o or fl or not a favorite with commercial growers because of moderate crop t ont n e to e r re n ro e r e e o err e n ot e n er err e we e et to t te tr w err t t o e weather, when Seascape will stop producing, button up, or become e en re ote o e to r e e o e fl or t t n on e bitter.” Plants are large and need extra space to produce bigger berries. described as the essence of strawberry. The best in an early year, the best Resistant to verticillium wilt, phytophthora crown rot, and anthracnose in a late year, the best this year, last year, every year. Soft berries make crown rot. PPA. Z4. e o re e t n n re o e e ent or n ree n ne o t ew r w t t t ten to o e o or n t e ree er r t r t et L417A Albion Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 r e t e re t re e t nt to o t tr n o re te e oo Mara des Bois ento r e nt et oron r e te r re e te r n ro t 3 e r onett o n -en- o o ne r n e 1 1 er e r n L423A Sparkle Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 tr w err e to e t e o t fl or n r r nt o t e ne tr o ten re erre to o r et err e re n et anthranilate, the volatile compound that gives them their strong fragrance. Co er rown n r n e w ere t e re o t re orter shelf life makes them better suited for local markets. Plants bear medium- o re err e ro ro er nto t e r t e r Second year bears a heavy spring crop with continuously ripening berries throughout the summer. Z4. L418A Mara des Bois Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00 Seascape C 4 e e o e o e r n r t C- 1 1 Everbearing strawberry with bright red medium-to-long conic high- e n r ro t e re e r t e ent fl or ro re t n e to fungal diseases. Somewhat susceptible to common leaf spot and two- “What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry? otte er te er r 3 o weren t o re we wo n t e n t or Connor eer e L419A Seascape Strawberry, bundle of 50, $21.00
Growing Strawberries Everbearing or Day-Neutral Strawberries Keep plants cold or refrigerate between arrival and planting. We ship e e e ee er ene t ro 3 4 o n re wor e 4 6 nto t e w t root t on t e r e o nnot nt t e or w e o r or to nt n nt 6 12 rt w t t or t uncover the roots, mist them with water and re-cover, leaving tops tr w e te ter nt n e o e flower or t e r t 6 wee exposed. Place bundle in a paper bag and store on the bottom shelf of n re o e r nner t e r t e on n te e re w t your fridge. Don’t be alarmed if the tops become brown or mushy: they composted manure monthly during the second will generate new leaves. e on e nn n n ter e on Strawberries require good air drainage, well-drained fertile soil with year, turn under and start again. o 5 6 2 t n n o o w ere to toe June-Bearing Strawberries peppers or potatoes have grown in the past 4 years. Plant strawberries at tte ow te et nt 12 24 the same depth as they were in the nursery, with the middle of the crown rt n row 3 rt ow nt to ro e at soil level. Keep your patch free of weeds. They require 3/4 1 w ter er r nner ree n n t e row week during the growing season. Mulch with hay or straw in late fall to e o e flower t e r t e r rote t nt o er w nter n t e r n o nt n e Harvest berries the second between rows where it will keep fruit dry and clean during the summer. er e te ter t n o e r e o er t e nt ro t t re ten flower r e t ert e er w t o t n row o er o e e or w nter n ro t rote t on compost or aged manure and e 1 5 reen r er t o re o en ett n o t tr w err reno te t e row n nt n t e e en n C rr n nt o t t e e n t e r n n or with a tiller, narrow n t e e t o t e tr n or e nte n t e e en n t e t e row to 12 w e n dews immediately fall upon plants and give opportunity for recuperation nt to 4 5 rt w t n before the next morning’s sun appears.” We think this is good advice for t e row t et o all plants. e n t o t 5 e r 26 (207) 426-9900 L’ ca ie lanc Early. V-53621 (Cascade x Seyve-Villard 14-287) Ollie A. Bradt intro, Vineland Stn, Ontario, 1953. “The workhorse of Nova Scotia wine,” according to Curated Food & Drink Magazine. Widely planted in Nova Scotia and parts of Quebec. Loose medium-sized clusters of golden-green grapes suited for a wide range of blended white wines or use as a single varietal. Fruity, crisp, mineral, with hints of apple and pear. Think Chardonnay. Uncommonly holds eight different types of Vitis species in its lineage. Perhaps this lends to its intense versatility. r to 20˚ e o en e to o w ne er r n t o Oyster River Winegrowers in Warren, ME. Z4/5. 30A L’A adie Blan rape, $15.00 Marquette Mid-Late. MN 1211 (MN 1094 x Rivat 262) U Minn, 2006. This grape has northern winemakers buzzing with excitement. The best Grapes Vitis spp. variety this side of the Atlantic for a Pinot-Noir–style red wine. One Grapes are easy to grow and can bear plentifully even in northern New parent, MN 1094, has both V. riparia and V. vinifera in its background. England. They begin fruiting in the second or third year after planting. The other, Rivat 262, is a French hybrid with Pinot Noir as one of its They are rugged and cold hardy. Our vines bear consistently every year. parents. Not only is Marquette heavy with vinifera, the vines are also Although many people prefer seedless types for table use, seeded varieties extremely cold hardy. And there’s more: sugar levels are high—in can be quite enjoyable right off the vine if you don’t mind “grape nuts.” the range of 26.1 Brix—and the acid levels are lower than Frontenac. Grape seeds contain an antioxidant that is twice as powerful as vitamin C. Substantial tannins add complexity. Small-medium bluish-black berries Most grape varieties are bred from a combination of different species, in small to medium-sized clusters. Ripens a few days before Frontenac. V. labrusca and V. vinifera being the most important. Labrusca is native PPA. Z3. to t e e tern w t rt o fl or n r n disease resistant. Concord is the best-known of the labruscas. Vinifera, 431A Marquette Grape, $15.00 native to Europe, is extremely high quality, and is the most important wine grape in the world, but is not cold hardy and is prone to disease. V. riparia, native to North America, used as rootstock for grafted varieties and in hybridization with vinifera, is very adaptable to a wide range of soils, disease resistant and very cold hardy. In central Maine, “very early” grapes begin ripening in mid-August, while “midseason” ripen mid-September. Late-season Concord, a standard elsewhere, does not ripen in many northern areas. Grapes do not require a second cultivar for pollination. (well-rooted vines) Beta Mid. V. riparia x Concord. Originated by Louis Suelter in MN, 1881. Beta (pronounced Bett-uh, not Bay-tuh) was his wife. Old standby heirloom, excellent for juice, jelly and jam. Decent eating off the vine when completely ripe. Most Concord-like of all our northern varieties. Medium-sized black berries in moderately compact to loose clusters. Early to bloom, early to ripen. Vigorous healthy productive vines will cover an arbor in short order. Long even canes are ideal for basket- weaving. Extremely hardy. Z3. 425A Beta Grape, $15.00 Bluebell Mid. MN 158 (Beta x unknown) Developed by JM Dorsey, U Minn, 1944. Our most popular seeded grape; it does everything well. e o weet fl or e t e e e ent or re e t n e n juice. Clusters of medium-sized dark berries with a heavy blue bloom. More Grapes tre e r to 30˚ labrusca-type ripens 2–3 weeks earlier than next page. Concord. While it ripens beautifully from central Maine south, it may not have time to ripen in some northernmost locales. Strong, productive, vigorous—but not rampant—vine. A joy to grow. Immune to most or all Growing Grapes fungal diseases. Z3. For the best grapes, provide moderate fertility, very well-drained soil 426A Bluebell Grape, $15.00 and full sun. Grapes prefer soils with pH of 5.8–7.0. Every June we thoroughly weed the grapes under our arbor, then mulch very liberally Brianna Early-Mid. ES 7-4-76 (Kay Gray x ES 2-12-13) Iowa State U, with old hay. After that, we don’t do a thing to them except harvest in late 2001. Bred by Elmer Swenson in WI, selected in 1989. High-quality white summer and prune in late spring. Space 8–12' apart in rows 8–12' apart. wine grape that is also great for fresh eating. Medium-large round thick- Spread the roots out, planting the crown even with the soil surface. skinned gold berries in medium-small tight clusters. As a wine grape, Do not prune roots. Pack soil well. Water and mulch well. After frost rt ne e n r e r t fl or w t er flor r ter t danger has passed, prune vines back to 3–5 strong buds. Continue to French-American hybrid including V. labrusca and V. riparia. Vigorous mulch annually with hay or straw. Every few years fertilize liberally with vines are easy to manage. Z3/4. granite dust. 427A Brianna Grape, $15.00 Grapes require annual pruning and a trellis or arbor, though in Italy Canadice Seedless Mid. Bath x Himrod. NY Stn, Geneva, NY, 1977. they still sometimes grow them in maple trees. All systems for growing Medium-large dense clusters of delicious red seedless berries. Sweet grapes involve removal of most growth in late spring to encourage new r t fl or o er te oro ro t e ne e or ot o t canes, as fruit is produced on these canes. There are many systems for C n e nt two entr ne rower err o n o t e training grapes. Some are suited to laying down and covering tender and the late Adam Tomash of Gardiner, reminded us of how good a grape varieties over winter. Any good book on grape growing will show you it is. John had trouble keeping it alive in his cold Palermo frost pocket, several options. We suggest the Hudson River Umbrella or the Four- but it seems to be doing well in other Zone 4 sites. Thinning the crop will r n n te e n er t o ne o er er e o eo e re e nt tre n n re e r ne n nt en o t demonstrating different grape-training techniques. Go to: umaine.edu/ week after Reliance. Z4/5. highmoor/ and click on “videos.” 428A Canadice Seedless Grape, $15.00 People sometimes ask about wire. The current vineyard standard is King of the North Mid. V. riparia x Concord-type. Madison, WI. Very high-tensile-strength class III galvanized steel wire. The gauge should hardy dark-skinned table and wine grape originally named and offered by be 11 to 12.5. The wire is generally sold by weight. 100 lbs of 11 gauge Jung’s Nursery many years ago. Minnesota grower and winemaker John measures about 2600'. 100 lbs of 12.5 measures about 3800'. Marshall recommends King of the North as the one variety for both a Grapes rated for Zone 5 can be grown in Zones 3 and 4. To prevent good table grape and a decent red Concord-style wine. He says it’s “very winter injury, remove the vine from the trellis in fall, lay it on the ground, delicious particularly as a home wine.” Produces light red sweet tasty and bury with just enough soil to cover. To do this, plant your new juice. Ripens slightly later than Bluebell. Z3. r e ne t 45˚ n e r n new oot or ont or t e t one oot en r e oot w r to or e re te fle e 429A King of the North Grape, $15.00 hinge, allowing you to lay the vine down at the end of the season. For trellising ideas, see next page. fedcoseeds.com/trees 27 More Grapes Kiwiberries Actinidia arguta Reliance Seedless Very Early. o e Hardy Kiwi. r n 1163 nt r o o Productive twining vine e tn 1 2 e - 20 or ore n e err e re oo or re ro e te- e eating or juice. Large loose fruits in late summer. Though clusters of tender melting sweet much smaller than the pinkish-red fruit with a strawberry- er r et e fl or tore we n root kiwi, kiwiberries are e r or 1 2 ont ee r by no means lacking t o t own n nt n fl or n dieback in our Zone 4 trials. You smooth and edible. may need to lay vines down for the The longer they winter in colder areas (see sidebar on ripen on the vine, the previous page). While the literature sweeter they become. cautions about Reliance’s disease These nutrient-dense susceptibility, our vines have performed berries, a little bigger than grapes, are we n re ne ree o e e 4 5 considered a superfood, loaded with 432A Reliance Seedless Grape, $15.00 t n w t ore t n C t n or n e Easy to grow in rich well-drained soils. Vigorous enough to just about Somerset Seedless r 12- - 5-3-64 et te ewe pull down a tree, so be sure to provide support. Will begin producing Swenson intro. Somerset is likely one of the hardiest seedless dessert n 5 e r t re nt ro e to 100 o r t n e grapes available today. One of the last Swenson introductions before the vines are established, adequate pruning (see directions below) will renowne n e o e r e ree er e w n e e er 2004 n nt n re e e o n nt e t or e e ro e e - e oo e ter w t weet r re - o en r t Both male and female plants required for fruit. One male will Cr te t re n re t fl or to row t not o er oro 4 usually pollinate at least three females of the same species. The females 433A Somerset Seedless Grape, $15.00 e r t e r t w r en ro n - e te er t e to e tern Grape Collection Our pick of 4 varieties, individually labeled, a (well-rooted transplants) combo of hardy dessert and wine grapes. A. a. nna’ Female. o e Ananasnaya. Thought to be a hardy 436A Grape Collection, bundle of 4, $50.00 cross between arguta and A. kolomikta. The Russian name describes its taste: ‘pineapple-like.’ Tangy and sweet, almost entirely covered with a Training Grapes on an Arbor rusty red blush. Heavy yields are late to ripen, very end of September or r n one or ore ne onto n r or or e o we e ne early October. Requires Meader male for pollination. Z4. e o t 10 rt r ne e ne to n e tr n n o r e 437A Anna Female Kiwi, $14.50 e er er nent r ro e tr n n te r n re o e 0- 0 of the past summer’s growth. Next summer new fruiting canes will grow A. a. Geneva #3 Female. t ene er ro t e off the permanent arms. n re r r t reen r t e e e ent fl or w one o o r or te t w err e t e r e o ere it years ago and are excited to bring it back. Requires Meader male for pollination. Z4. 438A Geneva #3 Female Kiwi, $14.50 A. a. ea er’ Fruitless male kiwi suitable for pollinating arguta e e nn n ene 3 Will not pollinate A. kolomiktas (which we offer some years). Extremely vigorous vines are often grown just for their beautiful dark green ornamental foliage accentuated by reddish-pink petioles (leaf stalks). Z4. 439A Meader Male Kiwi, $14.50
runin ra es in t e our r ni n ste Growing Kiwiberries r t e r ter t e n er o ro t e t new nte ne w re oe o ne e n n e n e e flower re on to n e te 6 on w t two to t ree separate plants, so you need a male plant to pollinate the fruiting female e on e r et two w re 3 n 5 tret e etween plants. They are extremely vigorous and require a rugged trellis or o t C t nt to n e te 6 eet on n t e t to t e to r or n e r n n nt ne 15 rt e w n o t t w re e e 4 6 ne r e w re n re o e ot er well-drained soil. Kiwis are adaptable and tolerate a wide range of soil Third year: Select 8 canes, 4 for each wire, and remove the rest. Tie t e 5 0 6 5 ne e w o n te e er e e on two canes to each wire, one in each direction. Cut these 4 canes back to t e re w t n ro te 30 o t e e t o t e ne re 10 e C t t e re n n 4 ne to 1 2 e te r t e flower n o e re ro t en t e nt n on ter e r n te r n re o e t e r r t n ne e e t northern exposure will delay budding in spring and reduce risk of frost e t new ne C t 4 o t e to 10 e n t e t e to o r damage. Protection from winter winds and intense winter sun is also w re C t t e re n n 4 to 2 e e e w ro e ne t re o en e w t or woo n oor o ert e w t year’s fruiting canes. Remove all other canes. The number of buds left on compost annually. the fruiting canes may be adjusted to encourage more fruit (leave more On a trellis: Train a single trunk to the trellis wires and then train or r er e e e ewer two er nent 10 or on r o t e tr n w nter re o e t e t 0 o o rowt e n o en or o one- e r-o ter r t w e e o on r t r row n o t e e one- e r-o ne On an arbor or gazebo: n e e t e r ne 0 o t e o growth each year and leave some new canes for this year’s fruiting. Summer pruning may be required to keep extremely rampant vines from choking out your farm. The Pruning Book by Lee Reich is an excellent reference for pruning kiwis.
2 (207) 426-9900 ar Vines ree ers Apios americana roun nut Grows to about 5' long. Lonicera x brownii Dro ore carlet’ one suckle 10-20' long. tro en- n e no erenn tw n n ne w t e e (L. sempervirens x L. hirsuta) Tall climbing (non-invasive!) honeysuckle tubers. Roots grow 1–6" deep and have periodic swellings developed by FL Skinner in Manitoba. Jazzy whimsical whorled clusters (the groundnuts) that range from of 11/2 r et-or n e t r flower marble size to larger than a golf bloom profusely and tirelessly ball. These edible tubers can from early summer into late fall. be harvested any time of year. ttr t tterfl e n ee t Delicious, high in starch, and especially loved by our ruby- contain three times the protein throated hummingbird. Striking o ot to ee t e r t blue-green foliage is perfoliate, then eat them boiled, roasted, appearing as if the red stems were baked, mashed, sliced, diced, growing through a single cupped puréed or even made into chips. disk. Finely shredded peeling bark Not recommended raw. Will makes an interesting winter display. keep a month or more in the Great for fence or arbor or cut back fridge or root cellar, or dry like a perennial for a low rangy them and they keep forever. mound in the garden. Easy to grow, Small orchid-like maroon, generally free of problems. Flowers the n n o et flower e r r t e r e er e we - r ne o in late August in central Maine and full sun. Both parent species native to followed by 2–4" bean pods. Prefers moist sandy soil. Full to partial North America. Z3. (well-rooted transplants) sun. Keep it out of your garden as it will spread. Can be vigorous and 447A Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle, $15.00 re re tre o o e ort t e to r er n n floo n southern Canada, eastern and midwestern U.S. Z3. ro n (tubers) L442A Groundnut, bundle of 10, $15.00
o s Humulus lupulus Up to 20-30' long. Beautiful twining vine covers a trellis, archway or the entire side of a barn. Our favorite live awning to shade out the summer sun. reen o e e e r t te n n n nt reen flower o owe n te er t e o papery aromatic cone-like strobiles used medicinally and in brewing for more than 1000 years. John Christopher recommends the strobile tea as “a powerful, stimulating and relaxing nerve tonic.” For brewing, there are basically two types of hops. Aroma hops have a lower percentage of alpha acids and re e or fl or n n n or conditioning brews. Bitter hops have more alpha acids and are used to impart bitterness. Tolerates shade, adapted to most well-drained soils. Dies back to the ground in fall and rebounds more vigorously each year. Plant it where you want it because the extensive root system can be hard to dig up. Native to Eurasia. Z3. (5-6" female rhizomes) ro in o s H. l. asca e’ USDA 19124 (Fuggle x Serebrianka-Fuggle S) x Refrigerate slightly moistened rhizomes in a plastic bag until planting. open-pollinated. OR St U, 1972. Contains 4–7% alpha acids. Fragrantly Hops prefer full sun and rich light well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5– aromatic hop, low bittering value. For years Cascade has been the most 8.0. As soon as soil can be worked in spring, till to create a weed-free widely used hop in the beer industry. Very productive with large cones, area. Dig holes about 1' deep and at least 3' apart in rows. Add manure, ready to harvest mid-late August in central Maine. A customer wrote, compost and other slow-release organic fertilizers. Plant 1 or 2 rhizomes “Cascade has gained impeccable renown as the charismatic hop in such per hole, horizontally with the buds pointed up and cover with 1–2" of unsurpassable ales as Anchor’s Liberty Ale, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale and oo e o e r t e r t e o nt re re re ent t w ter n McNeill’s Firehouse Amber Ale. Nothing ‘light’ about these.” Resistant and mulching. to downy mildew. Hops grow vertically, with lateral sidearms extending from the main L443A Cascade Hops, bundle of 3, $17.50 vine and producing cones. Vines may grow up to 25' in a single season, H. l. a nu ’ Galena x select German male. German Hallertauer and do best if they are trained onto strong twine 12–30' high, supported hybrid, 1980. Very high bittering with good storability. Alpha content by a trellis, wire, pole, tree branch or south-facing building. 12 1 tron tter fl or w t t e nt o e n tr t o When the young vines are about 1' long, select the 2 or 3 most vigorous not generally used as an aroma hop. Known for giving a clear and distinct vines per hill and remove the rest. Gently wrap the vines clockwise onto a bitterness that is not overpowering. Used in IPAs, pale ales, stouts and string. Once trained, the vine will guide itself. lagers. t e o w en t e re er t t t t n e L444A Magnum Hops, bundle of 3, $17.50 with yellow powder. Harvest dates will vary with the variety and climate. H. l. illa ette’ USDA 21003 x Fuggle Seedling 2-4. USDA, 1976. Because most hops are produced out of reach from the ground, it is safest Alpha content 4–6%. Excellent all-purpose hop. Old English-style aroma to lower the vines in order to pick the hops. Dry hops thoroughly before with brewing characteristics similar to Fuggle. Low bittering. Spicy use. Spread on screens in a dry attic, they will dry in a few weeks. Dried ro oo n n o or rew n n e n to t oro hops freeze well. Good disease resistance. Indigenous Royalties. Cut the vines back to the ground after they have been killed by frost. Each spring apply a hearty topdressing of manure and compost. To help L445A Willamette Hops, bundle of 3, $17.50 control vigor, prune roots by cutting a 2–3' circle with a shovel around the base of the plant in spring. fedcoseeds.com/trees 29 Corylus americana erican a elnut Nuts American The nut seedlings we’re offering are grown from nuts harvested from 12-18' x 10-15' Also called Filbert. Squirrels, blue jays and humans alike the most productive specimens. Like all seedlings, each one is a little 1 different, and nut quality may vary. relish the sweet tasty /2" nuts of this multi- stemmed rounded native shrub. Usually bears Carya ovata a ark ickor 60-80' or taller. 3–5 years after planting. Collect the crop as One of our most beautiful native nut trees. Straight soon as the husks begin to brown and lose their trunked with branches that curve sticky yellowness. In central Maine that’s skyward at the tips. Not only around the third week of September. Showy does the bark shag, it looks like catkins in spring. Dark green serrated foliage huge long strips are about to fall in summer. A patchwork of reds, yellows, off. After the tree reaches bearing oranges and greens in autumn. Suckers from the age, about 40 years, it will shower ro n = grown in roots. Excellent for naturalizing in thickets. The main pest is nut weevil, the yard with sweet edible nuts. Maine at one of our which leaves a “hit” mark on the nut shell. (Raking drops and spraying Those left unharvested will small local nurseries. Surround may help with this.) Prefers well-drained soils; pH adaptable. likely be planted by local Full sun or light shade. May be self-fruitful but for best nut sets, plant creatures, some four legged, more than one, 4–6' apart. Native to U.S. Z4. (1-3') some two. Rich yellow fall 453A American Hazelnut, $16.00 foliage. Slow growing but 453B American Hazelnut, bundle of 5, $68.00 very long-lived. Tough wood used for making tool handles. Prefers Juglans cinerea utternut 40-60' x same. Very rich well-drained loam but is adaptable. Self- large impressive rounded shade tree produces edible pollinating. Native to eastern U.S. Z4. (1-3') nuts. Broad open crown, distinctive compound leaves on large arching branches that can hang nearly to 451A Shagbark Hickory, $16.00 the ground. Leafs out relatively late in spring. Use Castanea dentata erican estnut Up to 100' the oblong edible nut to make oil, or pickle the soft Before 1900 American chestnut was one of the most young nut for snacking. Husks yield a yellow-orange important deciduous trees in the eastern U.S. The dye. Very nice cabinet wood referred to as White arrow-straight rot-resistant wood was Walnut. Prefers moist rich deep soils but will grow used for everything from mine in dry rocky conditions. Give it full sun and plenty of timbers to musical instruments. space. Susceptible to butternut canker, which has Delicious sweet nuts were an devastated many wild specimens. Some lovely old important food for wildlife and trees are thriving in Belfast and Belmont and may humans. Chestnut blight, an Asian have been back-crossed long ago to include genes fungus, showed up in Brooklyn in resistant to the canker. These seedlings were nuts that 1904; within 50 years it killed we harvested from some of those old Maine trees. virtually every chestnut tree in Self-fertile but plant two for more abundant crops. the eastern U.S. The blight Native New Brunswick to Georgia. Z3. ro n (1-3') does not kill the roots 454A Butternut, $17.50 however, and rare stands of mature trees can still J. nigra lack alnut 70-90' A spectacular shade tree with a be found. In July 2015, the tallest American chestnut n ent o en ro n e rown o e w t r reen in North America was discovered right here in Maine by leaves. Harder to crack than commercial English researchers who spotted the profuse white blossoms from walnuts but worth the effort for their the air. The trees we offer are not immune but are likely t n t weet e rt r fl or t to thrive in a suitable site for 10–30 years without blight. them chopped on fresh salads, or Fast growing and straight trunked with a wide-branching with dark chocolate for dessert. n ent ro n e rown r r nt w te oo n Highly valued cabinet and veneer July. Ribbed sharp-toothed lustrous dark green foliage. wood. Husks, leaves and roots Yellow fall color. Prefers loamy well-drained acidic common in herbal medicine for soil and full sun. Two or more needed for pollination anti-fungal properties. Husks but will cross-pollinate with Asian and European also yield a rich brown dye. chestnuts. Precocious, bearing heavy crops of nuts in 10 Deep taproot. Prefers moist years. From each American chestnut purchase, Fedco well-drained soils, pH 6–7. will donate $3 to support TACF Chapter’s traditional Roots give off a compound called breeding program. Z4. ro n (1-3') juglone that inhibits some plants, so don’t plant one too close to your garden. Space trees 452A American Chestnut, $22.50 about 50' apart for nut production, 20' apart for lumber. May begin to bear fruit in 5–10 years. Read more about chestnut breeding, next page. Some say multiple trees needed for pollination but we’ve seen enough solo trees with large nut crops to say you only need one. Native to eastern U.S. though not quite into Maine. Z4. ro n (1-3') Black Walnut Brittle 455A Black Walnut, $17.50 o e ro re e r rne or er e er o t e ort ern J. regia ar at ian’ alnut 30-50' x 40' Species sometimes called Nut Growers Association of Nebraska and uncle to staff member Jen English Walnut or Persian Walnut. Very large open somewhat vase- Ries. Earl left the planet in 2018 but left behind his lovingly tended shaped fast-growing tree with those edible nuts landscape full of nut trees, here to stay for future generations to enjoy! you buy in the store. Traditionally used in 1 cup sugar Europe for salad oil. Has the same alternate 1/2 cup brown rice syrup pinnately compound foliage as black 11/2 cups black walnuts walnut but glossy blue-green leaves 1 tsp butter are larger and more rounded, almost 1 tsp vanilla extract tropical looking, and shells are a bit 1 tsp baking soda easier to crack. Prefers light deep In a saucepan, heat sugar and syrup until dry loamy soil. Bears in 5–7 years. they boil and sugar dissolves. Stir in nuts, Considered self-fertile but plant and boil a few more minutes. Add butter two for more abundant crops. In and vanilla, and continue boiling and the 1930s, this strain was brought stirring until the mixture is golden brown. to North America from the Carpathian Add baking soda and stir gently until light Mountains in Poland where it was reputed and foamy. Pour onto lightly buttered to e r e ro e en ter 40˚ w nter t e ro o t e tern cookie sheet. Europe east to China. Z4 or maybe Z3. ro n (1-3') Let it cool, then break into pieces, and store in an airtight container. 456A Carpathian Walnut, $17.50 30 (207) 426-9900 rackin t e Nut on eneticall n ineere rees Breeding for Blight Tolerance Dark Hort? More Questions than Answers. by Eric Evans, Back-cross Breeding Coordinator, by Jen Ries, Fedco Trees Coordinator, on behalf of Fedco Maine Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation The chestnut, an iconic tree of the American landscape, is poised to American chestnuts are wonderful trees, and their decline throughout become a different kind of icon of a new era. A petition has arrived eastern states due to a fungal pathogen from Asia in the early 1900s was at the USDA asking for the release of the one of the worst ecological disasters in our country’s history. Development genetically engineered Darling 58 chestnut tree and distribution of blight-tolerant American chestnuts is a many-step, with hopes of approval within the next year. many-year process, using state-of-the-art science in breeding, silviculture, If accepted, the genetically engineered (GE) pathology, and molecular genetics. Eager to plant blight-tolerant American e tn t wo e o e t e r t tree chestnuts, many Fedco readers have been following the progress of The used in a restoration planting. This is American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) breeding program. In the last unprecedented. Once that box is open, it few years there have been profound changes in these prospects. It is time cannot be closed. Please consider taking now for a summary of the history, current status, and likely paths forward. some time to inform yourself. Since its founding in 1983, TACF has been coordinating a six- Is it an act of restoration when what generation back-cross breeding program, both in TACF’s research farms is being “restored” is altered in a way that in Meadowview, VA, and in a dozen state chapters, including Maine. would never occur in nature? Dr. William Powell, Chinese-American hybrid chestnuts were crossed back to American lead researcher of the engineered chestnut project, has trees to dilute the unwanted Asian chestnut traits. At each back-cross presented this as a tree for the people. Is that true, ener t on t e n t-re t n e n e ent e n t e e t tree or is this a tree for some people? Corporate lumber saved for further back-crossing. TACF’s founders based the program companies have sought approval to release GE trees into on research that suggested that blight resistance in Chinese chestnut is the landscape and have been met with public opposition. relatively simple and controlled by just two or three genes. This would The GE chestnut could open this door to corporate have allowed recovery of blight resistance in each back-cross generation interests. (“Know Your Farmers” is a good slogan to live while also maintaining all other American traits. by; so is “Know Your Funders!”) We have only the tiniest However, last year TACF scientists reported that blight resistance glimpse into how the intricate ancient relationships—evolved is a much more complex trait than originally thought, and that it is over millions of years—function among tree roots, fungi, insects and controlled by many separate genes on at least nine chromosomes. The people, all of whom depend on the health of this dynamic system. We’re best 6th-generation Meadowview trees are less blight-resistant than Asian looking at potentially disrupting this forever. Are we ready for this? chestnuts and less American than the natives. The absence of information is alarming. The potential for mutations The Maine Chapter of TACF plans to complete the planting of 6,000 with unknown impacts is vast. In 1999, Cornell reported that the pollen of more trees from our back-cross orchards (4th-generation) into our seed Bt corn (engineered to carry Bacillus thuringiensis) was found to be toxic orchards in the next 2–3 years, for a total of more than 50,000 trees. Using to on r tterfl e t not een e re e ore t e ore tr n ent e e t on r ter e on enet te t we e corn’s release. The pollen of GE trees will travel far and impart engineered observations, we will remove the poorest of the 40 breeding lines from genes to wild native trees. Will pest-resistant GE trees have a leg up on the existing seed orchard plots and from future planting plans. Our goal non-GE trees and lead to GE trees dominating the forest? GE lumber trees w e to n t e e t n e etween n re n t to er n e n designed to produce less lignin could reduce costs and chemical inputs maintaining American traits and high enough genetic diversity for wide at the paper mill, but will the trees lack structural integrity, creating new adaptability in forest plantings. We expect to have trees from this program problems and new genetic traits to be distributed into the forest? These are or e ten e e n te t n t rt n n o t 2023 just hints at the concerns. In addition to this back-cross breeding, TACF is supporting work at We want to right the wrongs of the past, but throwing incomplete State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and science at the problems we’ve created has a sketchy track record. Forestry to develop disease-resistant chestnuts using genetic engineering e e er w en we were re t t e on o r ne e (GE). They have added a single gene from wheat to the chestnut genome was totally safe and would solve a recycling problem? DDT, Roundup- that produces an enzyme, oxalate oxidase (OxO), that neutralizes the ready crops, fracking...“Better living through chemistry!” What could oxalic acid that the blight fungus produces in its attack on chestnut possibly go wrong? bark. The result is trees that are blight-tolerant but are otherwise 100% Maybe GE is here to stay. If so, we must demand correct assessment, American chestnut. Studies have revealed no differences between the trees study and good policy implementation, as Eric stated in the previous with the OxO gene and native American chestnut trees. (More on this at column. Perhaps then we should be willing to put in 200–300 years to esf.edu/chestnut) study the GE chestnut before we release it. In geologic time, this doesn’t Pending approval by federal USDA, FDA, and EPA expected in 2021- seem like a tall order, considering the impact of this decision on our wild 22, TACF plans to cross the GE chestnut with hundreds of native American forests. Maybe it’s time to slow down, shift some patterns and reorganize chestnuts maintained in gene-conservation orchards by the state chapters our priorities. It’s time to consider the impact of the way we consume and to produce highly diverse populations of chestnut for restoration plantings move materials around the globe. in coming decades. Blight-tolerant OxO chestnuts could be available for For decades now, Fedco has chimed in on the GE issue and how it small-scale plantings by 2022 and for large-scale forest plantings in the threatens our environment and food systems. The GE chestnut is being 2030 wo e r t-e er e o or e e re tor t on n presented for restoration, and perhaps considered not fundamentally viewed by some as a model to help rescue other tree species threatened linked to our food or seed systems. But we believe seed is seed, and food n e e t t e r to e t t e n n e w n re e is food, whoever or whatever is eating it. This matters. in coming years and decades, and that our job should be to advocate for Fedco will not support GE trees. Furthermore, Fedco does not caution and evidence-based policy. knowingly carry genetically engineered seeds. At our 1996 Annual Eric is a longtime contact for Fedco and our liaison to regular updates on Meeting, our cooperative voted unanimously not to knowingly offer for TACF ME Chapter’s activities, as well as access to seed for our nurseries. sale any genetically engineered variety because the new gene technologies He has dedicated many years to restoring the American chestnut. He pose unacceptable risks to the environment. For more about this pledge, continues to monitor orchards across Maine and to present important our commitment to testing for GE contamination, and talks on GE by questions, hopes and concerns about the chestnut’s future. His knowledge Fedco founder CR Lawn, please go to fedcoseeds.com/seeds/genetic_ and dedication are an inspiration. engineering.htm Fedco continues to support TACF’s traditional back-breeding program o n n ort eo n ore n o on w tree re on ern but will not offer GE chestnuts. and sign a petition at stopgetrees.org/petition. Read all about it! e C n to to ree to etree or er n C e tn t o n t on- C ter or e e er n C e tn t e e r e tor t on ro e t t e e e tn t e one n o t on r e n - er-tr n en -tree • “Restoring the American Chestnut” In Defence of Plants podcast (Episode 272) • “Poison or Progress” i n i ri an (July 19, 1999) • “Genetically Engineered Trees” The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener (Winter 2005/2006) • “Can Genetic Engineering Bring Back the American Chestnut” The New York Times Magazine (April 30, 2020) fedcoseeds.com/trees 31 Plantanus occidentalis erican ca ore 75-100' x same. Also called American Planetree, Water Beech or Buttonball-tree. Extraordinary native shade tree considered to be the largest indigenous hardwood in the U.S. The trunks and stems are a strikingly mottled patchwork of greenish-grey bark plates against chalky white background. Large 6"-wide lobed leaves resemble sugar maple. Branches twist and turn often at a sharp right angle. A remarkable show against the winter sky. Grows well in average moist well-drained soils in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Little brown fruiting balls turn fuzzy and disperse in t e w nter w n n re e ten n e n n o e t ew ro a giant old grandmother tree growing up on the riverbanks of the Hudson River in upstate NY. These are her seedlings. Native to bottomlands and riverbanks Maine to Minnesota and south to Texas. Suffered minor dieback in our Zone 4 trials during winter 2019 but rebounded with vigor. Z4/5. ro n (2-4') 466A American Sycamore, $17.50 Quercus coccinea carlet ak 50-70' x 40-50' Important wildlife canopy species of Appalachian mountains and highland terrain of oak- heath forests from southern Maine to Alabama. Rare in Maine, the northernmost limit of its range, where its few existing populations are endangered from development and logging. Considered part of the Red Oak group due to bristle tips on leaves and 2-year maturation of acorns. Leaves have 7–9 lobes and wide sinuses. Scarlet red foliage in fall. Dark grey bark has irregular ridges and reddish inner bark like the red oak. Wood is strong and heavy though coarsely grained. Requires dry acidic soil, likes sand—intolerant of alkaline soils. Full sun. Soon to be common in Central Maine?—see sidebar on page 43. Z5. ro n (2-4') 467A Scarlet Oak, $17.50 Salix alba ristis’ Nio e ee in illo 50x50' The classic a e rees weeping willow, a very large majestic graceful wide-spreading tree. Acer saccharum u ar a le 50-100' Largest of our native maples, also known as Rock Maple, valued for shade, syrup and lumber. A New Golden drooping branches, which can hang to the ground, are used England tradition was to plant a pair of sugar maples in front of the for basket weaving; golden bark and leaves used medicinally. Harvest farmhouse on the inhabitants’ wedding day. Those “wedding trees” still twiggy branches in early spring to make a tincture. Buzzes with life when grace many Maine front yards. Famous for its yellow, gold, scarlet and flower ttr t o o o n t n ee t e to o t ern ro e crimson fall foliage and its fresh sap that’s boiled down to make real and western Asia. Z4. (2-4') (More willows on page 48.) maple syrup. Huge upright spreading form with light grey bark. Shade 468A Tristis Niobe Weeping Willow, $15.00 tolerant, making it easy to interplant in existing woods. Prefers moist Tilia americana erican Lin en 60-80' x same. Also known as well-drained soils. Cold hardy. Sensitive to salt and air pollution; not a Basswood, Butterwood and Lime. Tall stately long-lived tree with good city tree. Native Quebec to Gulf Coast. Z3. (2-4') rounded crown and numerous low-hung spreading branches. Sweetly 461A Sugar Maple, $17.00 r r nt e ow ne flower w ttr t t e ee n t e ne or oo make the best honey, and also make a popular after-dinner tea and Betula lenta eet irc 40-80' x 35-45' Also called Black Birch or Cherry Birch. Graceful horizontal branches on a medium-sized tree stomach remedy. Sprinkle them on your salad for a festive treat. The with a rounded irregular wide-spreading crown. Glistening smooth red- young half-size foliage makes a high-quality salad green. Excellent dish-brown to black bark forms scaly plates on mature trees. Lustrous carving wood. Fibrous inner bark used for making cordage. Yellow fall dark green foliage turns splendid golden-yellow in fall. The best birch color. Prefers deep rich moist soils. Full sun or partial shade. Sensitive for birch beer, brewed from its copious sap. One of the main sources of to salt and pollution. Native from New Brunswick to Virginia. Z3. (2-4') oil of wintergreen. Chew the dormant twigs, or brew a delicious tea from 469A American Linden, $16.50 twigs and leaves. Also valued as beautiful furniture wood. Pendulous 3–4" catkins dangle from the shiny bronze branches in spring. Prefers deep rich moist slightly acid well-drained soils, but adapts to most con- ditions except heavy clay. Sun to part shade. Native to eastern U.S. Z3. ro n (2-4') 463A Sweet Birch, $17.00 B. papyrifera a er irc 30-70' x 30' Also called Canoe Birch or White Birch. The classic birch tree. Elegant as a single- or multi- stemmed specimen. Medium-sized tree with an irregular oval shape, r t n e r n e n n ent -w te ee n r ee green foliage produces light shade in summer and turns clear yellow in fall. Birds prize the catkins, buds and seeds. Twigs are a favorite deer browse. Bark traditionally used for building canoes, containers and roo n en tr e n n t e nort o ntr ee n e o ne re e r n o r o et to n e t e n t re e wood at the sawmill. Twiggy branches, stuck into the ground, are perfect for pea fencing. Prefers moist well-drained acid soil though we’ve seen it thrive on ledge. Native to northern North America. Z3. ro n (2-4') 464A Paper Birch, $17.00 Ostrya virginiana astern o orn ea 20-40' x 15-20' Also Ulmus americana rinceton’ erican l 60x70' Princeton called Ironwood and Hardhack. Not to be confused with Carpinus Nursery intro, 1922. Large fast-growing graceful native once lined caroliniana, Musclewood, which is frequently referred to as hornbeam. virtually every street in New England but declined dramatically due to An important small native upland understory tree that is tougher than Dutch elm disease. Fortunately, several disease-resistant cultivars have nails. Called Ironwood because it was traditionally used for sled runners, been introduced. This one has been in the trade for almost a century, wagon tongues (the part that hitched to the horses), longbows, and other chosen for its high resistance to the disease. Good resistance to elm leaf rugged tools. We use it for ax handles. Moderately shaggy greyish-brown beetles, too. At maturity the trunk can be 4' (even up to 8'!) in diameter bark and birch-like leaves. In fall, the seeds mature in little papery cones with an immense vase-shaped canopy. Long pendant branches blow and resembling hops, providing winter forage for birds like the chickadee. sway in a hazy breeze on hot summer days. One of the most wonderful Prefers well-drained acidic soil. Full sun or partial shade. Can be drought e tree or nort ern te e re n t te w t t e o n to er nt n t r e on t n r e o t w ter we or t e r t ew yourself in Castine, ME, visit the huge old elms lining every street; you’ll years while it gets established. Tolerant of pollution and works well in feel like you stepped back in time. Soil adaptable, prefers moist areas along rivers and streams but also grows well in drier places. Salt and yards. Native Nova Scotia to most of eastern U.S. Z3. ro n (2-4') drought tolerant. Plant more elms! Z4. ro n (2-4') 465A Eastern Hophornbeam, $17.50 470A Princeton American Elm, $22.50 32 (207) 426-9900 oni ers Abies balsamea alsa ir 45-75' One of the most abundant of our native conifers. Narrow, conical, smooth-barked. Twigs, inner bark, needles and sap are all medicinal. Small “blisters” contain a transparent aromatic resin that has been traditionally used as an inhalant for headaches and con- gestion, and as a salve for cuts and arthritis. Needle tea is rich in vitamin C. The fragrant boughs are a favorite for wreaths; the needles used in scent- ed pillows and potpourri. The best of all conifers for a Christmas tree! Prefers well-drained moist acid soil. Avoid polluted areas. Semi-shade tolerant, slow growing. Good hedge or spec- imen tree, songbird nesting area or rabbit thicket. Native from Labrador to upper eastern U.S. Z3. (9-18") 475A Balsam Fir, bundle of 5, $19.25 Picea abies Nor a ruce 80-100' Fast-growing wide-spreading upright picturesque tree with graceful long pendulous branches that often reach the ground. Largest of the spruces. If you go to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, don’t miss the ancient Norway spruce just inside the front gate. Several of its massive drooping branches have rooted and turned into secondary trunks. It is truly amazing. Orange-brown scaly bark. Excellent lumber. Showy 4–6" cones. Bright green foliage. Plant in full sun to part shade. Prefers loam but tolerates poorer soils better than other spruces. Native to northern Europe. Z2. (9-18") Pinus strobus astern ite ine 100-130' or more. The largest 477A Norway Spruce, bundle of 5, $19.25 nort e tern on er n ent n e w en t re oot P. glauca ite ruce 60-80' Conifer native to boreal forests, greyish-green bark becomes thick, rough and deeply furrowed with age. subalpine regions and Acadian forests of North America ranging from A cup of pine needle tea has more vitamin C than a cup of orange juice; Alaska to Newfoundland. Northernmost trees nearly reach the arctic Native Americans showed early white explorers how to brew it and stave n w w t t n w nter ow o 0˚ eter o tr n re e off scurvy. The resin has numerous practical and medicinal applications. to 2'. One of the best trees for wind blocks and privacy screens. e ent woo w t t o n e en rown n n one e Wood commonly used for lumber, pulp and paddles. Harvest “wolf pines” develop huge curving branches. Grown in the forest it will bright green spruce tips in late May to early June and process t e e r or t e r t 30 0 nte t n e re into citrusy sugar, syrup, vinegar or cordials. High in it makes a beautiful hedge that won’t drop its lower branches. Likes vitamin C. Adaptable and tolerant to wind, drought ordinary to poor—even sandy—soil. Shade tolerant, but does not like salt and cold. Full sun. Z2-6. ro n (9-18") or roadsides. Fast growing. Native to eastern U.S. Z3. ro n (9-18") 478A White Spruce, bundle of 5, $19.25 480A Eastern White Pine, bundle of 5, $19.25 P. pungens var. glauca ist lue’ olora o Thuja occidentalis astern ite e ar 20-60' Also called lue ruce 30-60' Very popular specimen tree Arborvitae, which means ‘tree of life.’ Common throughout the with truer blue foliage than other varieties. Excellent entire state of Maine although some stands have been depleted by for privacy screens, as it is fast growing after 3'. o er tt n rrow n t w t tw r n e o t ro A beautiful stand of blue spruce is on Rt. 139 in or n e- rown r n fl t o e n e t t o n ot er on er Benton, just before you cross the Sebasticook o e n r te n t n C n e t n e t on River. Plant in full sun to part shade. Does not Twig decoction makes an antiviral antifungal skin wash. Valuable like wet soil. Extra spring nitrogen will improve light fragrant wood, the standard for fence posts and log cabins e o or w oe n t e r or r t ew e r in Maine. Slow growing, lives up to 400 years. Good for Native to western U.S. Z2. (9-18") screens and hedges. A favorite browse of deer. Pruning limbs 479A Misty Blue Colorado Blue Spruce, and leaving them on the ground during a harsh winter helps bundle of 5, $19.25 sustain these animals and is a long-practiced tradition in the forests of Maine. Thrives in rich moist marshy neutral-to- alkaline soils. Plant in full sun to part shade. Z2. (9-18") ri el A hydrogel formulation 481A Eastern White Cedar, that absorbs and holds water. bundle of 5, $19.25 The swollen crystals adhere to plant roots, reducing transplant shock. Safe, nontoxic, easy to use. Useful for garden seedlings as well as woody plants. Highly recommended for raspberries and ro in oni ers conifers. Half-ounce packet mixed Conifers tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, but prefer a pH between with 1 to 3 gallons of water will 5.5–6.5. If you are planting in dry or well-drained areas, dip tree roots in treat up to 100 cane plants, or 50 a solution of Agri-gel before planting to protect roots from drying out. trees and shrubs. Not allowed for Do not use Agri-gel in heavy clay soils or wet areas. Do not soak conifers or n ert t on 1/2 oz. n t e r - e o t on oo n ent Before planting, prune off a third of the roots. Dig a small hole or L664A Agri-gel, $3.00 make an incision with a spade or planting bar and slip the tree in to the level it grew in the nursery, never below. Fan the roots out; do not wind them around in the hole. It is better to prune the roots than to crowd them in the hole. Water well and pack the earth down with your feet to remove air pockets. Young conifers need 3/4–1" of rain per week. Periodic deep waterings re r ore ene t n re ent r n n ert t on not ne e r n t e r t e r n ter e r o ert e ro n t e r line. To make evergreens dense and compact, remove central leader and center bud on the end of each side branch.
fedcoseeds.com/trees 33 Ordering Instructions Deadlines Order online at fedcoseeds.com/trees. • Volume discount deadline is January 15, 2021. Or mail your order form to: Fedco Trees, PO Box 520, Clinton, ME 04927. • Scionwood order deadline is February 19, 2021. Please use a current catalog, as prices and selection vary year-to-year! • Final order deadline (except scionwood) is March 5, 2021. • Use the 2021 order form; submit as many pages as you need using our Pickup exact format. Print an order form from our website to make this easier. We are no longer offering a pickup option. • Keep a copy of your order for your records. • We do not take fax or phone orders. Shipping Rates Volume discounts apply to orders submitted by January 15, 2021 with • We ship via FedEx or USPS Priority Mail; our choice unless you specify. subtotals of $100 or more. Must be shipped to one address only. Sorry, no • Maine to er now on 10 fl t-r te n ee volume discounts on later orders. See order form for details. • Alaska shipments are sent via USPS Priority Mail. Please include a Scionwood orders and early shipment of rootstock: Order online or postal address. This rate also applies to anyone in the Lower 48 who use the order form on pages 37-38. requires postal delivery. Group orders • Small & Light shipping applies only to orders Talk your neighbors into going in on an order. Group orders that exclusively contain item numbers beginning are processed as one order shipped to one address, with all with L: perennials, bulbs, strawberries, rhubarb, group member parts individually packaged. Qualifying o r onwoo n ore o or er discounts apply to the group subtotal. To submit by mail, any other items in addition to these, you must pay collect all order forms for your group, calculate the group the regular shipping charges. totals onto an additional order form as your cover Shipping Schedule sheet, and send it all in with one payment. To • Scionwood and early rootstock orders ship around March 15. submit online, visit fedcoseeds.com/trees/ groups.htm. • We ship everything else approximately March 30 through April 23. We begin with warmer areas, working our way to coldest areas last. We Substitutions do not ship outside of this range of dates. When dealing with live plants, we can never e ert n t t we n o r ent re or er o ro e n e re o w re e e n to t e something becomes unavailable, our default on r t on w t t e e or tr n mode is to substitute a similar variety because number when it leaves our warehouse. most people prefer a similar tree or plant to a o re n ew n n o r or er refund. On the order form, if you indicate you may take 1-2 business days to arrive. don’t want any substitutions, we’ll send a t e ew n n t t e refund. You’ll have the option to donate some several business days. of your refund to the Maine Heritage Orchard. • No Special Ship Dates! We Tax Exemption nnot o o te e Farmers: Please send us a copy of your date requests or guarantee your order farm exemption. Otherwise we must w rr e on ert n o re charge sales tax. out-of-town during our shipping dates, consider having your plants shipped to a friend or neighbor to care for them until you return. Shipping Restrictions Some states have restrictions on imported plants. Please check this list to make sure you’re not trying to • New! We will keep our website updated with our approximate order something that’s restricted in your area. shipping schedule by state so you can get an idea of when your order will ship. Check our website in the spring for more info. * We do not ship any plants outside the U.S. * Out of Stocks AZ: Carya spp. Hickory; Juglans spp. Walnut e or er on r t- o e r t- er e o e to er CA: Carya spp. Hickory; Castanea spp. Chestnut; Juglans spp. Walnut; Pinus spp. Pine; Quercus spp. Oak wonder why we don’t contact them when something on their order is out CO: Artemisia absinthium Wormwood. Some counties prohibit Prunus spp. of stock. We understand the disappointment. Some of our stock arrives Cherry, Peach, Plum. Please check your county regulations. n o e er to e tore t ro t e w nter t ore o t rr e CT: al rian o inalis in early spring just before—or even during—shipping. When we don’t FL: Castanea spp. Chestnut; Cornus spp.; Quercus spp. Oak know about a shortage or crop failure or damage until the last minute, it’s GA: Vaccinium spp. Blueberry, American Cranberry impossible to contact customers individually. We will issue you a refund. ID: Humulus lupulus Hops; Vitis spp. Grape Please accept this as a condition of ordering. IN: Rosa spp. Rose (Yes, we can resume general shipping to IN!) KS: Juglans spp. Walnut Handling Charges
MI: Abies spp. Fir; Vaccinium spp. Blueberry, American Cranberry, Lingonberry We charge $10 for handling each time you adjust your order. Additions Order form missing? Download another from fedcoseeds.com/requests.htm. MT: Pinus spp. Pine and deletions are costly for us to process. You are welcome to place as ND: Artemisia absinthium Wormwood many separate orders as you wish. NJ: Rosa spp. Rose Cancellation Policy NM: Carya spp. Hickory o t re o e te ter o r n or er e ne we w r e NY: Vitis spp. Grape 20 ee o t n e ter t e e ne we w ret n 20 ee OR: Castanea spp. Chestnut; Corylus spp. Hazelnut; Humulus lupulus Hops; Sambucus nigra European Elderberry; Vaccinium spp. Blueberry, American or 20% of the order total, whichever is greater. Please don’t make us do Cranberry; Vitis spp. Grape this. Unlike most businesses, we take orders from this catalog for about SD: Some counties prohibit Artemisia absinthium Wormwood. Please check e ont n t en t e n n o ew wee en we your county regulations. receive last-minute cancellations or order reductions after we’ve closed TX: Carya spp. Hickory; Juglans spp. Walnut for ordering, we can’t exactly restock the plants we’ve designated for WA: Artemisia absinthium Wormwood; Castanea spp. Chestnut; Corylus your order. spp. Hazelnut; Humulus lupulus Hops; Vaccinium spp. Blueberry, American Cranberry, Lingonberry; Vitis spp. Grape Plant Sizes Plants in soil medium cannot be shipped to the following states: Unfortunately, we can’t take requests for AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, HI, ID, KS, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, particular plant sizes or branching preferences. SD, TX, UT, WA. We grade for healthy trees with excellent root The following plants come in soil: Achillea millefolium ‘Oertel’s Rose’ and systems. Sizes listed for each item should be ‘Terra Cotta’; Actinidia spp. Kiwiberry; Alcea Hollyhock; Asarum canadense considered an average. The Wild Ginger; Calluna vulgaris Heather; Cornus canadensis Bunchberry; trees and shrubs in your Delphinium; Digitalis mertonensis Strawberry Foxglove; Gallium odoratum order will sometimes Sweet Woodruff; Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen; Monarda punctata be slightly larger Dotted Horsemint; Pulsatilla vulgaris Pasque Flower; Rubus e on err and occasionally Salix ow e e t o e ee n Schisandra; Sempervivum Hens smaller than these & Chicks; V. corymbosum Highbush Blueberry; V. macrocarpon American projections. Cranberry; V. vitis-idaea Lingonberry 34 (207) 426-9900 Fedco Trees 2021 PO Box 520 Clinton, ME 04927 www.fedcoseeds.com (From mailing label) CC- Volume discount cutoff: Farm or Group Name January 15, 2021 Name Final order deadline: US Mail Delivery Address March 5, 2021 Town St Zip Visit fedcoseeds.com Street Address (if different) to check product Town St Zip availability. Phone Email
Delivery: Substitutions: Yes No ✓ ❏ Ship in late March to mid/late April. I will accept a similar variety. ❏ ❏ Sorry, no pickup option or Tree Sale in 2021. I will accept similar rootstock. ❏ ❏ Main us o rs onl fla ra s i in (Applies to apple trees only.) anno a o oda s i s i da r u s s
Volume Discounts: (only orders received by 1/15/21) Subtotals $100 and over take 5% off $300 and over take 10% off $600 and over take 15% off $1200 and over take 20% off Subtotal from reverse Shipping Rates Volume Discount – Maine 10 fl t r te or or er 1% Fedco Member Discount from Subtotal (see back cover) – Adjusted Total Shipping Charge Continental US Up to $141.00 $22.50 Adjusted Total = (other than Maine) Over $141.00 16% of Adjusted Total Shipping + Alaska or postal Up to $125.00 $25.00 delivery required Over $125.00 20% of Adjusted Total Sales Tax + All item #s begin with L Up to $63.00 $10.00 Total = Small & Light Shipping Over $63.00 16% of Adjusted Total Donate to MeHO + Sales Tax: (Maine Heritage Orchard, see p. 14) ME addresses — Pay 5.5% sales tax on Adjusted Total Donate to Wild Seed Project (see p. 63) + MD, VA — Pay your local tax rate on Adj Total IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, NC, — Shipping is taxable – pay your local Grand Total = NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV tax rate on Adj Total + Shipping
• We ship via FedEx or Priority Mail, our choice. • If you require postal delivery, use the Alaska/Postal rates.
Payment: Help support Maine Heritage Orchard • We accept payment by check, money order, or credit/debit card. by donating refunds for out-of-stock • Please makes checks payable to Fedco. items or overpayments. • Orders under $25: please pay by check or money order. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. Exp. Date ❏ Donate all my refund to MeHO ❏ Donate up to $5.00 ❏ Donate up to $2.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 35 Trees, Shrubs & other Plants Fedco Trees 2021: For scionwood and early shipment of rootstock, order online or use the next form. # Plants Item # Qty per pkg Name Price Each Total Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
If you are ordering more than 28 items, copy this page or our format Subtotal and submit as many pages as you need. You can download another form at fedcoseeds.com/requests.htm. If you order only item numbers beginning with L, you qualify for our Small & Light shipping rate. See other side for details.
Order Comments:
36 (207) 426-9900 Fedco Trees 2021 Orders for scionwood and POScionwood Box 520 Clinton, ME 04927 early shipment rootstock www.fedcoseeds.com must be submitted by February 19, 2021 (From mailing label) CC- Farm or Group Name Name US Mail Delivery Address Town St Zip Street Address (if different) Town St Zip Phone Email Delivery: ✓ ❏ Ship around March 15. orr anno s i s ion ood a o r i s Scionwood Total (from reverse) Shipping Rates Rootstock Total (from reverse) + Maine 10 fl t-r te or or er Subtotal = Adjusted Total Shipping Charge 1% Fedco Member Discount (see back cover) – All item #s begin with L Up to $63.00 $10.00 Small & Light Shipping Over $63.00 16% of Adjusted Total Adjusted Total = Continental US Up to $141.00 $22.50 Shipping + (other than Maine) Over $141.00 16% of Adjusted Total Alaska or postal Up to $125.00 $25.00 Sales Tax + delivery required Over $125.00 20% of Adjusted Total Grand Total = Sales Tax: (Please make checks payable to Fedco.) ME addresses — Pay 5.5% sales tax on Adjusted Total MD, VA — Pay your local tax rate on Adj Total IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, NC, — Shipping is taxable – pay your local NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV tax rate on Adj Total + Shipping
Scionwood, or scions, are twigs for grafting. They are $5 each and are approximately 8" long. For larger quantities consider buying by the foot: 10-foot minimum per variety, $4.50 per foot. Scionwood quantities are limited, so order early. We will ship scionwood and early rootstock orders around March 15, 2021. Scionwood-only orders may ship a little sooner; orders with rootstock may ship a little later. Remain calm. o ill r c i an ail notification n o r or r i We ro t ne en on n root to r n o n ree n we t er e re ne n t e r n no tter ow ow t e temps are during shipping. It’s also not unusual for packages to be delayed by snowstorms. Even if your order spends an extra couple days in transit or your scions have icicles hanging off of them, the plant material will still be OK to use. However, we are not responsible for the quality of plant material in the event your package is not promptly picked up or opened.
Please note: We try to provide wood that is close to ¼" in diameter. When only smaller wood is available and we consider it usable, we send it. We do not issue refunds or replacements based on diameter of wood. Nature is variable and some varieties do not grow large wood. We expect that you know how to graft and will adjust your grafting methods to meet the materials. If the wood is too small to use the whip-and-tongue method, let the bark slip on the stock and make a bark graft instead. No refunds for e e -o t root to t ne or e
• We ship via FedEx or Priority Mail, our choice. If you require postal delivery, use the Alaska/Postal rates. • For more information about storing and collecting scionwood, see page 39. • For descriptions of scionwood varieties, please check our website: fedcoseeds.com/trees. Help support the • For grafting supplies, please refer to our Seeds & Supplies catalog, or visit fedcoseeds.com/ogs. Maine Heritage Orchard: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. Exp. Date ❏ Donate all my refund to MeHO ❏ Donate up to $5.00 ❏ Donate up to $2.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 37 Fedco Trees 2021: Scionwood # sticks # feet # sticks # feet Apples # sticks # feet L-858 King of Tompkins County L-897 State Fair L-801 American Summer Pearmain L-859 Kingston Black L-898 Summer Sweeting L-802 Arabskoe L-860 Kola L-899 Sweet Alford L-803 Arkansas Black L-861 Krameri Tuvioun L-900 Sweet Sixteen L-804 Aroostook Sunset L-862 Liberty L-901 Tolman Sweet L-805 Ashmead’s Kernel L-863 Macoun L-902 Trailman L-806 Baldwin L-864 Maiden Blush L-903 Tydeman’s Red L-807 Beacon L-865 Martha Crab L-904 Vista Bella L-808 Bitter Pew L-866 McIntosh L-905 Wealthy L-809 Black Oxford L-867 Medaille d’Or L-906 Westfield Seek-No-Further L-810 Blenheim Orange L-868 Melrose L-907 Whitney Crab L-811 Blue Pearmain L-869 Milden L-908 Wickson L-812 Brandywine L-870 Milo Gibson L-909 William’s Pride L-813 Brock L-871 Munson Sweet L-910 Windham Russet L-814 Bullock L-872 Mutsu L-911 Winekist L-815 Burgundy L-873 Nehou L-912 Winn Russet L-816 Calville Blanc d’Hiver L-874 New Brunswicker L-913 Winter Banana L-817 Canadian Strawberry L-875 Nodhead L-914 Wolf River L-818 Cap of Liberty L-876 Northern Spy L-915 Yarlington Mill L-819 Centennial L-877 Opalescent - 16 e ow e flower L-820 Champlain L-878 Oriole L-917 Yellow Transparent L-821 Chenango Strawberry L-879 Otterson L-918 Zabergau Reinette - 22 C err e L-880 Pewaukee Pears L-823 Chestnut L-881 Pipsqueak L-919 Bartlett L-824 Cole’s Quince L-882 Pomme Grise L-920 Beurre Clairgeau L-825 Cora’s Grand Greening L-883 Porter’s Perfection L-921 Cabot L-826 Cortland L-884 Red Astrachan L-922 Comptesse Clara Frijs L-827 Cox’s Orange Pippin L-885 Red Blaze L-923 Dana Hovey L-828 Cranberry Pippin L-886 Red St. Lawrence L-924 Duchesse de Berry d’Ete L-829 Dabinett - e e L-925 Gorham L-830 Deane L-888 Rhode Island Greening L-926 Kaspar’s Winter L-831 Drap d’Or L-889 Ribston Pippin L-927 Louise Bonne d’Avranches L-832 Duchess of Oldenburg L-890 Richmond Pink L-928 Luscious L-833 Early Strawberry L-891 Roxbury Russet L-929 Nova L-834 Empire L-892 Screen Shot L-930 Patten L-835 Esopus Spitzenburg L-893 Spice Sweet L-931 Stacyville L-836 Fallawater L-894 St. Edmund’s Russet Column 3 Total L-837 Fameuse L-895 St. Lawrence L-838 Frostbite L-896 Starkey Total Number Ordered L-839 Gala Column 2 Total $ Total Sticks @ $5.00 ea. $ L-840 Garden Sweet L-841 Gnarled Chapman $ Total Feet @ $4.50/ft $ (Minimum 10 feet per variety) L-842 Golden Russet L-843 GoldRush L-844 Gravenstein Scionwood sticks are L-845 Gray Pearmain around 8" long with a 1/4" ROOTSTOCK – Bundle of 10 L-846 Grimes Golden caliper when possible. Rootstock is approximately 1/4" caliper. L-847 Haralson $5.00/stick. See page 39 for descriptions. L-848 Harrison Rootstock Price Qty $Total L-849 Harry Masters Jersey For larger quantities, 268-B Malus Antonovka $29.50 order by the foot for L-850 Hewe’s Virginia Crab $4.50/foot. (10' minimum 269-B M. Budagovsky 118 $29.50 L-851 Honeycrisp per variety) 270-B M. M111 $29.50 L-852 Honeygold 271-B M. Geneva 11 $33.50 L-853 Jonathan 272-B M. Budagovsky 9 $29.50 L-854 Kavanagh 273-B Prunus americana $29.50 L-855 Keepsake 274-B Prunus avium $29.50 L-856 Kennebec Russet 275-B P. cerasifera $29.50 L-857 King David 276-B Pyrus OHxF97 $29.50 Column 1 Total Bundles Ordered
38 (207) 426-9900 cion oo Hardy Rootstocks We offer scionwood (twigs for grafting) from a wide We consider these to be some of the selection of fruit trees including many listed in this best rootstocks for home or commercial catalog. Scionwood is shipped only in March. Price is use. Even without grafting, any of these $5.00 per stick (about 8") plus shipping. Rootstock can produces fruit suitable for wildlife. For be sent with your scionwood order in March if you rootstocks not listed, or for larger calipers order it from the Scionwood form (previous page) or or larger quantities, please write for select that option online. information. We sell scionwood, also called scions, in two Please note! We do our best to provide ways. For those grafting up to 3 or 4 trees of a variety, 1/4" caliper stock. Because of factors beyond one t w e n e t o e our control (such as weather!) stock may be with a small paper ID label. This is how most of 3/16–3/8". We cannot guarantee scion or rootstock our customers purchase scions. For orchardists diameter. grafting large numbers of trees of a particular Because of the way they are propagated, variety, we also offer scionwood by the foot clonal rootstocks (B118, M111, G11, B9 apples ($4.50 per foot, minimum order of 10 and OHxF97 pear) rarely come with more than feet). In our own nursery work, we are a few roots. usually able to graft about 6 or 8 trees You may order rootstock for shipment around from one foot of scionwood. March 15 by using the scionwood order form, found on The list of this year’s scionwood the previous page. Rootstock ordered on the regular order form in this o er n on t e re o e o n catalog, page 35, will be shipped with the rest of the Tree order later in descriptions for these varieties on our website. March or April. Both options are also available online. e o e t t e onwoo n w nter n tore t t o t 40˚ nt Malus ntono ka’ (Apple) Hardy Russian seedling rootstock for full- shipment in March. You can graft right away or store it for later use. sized “standard” apple trees. The hardiest rootstock we offer. Space trees Stored properly, it will keep quite well for several weeks. It needs to be 20–30' apart. Z3. kept in the fridge or in a cold dark basement, root cellar or shed. Storing 268A Malus Antonovka, bundle of 10, $29.50 scionwood at freezing temps can be okay (we have friends who stick theirs in a snow bank), but the very cold temperatures in a freezer will Malus u a o sk ’ (Apple) [Moscow Pear x (M8 and M9 kill it. It will also die if it dries out or is stored without special protection pollen)] Michurinsk College of Ag, Michurin, Russia. Also called from ripening veggies or fruits. We recommend triple-bagging your sci- Bud 118 or B118. Semi-dwarf rootstock, about 85–90% of standard. onwood in plastic bags, no matter where you store it. There is no need to Sometimes referred to as a “semi-standard” or even a standard. Space dampen the scionwood or to insert wet paper towels before bagging it. trees 20–25' apart. More productive and precocious (fruits at a young age) than trees on Antonovka. Very winter hardy and soil adaptable. • Deadline for ordering scionwood is February 19, 2021. Generally not used in commercial orchards due to its large size. Note that reddish cambium does not scrape green like other rootstocks. Resistant • Scionwood will be shipped to you around March 15. to o r rot n nown e t t to re t 3 • Scionwood varieties are listed on form, previous page. 269A Malus Budagovsky 118, bundle of 10, $29.50 Malus ’ (Apple) [Northern Spy x Merton 793 (Northern Spy x cions are not trees! East Malling11)] Collaborative intro of East Malling Research Stn and Scions are twigs, not trees. They have no roots and the John Innes Institute, Merton, England, about 1950. Technically named will not grow if you plant them. They are cuttings MM111, the MM refers to Malling and Merton. Very popular semi-dwarf from branch tips collected in the winter, intended for rootstock produces a tree about 65–80% of standard. Space trees 15–20' grafting in the spring. apart. No staking necessary. Slightly more precocious than standards. Is grafting easy? Yes and no. It is an acquired Well anchored and adaptable to a wide range of soils. Resistant to woolly skill. Experienced grafters often have 100% “take” aphid. Not nearly as long-lived as standards. Hardy to Z4, maybe Z3. (success rate) with their grafting. Beginners often 270A Malus M111, bundle of 10, $29.50 have less than 50% take—or even zero. While you Malus ene a ’ (Apple) Also called G11. Cornell U intro, NY. can learn to graft from a book or video, we highly Dwarf rootstock produces a tree about a third the size of standard, about re o en t e o - one w o e rn n n halfway between M9 and M26 (a bit larger than Bud 9). Space trees real person to teach you. MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers 8–10' apart. Suckers only slightly. Moderately susceptible to woolly and Gardeners Association) has grafting classes every e ent re t re t n e e re t n wee n n spring. Other organizations around the country do as well. watering in most locations. Z4/5. There are two general ways to graft fruit trees in spring. You can bench graft by grafting scionwood onto bare-root rootstock. Generally 271A Malus Geneva 11, bundle of 10, $33.50 we do this indoors in late March or early April. We keep the little grafted Malus u a o sk ’ (Apple) [M8 x Red Standard (Krasnij trees packed into a bucket of damp sawdust in a warm spot in the house Standart)] Also called Red-leafed Paradise or Bud 9. Michurinsk 6˚ to re or n n ro ote e e o ent en we Co e e o r n 1 46 w r n root to ro e harden them off in a cold (but not freezing) place for a week or two a tree about a quarter the size of a standard tree. Highly productive before planting out in the nursery in mid-to-late May. In a couple of and precocious with large fruit size. Very hardy though not as hardy as years when the trees are 3–4' tall, we plant them in the orchard. You can Antonovka. In most locations, requires weeding, mulching, staking and grow your own rootstock from seed or purchase it from us. You can also irrigation. Space trees 5–10' apart. Note that reddish cambium does not topwork scionwood onto established trees. We do our topworking after r e reen e ot er root to o e re t n e to re t 4 the trees have begun to show some green growth, usually about May 10 272A Malus Budagovsky 9, bundle of 10, $29.50 in central Maine. Prunus americana (Plum) Seedling rootstock for American, Japanese Can you collect your own scionwood? Of course! Grafting can open or hybrid plums. Also recommended for grafting peaches. Seedling plum up a whole new world for you. You can purchase scionwood from Fedco produces very decent 1" fruit without grafting. The best pollinator for and several other suppliers around the country. You can trade scionwood hybrid plums. (See explanation in plum section on page 22.) like you would baseball cards or recipes. And, best of all, you can 273A Prunus americana, bundle of 10, $29.50 collect your own scionwood from your favorite trees. We’re always on the lookout for interesting varieties to graft. Before long, you may even Prunus avium a ar ’ (Cherry) The rootstock we use for grafting become completely obsessed like many of us at Fedco! We offer grafting sweet and pie cherries. Shallow spreading root system. Longer lived than supplies in our Seeds & Supplies catalog or online: fedcoseeds.com/ogs. Mahaleb though not as hardy. Does not do well in heavy poorly drained soils. Z4/5. 274A Prunus avium Mazzard, bundle of 10, $29.50 Prunus cerasifera ro alan’ (Plum) Seedling rootstock for European plums. Not recommended for American or hybrid plums. Z3. 275A Prunus cerasifera Myrobalan, bundle of 10, $29.50 The Scionwood Exchange and grafting workshop, an annual Pyrus ’ (Pear) (Old Home x Farmingdale 97) Produces a event held in the exhibition hall of MOFGA’s Common Ground Education vigorous hardy well-rooted almost-standard-sized tree. Superior to Pyrus Center in Unity, ME, is provisionally set for Sunday, March 28, 2021. communis in numerous ways, and can be used for both European and Hosted by Fedco, the Maine Tree Crop Alliance and MOFGA. Asian pears. We use “97s” for our Fedco catalog offerings. Z3/4. Visit mofga.org for updates regarding this and other MOFGA events. 276A Pyrus OHxF97, bundle of 10, $29.50 fedcoseeds.com/trees 39 all rees an ru s alycanthus flori us arolina lls ice 6-10' x 6-12' Beautiful As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, ro t n t e r w t n e 1 r r n - roon flower n “there are many trees that by pruning can be made shiny polished leaves. Begins blooming shortly after breaking dormancy to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by in early spring and continues through much of the summer. Upright different pruning may be made to produce flower re e e no w t et r n nto r- medium-sized trees.” looking sepals, a characteristic of many primitive plants. Leaf, bark n flower r r nt o n ro re e n e e Amelanchier Also called Juneberry, Parsonberry, Bark is edible, tastes very similar to cinnamon bark, and can be used Serviceberry, Saskatoon, Shadblow, Shadbush and the same way to spice puddings, toast and desserts. In Shad. Folks downeast call it Wild Pear. Very hardy genus warmer regions fruit will develop but is poisonous and o r n -flower n r n tree w t e e should be avoided. Dirr considers this plant one of the err e e t r r nt 5- et e w te flower re great treasures of eastern North America, especially when early harbingers of spring in Maine. Purplish- allowed to grow into a large open specimen. Flowers black sweet berries good in pies, cobblers, on new wood so best pruned in summer. Partial sun jellies, jams, smoothies and cakes. Berries are and moist rich soil. Native to stream edges and about the size of a lowbush blueberry, or a bit woodlands of southeastern U.S. Our trials in larger, and seedier. Popular with wildlife. Nice red-orange fall color. central Maine are so far proving it to be hardy in Thrives along stream beds as well as on rocky slopes. Tolerates partial some microclimates of Zone 4. Z4/5. (1-3') shade, salt, pollution and wet spots but not standing water. Considered to 494A Carolina Allspice, $15.50 be self-fruitful but we recommend planting with other Amelanchiers to ensure pollination. Taxonomy of Amelanchiers are a point of confusion ercis cana ensis e u 25-30' x same. in the nursery trade where common names and even botanical names Small vase-shaped single- or multi-stemmed are used interchangeably. Furthermore, these plants easily hybridize with tree orn ent w t e e flower each other in nature. Below, we’ve highlighted salient features of each and seeds. In early spring, clusters of small species. (1-3') r nt r - n e - e flower re o n nt t e t e ent re tree ott n A. alnifolia e ent’ une err 4-6' x same. J. Candrian intro, the branches and even coming right out of the trunk. Faribault, MN, 1997. An open-pollinated seedling originating near Flowers edible raw or cooked. Flat leguminous e ent Co t ro r w t weet r e- ent err e 2–3" pods have roastable edible seeds high in Fruit ripens in mid-July in central Maine. Plant in well-drained fertile nt o nt tro en- n tree o e soil and full sun. Foliage somewhat susceptible to leaf spot or rust but as an early-season nectar plant for bees. Large this doesn’t affect fruit. Native to northwestern North America. Z2. heart-shaped leaves emerge opaque pink, 485A Regent Juneberry, $15.50 mature to deep green and turn yellow in fall. A. laevis lle en er ice err 15-25' The most common Smooth dark bark becomes plated and brick-red Amelanchier in Maine. The unique purplish-orange bronzed color with purple undertones. Sun or partial shade, soil of the unfolding leaves on this understory tree is a favorite spring adaptable. Fine as a specimen tree or in groups. sight. Pendulous white blossoms precede the young leaves and Native to central and eastern U.S. and may not reach are followed by berries that ripen in midsummer. Referred to full maturity size in northern areas. Very tender and as Shad or Shadbush by old-timers because the blossoms only marginally hardy in Zone 5. ro n (1-3') coincide with the spring shad run in certain Maine streams. 495A Redbud, $17.00 e we - r ne o on t e e e o e Clethra alnifolia u ice’ u ers eet 4-5' x same. Sport of streams and roads. Native midwest to eastern U.S. and ‘Pink Spires’, Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden, CT, 1992. Also known as Canada. Z2. ro n Indigenous Royalties. Sweet Pepperbush. Red buds and beautiful spires of heavenly scented 486A Allegheny Serviceberry, $15.50 ee - n flower e r on r e e or wee n er ee n tterfl e o e t or o e tre e ttr t e ne err te Aronia s oke err Aronia has gotten a lot of press in recent distinctly veined glossy dark green foliage turn deep gold in fall. years as a superfruit: it has wonderful medicinal qualities, works well in Dangling racemes of “black peppercorns” persist into the next growing a range of culinary applications and is an important wildlife plant in the season. Erect oval habit, often suckering to form dense colonies. Slow native landscape. Both red (A. arbutifolia) and black (A. melanocarpa) growing. Prefers acid moist well-drained soils. A good shrub to border chokeberries are edible when cooked, but we emphasize the red for streams and ponds. Will tolerate salty coastal conditions. Full sun to wildlife, while the black may be a better choice for medicine and food. shade. Easy to grow. Species native Maine to Florida. Z3. (1-3') Black chokeberries are commercially cultivated for their high levels of 496A Ruby Spice Summersweet, $16.75 nt o nt n r e t ene t ot e e re ro n e shrubs with blueberry-sized fruit and electric-red fall foliage. Begins to e r r t n t t r e r n n re e to e ro n e e r Ripens in late July or early August. If not harvested, the berries will hang on the bushes until songbirds eat them in late winter. Will form colonies. Not particularly picky about where it grows: adaptable to moist or dry areas, sun or partial shade. Native to eastern U.S. Self-fruitful. Z3/4. All are ro n (1-3') A. arbutifolia rilliantissi a’ 6-8' x 3-4' In The Best of the Hardiest, o n o re o e err one o o r ne t n t e n e shrubs.” Upright multi-stemmed form. Dense clusters of small white flower w t re t en r o e t e n nt er tent o r t red fruit. With “brilliant” fall foliage, this plant is the best alternative to the invasive burning bush. 487A Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry, $15.00 A. a. e oke err ee lin s 6-10' x 3-6' Each one is genetically unique. Beautiful in mass plantings and borders. Plant several in a hedge and make the birds happy! (Note: Rooted cuttings were taken from an assortment of seedling plants.) 488A Red Chokeberry Seedling, $15.00 lant i es All of our woody plants are well-rooted bare-root 488B Red Chokeberry Seedlings, bundle of 5, $67.00 plants. Some shrubs may be a bit shorter than the specs given, and some 488C Red Chokeberry Rooted Cutting, $14.00 hardwoods may be much taller. Because of the nature of living plants, A. melanocarpa Vikin ’ 4-6' x same. Introduced in Sweden. Upright size variations will naturally occur within each crop. vigorous high-yielding shrub produces very large dark tasty berries. 490A Viking Black Chokeberry, $15.00 A. m. lack oke err ee lin s 3-6' x same. Each one is ro n = grown in genetically unique. Plant several for an attractive edible hedge. Maine at one of our 491A Black Chokeberry Seedling, $15.00 small local nurseries. 491B Black Chokeberry Seedlings, bundle of 5, $67.00 40 (207) 426-9900 Cornus alba u ’s ello ’ Do oo 6-8' x 5-6' COPF intro. C. mas ornelian err Selection made from a seedling stand near Boughen Nurseries, 20-25' x 15-20' The fruits Saskatchewan. Also called Tatarian Dogwood. Luminescent yellow of this Old World gem, stems are brightest in winter and sought out for winter plant arrangements. harvested by humans o n fl t flower e to 2 w e e r n e r r n t e for thousands of years, smooth glossy green deeply veined foliage emerges. Small white drupes are delicious bright red are visible in summer. Suckers and spreads over time and can be used pear-shaped “cherries” where erosion control is needed. Annual pruning is recommended for that set heavily in keeping stem color bright. More resistant to canker than C. sericea. Very late summer. Dense, chewy and adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions. Full sun to partial shade. sweet, they deliver a distinctive Native to Asia. Z3. (1-3') toothsome tang—there’s nothing 97A Bud’s Yellow Dogwood, $1 .50 like it. Let them ripen to full sweetness C. alternifolia a o a Do oo 20' x 30-35' e ore n C ter o e te e ow flower o er Also known as Alternate-Leaved Dogwood. t e e fle tree n e r r n or tr n ow e ore t e or t Small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub, even think of waking up. Long-lived large shrub with upright rounded particularly beautiful with its tiers of horizontal habit makes a great hedge or can be pruned to a small tree. Nutritious, r n e n r r nt w te 2 3 flower ter medicinal, high in vitamin C and good in jam, syrup, tarts, fruit leather These appear in mid-late spring followed by and wine. The wood is hard and strong, once used for spears and wheel immature olive-green berries, each tipped with a spokes. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but otherwise adaptable. tiny bright yellow style remnant. In midsummer Likely to bear fruit in 2–3 years. Partially self-fertile—plant multiples clusters of dark blue berries ripen above the to improve yields. Native to Europe and Asia. Z4/5. All are ro n blue-green foliage. One of the most C. m. le ant’ Bred by Svetlana Klimenko, a Ukranian botanist at the popular dogwoods with the birds. Centr ot n r en n e e e te or oo re -e t n fl or Roots, bark and inner bark all Ripens around the third week of August in Maine. Picking window lasts medicinal. Prefers partial shade between two and three weeks. Fruits are about 11/4" long with a very and moist well-drained acid soil, but en er e on te e o t fle tr to t o e t e ten o t o tolerates full sun, poor hand. (2-5') soil and even clay. pH 501A Elegant Cornelian Cherry, $29.00 adaptable. Excellent C. m. ioneer’ not er en o ntro w t oo fl or ore t rt naturalized as a t n e nt t etter or ro e n en ro n t e r t wee o specimen or in September in Maine, about one week after Elegant. Picking window lasts groups. Reddish-purple fall for three or four weeks. Fruits mature to about 11/2" long and have a color. Susceptible to golden rono n e t e r e r fle e to t 2-5 canker: when dormant, 502A Pioneer Cornelian Cherry, $29.00 prune out diseased branches to prevent spores spreading to C. m. ornelian err ee lin s Each one will be unique. Plant the trunk. Native to eastern U.S. Z3. (1-3') several for genetic diversity. They will pollinate each other and any 98A Pagoda Dogwood, $16.50 named cornelian cherry cultivar. (1-3') 98B Pagoda Dogwood, bundle of 5, $70.00 503A Cornelian Cherry Seedling, $16.00 503B Cornelian Cherry Seedlings, bundle of 5, $68.00 C. amomum ilk Do oo 8-12' x same. Large rounded long- limbed shrub best suited for naturalizing borders, streams and wetlands. Effective for erosion control, wildlife or pollinator habitat. Medium-fast C. sericea e osier Do oo 8-10' Formerly called C. stolonifera. growing. Creamy white 2" cymes bloom in late spring followed by dark Bright red stems are a favorite sight from late fall through early spring, blue berries in midsummer. Glossy deeply veined green foliage turns before the foliage emerges. Broad loosely rounded multi-stemmed shrub dark purple in fall. Maroon bark is visible in winter. Whether it’s the spreads freely by stolons (underground stems) and forms excellent flower r t or e en t t e o e n e r n t on hedges and borders. Most admirable in the winter when the masses of to natural areas and songbirds love the berries. Not considered quite as brilliant stems contrast a backdrop of freshly fallen snow. Bring them ornamental as other dogwoods, yet the Silkies planted by Fedco grower inside and enjoy them for wreaths, arrangements and basket-weaving. Sharon Turner along a woodland trail in dappled light are always eye- By June, the stems are hidden by dark green foliage and sprinkled with catching. Prefers moist well-drained soils but will tolerate wet locations. t n 4- et e t r- e flower t err e n 2 3 ter Does not like overly dry areas. Suckers and spreads. Sun or partial shade. are popular with dozens of bird species. One of the most valuable of Native to eastern U.S. Z4. ro n (1-3') our native wildlife plants. Perfect for swamps, streams and wetlands. 99A Silky Dogwood, $15.00 Very adaptable to a range of soils and climates, but generally likes wet C. kousa ar chinensis ousa Do oo Seedling 20-30' x same. conditions. Sun or partial shade. Fast growing and easy to transplant. To Also referred to as Chinese Dogwood. Introduced by EH Wilson, Hubei, improve stem color, prune out older stems in the spring. These plants China, 1907. Horizontally spreading small specimen tree or large shrub were propagated from a swath of wild stems growing in central Maine. covered with layers of 3–5" milky-white blossoms for up to 6 weeks in Native to eastern U.S. Z2. (1-3') early summer. The pointed bracts give blossoms a starlike appearance 50 A Redosier Dogwood, $1 .50 followed by deep pink edible exotic fruit the size of ping-pong balls. Peel 50 B Redosier Dogwood, bundle of 5, $59.50 off the skin or simply squeeze it open and bite into the custardy pulp. The fle weet n re n o w w n re n nt or n e Pollination clarification exfoliating bark. Scarlet-orange-yellow fall foliage. Used up north as an Self-pollinating, self-fertile and self-fruitful all mean the same thing. alternative to the iconic southern dogwood tree, florida. Resistant to You can plant a self-fertile tree and expect it to pollinate itself and set fruit dogwood anthracnose and borer. Prefers light well-drained soils with an alone (for example, peaches, pie cherries, apricots). However, many self- abundance of air and sun, but it’ll tolerate shade and damper areas. Very fertile trees’ fruit sets are enhanced with multiple plantings (elderberries adaptable. Native to China and Japan. Z4. (1-3') and Amelanchiers). Self-sterile or self-infertile means that another tree 500A Kousa Dogwood, $16.50 of a different cultivar or variety is needed to set fruit (cross-pollinate). This is the case with most apples. Monoecious (from Greek meaning ‘one o e o nt e t e r e e n e rt on e r te flower both together on the same plant. In most cases, these plants are self-fertile, t not w w n t re onoe o t t e e flower re e e o en e ore t e e e flower o en o n two nt better than one). Dioecious (‘two households’) plants have either all male or e e flower on e r te n o wo nee to nt one female and one male to achieve pollination. When you buy unsexed seedlings, you generally have a 50-50 chance of getting one gender or the other (spicebush and bayberry). Bisexual or perfect flower ont n ot e n e e o onent w t n t e e flower o e nt w t er e t flower w e e - ert e o e w not ten e t r or r et e e er e t flower t t e nnot o n te t e e e n need other varieties to do it for them (apples and blueberries). fedcoseeds.com/trees 41 Cotinus obovatus erican oketree 20-30' x same. Diervilla lonicera Nort ern us one suckle 2-4' x 2-5' Also Also called Smoke Tree and Chittamwood. Rare and called Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle. Don’t be fooled by the common name: exquisite. (Not to be confused with Smokebush, C. it isn’t really a honeysuckle. Every time we’ve visited the Diervilla in coggygria.) Large oval leaves emerge yellow, orange, grower Sharon Turner’s garden, it’s buzzing with bumblebees. Five er re n r e re r t n ter t e n tt e r t e ow et on e t r flower r o en n w like stained glass. They relax and turn bluish- n n t t on to n e t n r tterfl e n r en to r t green as they mature, then put on another color C ter o flower or n t e o new rowt ten e - e on show in fall. Bears 6–10" panicles of tiny bloomer. Long pointed lustrous dark green leaves emerge with a hint e ow- reen flower n e r ne t e of bronze. Good for erosion control or mass planting. We’ve become fade, fuzzy light pink “hairs” emerge and fond of the wild specimens popping up around our homesteads. Full persist all summer, giving the tree a hazy sun to light shade. Tolerates even the poorest soils, but if you want it to smoky misty quality. These plumes are more naturalize, give it rich moist soil. Pest and disease free. Native to eastern subtle than the non-native Smokebush, but North America. Z3. ro n (1-3') the foliage is the real eye-catcher here. 510A Northern Bush Honeysuckle, $15.00 Finches love the seeds. Scaly interesting Forsythia ovata Nort ern ol ’ ors t ia 6-8' x 5-7' Bred by bark. Thought to be a relic tree from 25 Felicitas Svejda, Ottawa, Canada, 1979. One of the earliest forsythia million years ago, it almost went extinct t r to flower n r n r t or w t e ow- re r n e during the mid-19th century when the clad in healthy rich green foliage. If your forsythia blooms only from the wood was over-harvested for fence posts, snow line down, you’ve been duped: don’t buy cheap big-box forsythia. tool handles and orange fabric dye. Allow ort ern o not on t e r ne ne e r or flower it to grow several trunks or prune to a single production above the snow line, but also outstanding golden-yellow specimen. Tolerates most soils but prefers well- flower o n e oo e er e r re er n n drained infertile ground. Full sun to partial shade. moderately fertile, slightly acid to neutral soils with good drainage. We Native to North America. Z4. ro n (1-3') t o r r t o et o t e e r w en we r e t t e or nt r n e 505A American Smoketree, $18.00 for forcing inside mid-February. Bred from F. ovata, a hardy dependably y onia o lon a uince 10-25' A small tree with large aromatic tan blooming Korean species native to Asia and Europe. Z3. (1-3') or yellowish fruit shaped like a cross between a pear and an apple. The 511A Northern Gold Forsythia, $14.50 aroma is so intoxicating just having a bowl of the ripe fruit in your house will distract you from getting around to cooking them! Oblong furrowed e r- e r t w t o en- e ow n n t e ow fle Usually eaten in stews and preserves. Makes a fragrant orangey-pink jelly—not like anything we’ve tasted. Sometimes added to hard cider. At one time, every Maine dooryard had a quince. Cultivated for millennia n r w n r e w te to n flower oo o t re tree becomes impressively gnarled and twisted. We asked co-worker Aktan Askin what he most loves about quince: “I love the sound a big, fully ripe quince makes as it falls off the tree and hits the ground. So solid. So invincible. Thunk! But that aside, I really just love eating fresh quince with a spoon. Carving little balls out and chewing to juice them in my mouth.” Similar soil requirements to other fruit trees. Plant in full sun and space 15–20' apart. Prune like an apple tree. Needs protection from e orer ee e 6 e t e to re t en n to er in central Maine; may not ripen in coldest areas. Not to be confused with Flowering Quince, the ornamental shrub Chaenomeles, which has smaller fruit. Self-fruitful but planting more than one will give better yields. Native to Asia. Z4/5. (3-6') C. o. ro atna a’ A very hardy Russian variety, maybe the hardiest o t e e e te or t ne e- e fl or note n re t n e to disease. 506A Aromatnaya Quince, $32.50 runin lo erin ru s C. o. rna’ Brought from Smyrna, Turkey, by Californian GC • Summer-Flowering Shrubs should be pruned in late winter or early oe n w o e t er re ro t t e o rn to t e spring, before the new wood begins to grow. These shrubs blossom on e e te or e e ent fl or n oo ee n t the new wood they produce in the spring. 507A Smyrna Quince, $32.50 • Spring-Flowering Shrubs or flower buds in the summer, ter t e re n e blooming. Prune them immediately after their bloom is over. If you wait and prune them in the winter or following spring, you will likely re o e n flower n buds. • A common error is to prune or shear shrubs straight across the top. This encourages top-growth and the lower part of the shrub becomes woody and unsightly with less foliage. Proper pruning promotes growth at the base of the shrub. • Observe your plants and see what they need. Some trees and shrubs ene t ro re e r n n e e r n t e en re on well to being cut all the way back to the ground; others will respond by delaying fruit or blossom. Some plants thrive with little or no pruning. • Overgrown shrubs with little foliage near the base may be rejuvenated by cutting canes down to the ground in early March, even though early “You have the best trees. My front yard mini fruit orchard is oo e r e t t e r e w en ort new oot n happily blooming with my neighbors ornamentals. It is nice to late spring and will be bushy with foliage clear to the ground. Pinch off grow some food even though I live in town.” tops when the desired height is attained. It usually takes two to three –Kathleen Riley, Newington, CT years to rejuvenate shrubs and hedges completely. 42 (207) 426-9900 amamelis vir iniana itc a el 8-20' x same. A small irregular ro n e -flower n e n tree or r e r r 2/3" yellow flower e r n e r to - o e er e - e te t re foliage turns brilliant golden-yellow in fall. Makes a soothing astringent with a seemingly endless number of uses from controlling acne to soothing diaper rash, baggy eyes (yes!), poison ivy, chicken pox, even an unhappy love life. Thayer’s Witch Hazel Astringent is still available in your local drug store. Most preparations involve simply brewing tea from t e e e n or tw t to re er to t e o flower n t e or maybe it’s because dowsers like to use the interesting forked branches to “witch” for water. Full sun or shade. Prefers moist acid soils; avoid dry spots. No pests or diseases, does well with very little care. We do nothing to ours and it looks better and better every year. Native Canada to Georgia. Z3. ro n (1-3') 513A Witch Hazel, $16.50 y ran ea paniculata ite Dia on s’ ran ea 4-6' x 5-6' Open-pollinated seedling of ‘Pink Diamond.’ Bred by Michael Dirr, U of GA, 2009. A somewhat compact very hardy panicle hydrangea with Ilex verticillata inter err Also called Black Alder, Fever Bush, r e 4 6 w te oo e on nflore en e Possumhaw, Swamp Holly and more. Deciduous suckering medicinal July through October. Flowers take on holly with clusters of upright stems. Best known for profusions of bright a pink blush as temperatures begin to red 3/8" berries that stand out after the leaves fall—they keep their color cool. Upright sturdy branches don’t all winter, spectacular against the snow. A staple of the Maine landscape, flo o er t e we t o e e providing late-spring forage for birds. Lustrous deep green leaves retain flower r reen t e t er their color long after they’re cut for decoration. Richly foliated, but open foliage tolerates heat and drought enough to display interesting branch structure. Leaves used for tea and better than other hydrangeas and tonic, astringent bark used in herbal medicine. Tolerates dry conditions stays healthy-looking until fall. but prefers moist or wet acidic soil, even standing water. Sun or partial An unpretentious hydrangea as shade. No serious pests. Male and female plants required for fruit, much at home in the natural garden which is produced on female plants. Plant males within 30' of females. as the formal one. Flowers attract Native from midwestern to eastern U.S. Z4. (1-3') tterfl e n re o t ter or I. v. ter lo ’ 3-6' x 3-5' Female. Early bloomer with large orange- fresh and dried arrangements. Blooms red fruit. Compact form with small glossy green leaves. Jim Dandy male on old and new wood. In late winter or is a suitable mate. early spring, prune back 30–50% of the previous season’s growth. Full sun to part 515A Afterglow Winterberry, $16.50 shade. PPA. Z3. (1-3') I. v. i Dan ’ 3-6' x 4-5' Male selection to pollinate Afterglow. 51 A hite Dia onds Hydrangea, $17.50 Will also pollinate Red Sprite female, which we’ve offered other years. ne w o n te e er e e w te flower ne r n e n Hitchhikers in a Changing Climate mid-July. Fedco friend Alex Koch has been paying attention to trees. Really close 516A i Dandy interberry, $15.50 attention. Alex took thousands of measurements of trees, miles of notes, and spent countless hours logging the data. His work shows how some Lin era en oin ice us 6-12' x 8-12' Large rounded multi- of Maine’s native tree species are responding to our quickly changing stemmed native shrub suited to naturalizing in moist or wet areas, sin- te e ent e t ree otent te or o r e r en er t or n ro o t- e ow flower e r n r n o owe and migrate, adapt in place, or perish. clusters of glossy red berries by mid to late summer. Blue-green foliage We think of animals and people migrating—things with legs—but we turns golden yellow in fall. Edible berries and medicinal twigs and bark. don’t often consider that plants migrate, too. The climate has always been Scratch the berries, foliage or stems and you’ll know how it got its name: changing, and over thousands of years trees naturally migrate toward all three have a delicious lemony spicy scent and can be used as a na- climate-suitable habitats. But with the current rate of climate change, that tive alternative to allspice. Leaves, twigs and fruit used in teas. Attracts scale is in decades, faster than the trees’ ability to keep up. Not only do ee r n tterfl e re er o t we - they have to contend with warming temps, they also have the obstacles drained neutral or slightly acidic soils. of urban hardscapes and sterilized suburbs. It’s an impossible journey. Often found in full or partial shade, but Predictive modeling shows that central Maine will soon (in 100 at its showiest in full sun. These are years or so) have a climate-suitable habitat for trees like loblolly pine, unsexed seedlings: male and female Virginia pine, yellow poplar and eastern red cedar. By studying test plots plants required for fruit so plant in central Maine for a few years, Alex found that Southern Maine species several for best results. Native to like chestnut oak and black oak will likely do well in central Maine soon, eastern U.S. Z5. (1-3') while other species like white spruce and eastern white pine will need 517A Spicebush, $16.50 to migrate even farther north. Our eastern white pine is already showing 517B Spicebush, bundle of 5, signs of decline with the warming trends and may eventually disappear. $70.00 We’re likely to see pockets and microclimates of these populations, but in general, if they are to maintain healthy stands, they will need to pack it up and move north. Models suggest big changes coming soon. Hard-mast and wind- pollinated species, which move slowly, will especially need our help if they are to survive. Once upon a time, Osage orange seeds could travel long distances by way of the mastodon’s gut. Nowadays, we have squirrels and deer stashing seeds, but they don’t tend to cover as much ground. It’s possible that we are now the megafauna the seeds need to transport them to climate-appropriate regions in a timely manner. Fir, northern red oak, red maple—seeds we can carry in our pockets. We need more research before delving into mass plantings of species in new regions, but in the meantime we can participate on a small scale. Trial warmer-loving natives in a slightly colder spot. Try a Zone 5 plant in Zone 4 or 3. Give a native plant a lift up the road when you place your next nursery order. Start a plant collection and dabble. Let us know what you observe! Check out nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/tree/# to observe current and predicted ranges of eastern U.S. tree species. Between 2018 and 2020 Alexander Koch folded his research and PPA = Plant Patent Act. Unauthorized propagation of the plant is observations into a thesis, “Potential for Assisted Colonization: An prohibited. The use of PPA in the catalog is for informational purposes Analysis of Tree Seedling Growth and Mortality at Two Sites in Maine.” only and does not constitute an endorsement by Fedco of plant patenting. fedcoseeds.com/trees 43 lo erin an ulinar ra a les Malus s ire ir 8x10' Open-pollinated seedlings of Sargent. Michael Yanny A crabapple is any apple with fruit smaller than 2" in diameter. Crabs intro, Johnson’s Nursery, Menomonee Falls, WI, 1980. Offspring of bear edible fruit, some more favorable for culinary use than others. one of our best crabs ever—the one and only Sargent, which is more Some have persistent wildlife fruit that hangs on the tree for weeks horizontal than tall—this young’un is slightly more upright than its or e en ont t er e r n r t t e flower parent but more compact in form topping out at 8' and not much wider tree form and even the shape of the leaves can vary subtly than 10'. Perfect for smaller spaces or for the front side of a tall border. or ro o n o t re n ent n oo n re Pleasingly delicate pink-to-red buds give way to a cloud of single white often ornamental year round, especially in winter o o n r n n e - e re r t n t t t r t ro when the leaves drop and the trees show off their March. A delightful additional to any home garden. Disease resistant. interesting forms. Although crabs prefer full sun Z4. ro n and deep well-drained soils of 5.5–6.5 pH, they 528C Firebird Crabapple on M111, $29.75 are quite forgiving and will thrive in many o a (Holiday Gold) 15x12' Another Zampini selection from Lake locations with a little TLC. County Nursery, Perry, OH. This one is a hybrid of unknown parentage. Similar cultural requirements as Yellow-maturing-to-golden fruits sometimes blushed pink dangle like culinary apples (see pages 69-70). ornaments, persist through winter and give this tree its off-season charm. Crabapples require less formal pruning Everyone needs at least one gold-fruiting crab in their collection. This is than apples. Prune broken branches and one o t e e t n nt r r nt n e w te flower e or te etween suckers, and encourage the tree to assume its the green leaves. Open rounded form. May catch the bird’s eye as easily unique form. Crabapples are grafted on M111 rootstock (see page 5). as it catches yours. Z4. ro n Crabapple trees need a second variety for pollination, but any apple or 529C Hozam Crabapple on M111, $29.75 crabapple blooming around the same time, within 1/4 mile, will probably 1 a Darlin 20' x same. M. altropurpurea, maybe M. pumila do. (2 /2-5') Niedzwetzkyana x M. baccata. First seen in Croux & Fils catalog, as a (American Masterpiece) 25'x18-20' Seedling of Madonna. Chantenay, France, around 1904, but parentage uncertain. Large single Jim Zampini intro, Lake County Nursery, Perry, OH, 1994. Bushels of r e-re flower r on-t n e o e n 1 r e r t t t n e ent -re flower r w ro t e n r n ne o t e red through. One of a series of crabs released under the name of the best reds among crab cultivars. Maroon-purple-green leaves give this tree Rosybloom crabapples all of which were progeny of Niedzwetzkyana. If er ntere t n t e n e ter t e flower e e Co e you’re a crab collector, you’ve heard of Arie den Boer from Des Moines, fall, the 3/8" orange fruits allure the eye and feed the birds. Somewhat IA, known for having one of the largest crab collections in the U.S. He pyramidal in shape. Originally selected for its not-sprawling branches, named this tree in 1943 after a two-time Pultizer-Prize–winning political t t er t n t w e n t nto er n e ntro e illustrator and wildlife conservationist. Cultivar might be the same as the respected nurseryman Jim Zampini (1932-2017) who loved plants Eleyi. Regardless of its mysterious provenance, this tree is thriving in and people alike and specialized in bringing them together. Z4. ro n the present moment in grower Delton Curtis’s backyard. Z4. ro n 524C Amaszam Crabapple on M111, $29.75 530C ay Darling Crabapple on M111, $29.75 ran ine 20x20' M. ioensis ‘Plena’ Klehm’s No. 8 (M. x purpurea Le oine (Lemoinei) 18x18' (M. pumila Niedzwetzkyana) x (M. x e o ne e ro e n re e t r r nt flower atrosanguinea) Victor Lemoine et Fils, Nancy, France, 1922. Once followed by unbelievably bitter fruit. Deep red buds open to small deep t e o t o r re -flower n r t o no on er o n n n n o e ro e- e o o t n rr n e ent o t e e flower n catalogs. Deep red buds open to single or semi-double red-purple vase, and people will swear they are roses. One of the most fragrant crabs. flower t n ent tree t t e r t r o ee Some growers will hate the unattractive 1–2" yellow fruit that drops in walking down past Roger Luce’s barn into the gardens. Fairly large with the fall and makes a mess. Cidermakers will love it. Very high in tannin. a beautiful wide broad rounded shape. The branches curve and loop In Cider Digest some years ago, one grower wrote, “You ought to try back, giving it a windswept look. Bronze-purple foliage reminds us of planting a crab called ‘Brandywine’. WOW!!! what a real mouth-killer Amelanchier in spring and still looks good in the fall. Modest display as far as tannin goes… Couldn’t tell you the acidity because my tongue of 1/2" ruddy red fruit with tiny white dots. Excellent disease resistance. had gone dead.” Loosely rounded tree. Alternate bloomer. Blooms late. rent o n ne r n n r n w ne n et oo Z4. ro n midseason. Z3. ro n 525C Brandywine Crabapple on M111, $29.75 531C Lemoine Crabapple on M111, $29.75 Dol o 25x30' From seed collected by NE Hansen of M. x robusta in 1897 at the Imperial Botanical Gardens, St. Petersburg, Russia. (Dolgo means ‘long’ in Russian.) Introduced in the U.S. in 1917. The classic culinary crab still found in old Maine dooryards. Apricot-pink buds, r e r r nt 2 re w te n e flower oo e r e t purple-red 11/2 te r ro - e r t e fl or e r r - red jelly. In recent years the aromatic sweet very acidic fruit has found favor with cidermakers. Great for canning, pickling and delicious sauce. Vigorous large blocky upright spreading tree consistently yields abundant summer crops. Very hardy. Z2. ro n 527C Dolgo Crabapple on M111, $29.75
ro n = grown in Maine at one of our small local nurseries.
“Thank you for the conscientious attention you are giving to Crabapples for cider Some ornamental crabs, like Dolgo and the lives of both plants and humans during the pandemic.” Brandywine, are great additions to hard cider. And some varieties we’ve –Curtis Russet, Steuben, ME listed with cider apples on pages 16-17 are crabapples and have special ornamental value, like Hewe’s Virginia Crab. 44 (207) 426-9900 ran e rus 15x15' M. Liset x M. Red Swan. Father John Fiala hybrid, Klehm Nursery intro, S. Barrington, IL, 1990. A profuse exquisite display of single large deep crimson-pink blossoms that fade to lighter purple-pink. Rosy buds. Attractive oblong 1/2" maroon fruits persist. Spreading habit. Not really much orange to speak of but bright and lively. Fiala raved about the orange tint, but plants express themselves differently on different sites. Any crab fancier will recognize the expression of Liset, one of its parents and one of our favorite reds. Fiala recommended planting a white crab and a blue spruce as companions to highlight the loveliness of this cultivar. Z4/5. ro n 532C Orange Crush Crabapple on M111, $29.75 olar ear 20x20' Henry Ross intro, Gardenview Horticultural Park, tron e er r e o r e r e o e w te flower look like little white roses before they fully open. Medium-sized tree with upright rounded form. ter r t re n o t enr o in John Fiala’s classic crabapple text, we wrote to Mr. Ross to ask him about offering some of his selections. Since then we have had the privilege of listing several, including this Fedco exclusive. Seems Morus alba M. rubra llinois er earin ’ ul err 30x20' to be rare in the trade te Co nt 1 4 weet fl or r e- 1 err - e as we haven’t found fruit is delicious fresh, in sauces, pies, fruit leather or smoothies. What it anywhere else. fruit you don’t pick, the birds will. Great tree for viewing a huge variety Persistent fruit. Z3/4. of birds up close. Plant it next to the chicken pen where it will rain chicken ro n feed into the yard for several weeks, or put down a sheet to collect the 533C Polar Bear fruit as it falls. Dense round-topped tree is one of the last to leaf out in Crabapple on t e r n n one o t e r t to et r t en n e r to - M111, $29.75 and continues for several weeks into late summer. Fast growing, even ra a le in poor soils. Prefers moist well-drained soils but otherwise adaptable. ollection Full sun to partial shade; withstands pollution, drought, wind and salt. An assortment of 5 Self-fruitful grafted cultivar, so only one plant required for fruit. Z4/5. crabapples. Most will be from (1-year grafts) this year’s catalog but a few rare 547A Illinois Everbearing Mulberry, $32.50 surprises may be included. All on Myrica pensylvanica a err 5-10' x same. A common sight along M111 rootstock. Trees are individually labeled within each Maine’s rocky shores. Glossy leaves are highly aromatic, although not bundle. Z4. All are ro n to be confused with the Mediterranean bay leaf in your spice collection. 545C Crabapple Collection, bundle of 5, $133.50 Small greyish-blue waxy fragrant berries were historically used for n n e on- ow flower e r n te r n o owe fruit production along the stems of female plants during summer into late Mespilus ermanica re a iant’ e lar 12-20' x same. ntro e n t e et er n C nn on-fl ore e r- e r t fall. Plants feed numerous wildlife species and are especially craved by shaped like a large rose hip, just under 2" in diameter. Good eating swallows. Rounded deciduous semi-evergreen very salt-tolerant shrub when ripe, thin-skinned with applesauce-like texture. Fruit cultivated in thrives in full sun to partial shade, sandy poor soils to heavy clay soils. Europe and England since the Middle Ages or earlier, and still considered Excellent en masse or in hedges, tends to sucker. Fixes nitrogen. Tends a culinary delight. One source recommends roasting in butter with citrus toward being dioecious: male and female plants required for good fruit slices. Also makes good jelly, paste, chutney and “cheese.” Fruit is hard development. Unsexed plants; plant several if you desire berries. w en r e te ter t e r t r ro t n t e ette owe Native to eastern U.S. Z2. ro n (1-3') to ripen for several weeks in a cool place. Tastes best just before it turns 549A Bayberry, $15.00 1 2 w te flower e w t n oo to ne n 549B Bayberry, bundle of 5, $67.00 green waxy leaves, a nice addition to the fruiting landscape. Begins Phila elphus le isii li ar ’ ockoran e bearing fruit 2–3 years after planting. One tree could bear 20 lbs of fruit 4-5' x 3-4' COPF intro, Alberta, Canada. once established. Plant in well-drained fertile soil, full sun. Native to Medium-sized coarse upright loosely arching southeast Europe and Iran. Self-fertile. Z4/5. ro n (2-5') ornamental blooming shrub. A “blizzard” of 546A Breda Giant Medlar, $29.75 sweet citrusy fragrance from pure-white slightly cupped 4-petaled blossoms Make Space for Native Plants for up to four weeks in late spring, We love incorporating native plants back into the landscape. These plants after the lilacs fade. A spray of golden are attractive, natural and beautifully suited to our growing conditions. yellow anthers attractive to bees and e re o t e e t oo o r e or o r tterfl e ee n ot er tterfl e ent e flower e e w e ere re o e o n n o r t o was named after Meriwether Lewis who noted it in 1806 during the Lewis and Clark Amelanchier Echinacea Ninebark Expedition. Prefers moist rich well-drained soils Arnica Elderberry Northern Wild Raisin but will grow well in most conditions. Full sun to New England Aster American Elm Oak partial shade. Since blossoms form on prior year’s Bayberry Ferns White Pine rowt e t to r ne ter flower n r to o - one ro e n Birch Balsam Fir Beach Plum P. coronarius, but this one is native to North America. William Cullina Blackberry Geranium Redbud calls it “our most ornamental Philadelphus species.” Z3. (1-3') Black Cohosh Hazelnut American Smoketree Black Haw Hickory Spicebush 550A Blizzard Mockorange, $14.50 Boneset Hophornbeam Spruce Physocarpus opulifolius enter lo ’ Nine ark 8-10' x same. Bunchberry Blue Flag Iris Steeplebush Diabolo x Dart’s Gold. Bred by Dr. Harold Pellet at the Landscape Carolina Allspice Jack-in-the-Pulpit Sycamore Development Center, MN, 2006. An eye-catching pollinator plant with American Chestnut Linden Turtlehead multicolored foliage. Leaves emerge yellow-green with maroon edges Chokeberry Lingonberry Black Walnut and turn entirely burgundy as they mature. In May and June ninebark American Cranberry Lobelia Wild Senna will be buzzing while native bees and other pollinators frenzy around the Culver’s Root Sugar Maple Winterberry 1 2 ro n e n -w te flower te t re n o or to r en Diervilla Milkweed Wintergreen and shrub borders. Beautiful shredding bark in winter. Upright rounded Pagoda Dogwood Mockorange Witch Hazel habit. Plants can be pruned nearly to the ground to restore shape and size. Redosier Dogwood Mulberry Yarrow Full sun to part shade. Native to eastern U.S. Z3. (1-3') Silky Dogwood Nannyberry 552A Center Glow Ninebark, $16.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 45 Prunus x kerrasis ar ine e el’ D ar our err 6-7' x same. USask intro, 1999. Crosses between sour and Mongolian cherries have created a great deal of excitement in fruit-growing circles. e o r re r t w t fle n t re approximately the size of small sour cherries and ripen in mid-July. Good for both fresh eating and processing. Some growers have reported getting 20–30 lbs per bush after 3–5 years. In our trials we saw fruit after 3 years and have found Carmine Jewel to be well-suited for our climate. Compact plant size keeps the fruit accessible and easier to net against birds than a standard cherry tree. Prefers full sun and decent soil with a pH of about 6.5. Pamper with mineral amendments and compost. Self-pollinating. Susceptible to brown rot. Z3. ME Grown. (1-3') Rosa spp. 553A Carmine Jewel Dwarf Sour Cherry, $20.00 or enn ro e e e e n e r t t t on o P. maritima eac lu 6' x 5-6' Rounded dense suckering shrub t e e flower te ore t n 5000 e r n C n o re or found along ocean beaches, New Brunswick to the Carolinas. In spring suggest that roses may have been around for more than 30 million years. beautiful showy white blooms cover the dark branches. Purplish-red Regarded as the ultimate icon of love, grace, beauty and elegance, roses 1/2–1" fruit in late summer. Excellent jams, sauces and especially jelly. continue to be the subject of art and poetry across the world. Although typically found growing naturally in poor sandy soils, the Roses have long been used in medicine, food, tea and perfumery. plants thrive in well-drained fertile soils with a pH of 6–6.5. Additional n t e r t ent r n t e er re or e ore t n 30 e o ro e fertilization will increase productivity. We suggest an annual 5-gallon medicine. Leaves, petals, hips and roots all have medicinal properties. bucket or two of compost per plant. Prune to maintain an open center Rose hips are rich in vitamin C and make a wonderful “rose apple” jam; for good light penetration. Plant about 5' apart. Pollination requirements rose-petal elixir calms the nerves and lifts the spirit. are uncertain—we recommend planting at least two for good fruiting. Each year, we aim to offer a diverse selection of unusual and antique Salt tolerant! Native to eastern U.S. Z3. ME Grown. (1-3') varieties. Unlike hybrid tea roses, these roses are all vigorous, cold 554A Beach Plum, $15.00 hardy and on their own roots rather than grafted. The antique varieties 554B Beach Plum, bundle of 5, $65.00 row ow o re to newer r n ten to e ore t to propagate. You may notice when you receive your order that some P. tomentosa Nankin err 6-10' x same. Broad dense fruiting of these roses have small root systems and little top growth. Don’t be shrub, becoming open and attractively irregular. One of the earliest alarmed by this—it’s just the nature of these old varieties. We can attest flower n r t e er r n n o en to e o r r nt 3 that they perform just as well as the others. Native to temperate regions white /4 flower ee e ne t reen o e w t er ne throughout the world. (9-18") (tomentum) lining each vein underneath. Excellent hedge plant: an edible landscape crop that produces a lot of fruit that actually is edible! Variable R. inook unrise 4-6' x same. Complex hybrid. Vineland Res Stn, 3/4 r t n e r er r n e n fl or ro to t rt n n o or Ontario, 2019. Another exciting breakthrough in the world of hardy from scarlet to clear red to pink and sometimes even white. Eat fresh apricot roses. We’re excited to offer this exquisite multicolored rose or frozen. Excellent jelly and fruit leather. Said to make a good pie but introduced just last year through Canada’s 49th Parallel Series. Apricot pitting would require quite a bit of work. Covering plants with netting buds open to semi-double 2–3" bright coral-pink blossoms that lighten to will deter birds from robbing your crop. Prefers full sun in well-drained create a kaleidoscope of shades from June until frost. Glossy deep green soil. Plant two or more for pollination. Susceptible to brown rot. Native leaves are black-spot resistant. Low-maintenance non-suckering shrub to China and Japan. Z2. (1-3') rose. If you only have space for one rose, this might be the one. Limited 555A Nanking Cherry, $14.50 supply. Z3. Indigenous Royalties. 559A Chinook Sunrise Rose, $18.50 R. ueen o Den ark 4-5' x same. Unknown origin and parentage, likely R. alba x Damask hybrid, 1826. Also called Konigin von Strawberry-Rose-Fennel Shrimp Roll-ups Danemark. One of the oldest and most beautiful of the antique shrub Recipe from Khris Hogg, owner of Perennial Cider Bar in Belfast, ME. roses. Highly fragrant medium-pink very double quartered blossoms This interesting dish you eat with your hands uses just a few simple e r to e o erflow n w t et C e 2 3 o o re r ingredients: to some of the gallicas we offer and darker pink than most albas. 1 cup fresh rose petals, or 1/2 cup dried Coarse grey foliage. While most albas aren’t too thorny, propagator Bob Apple cider vinegar Osborne recommends putting on the gloves for this one. Smaller than 1 head fennel, with fronds most shrub roses. Z3. 2 quarts fresh strawberries 560A Queen of Denmark Rose, $18.50 1/2 lb raw baby shrimp (scallops work, too) R. alba e lantier’ 5-6' x same. R. alba hybrid. 1 cup mayo, strained yogurt, or farmer’s cheese Unknown parentage, likely R. alba x R. moschata, 1 head lettuce 1835. Highly fragrant alba with clusters of highly A day or two before: e ro e et n nt r n w t er double 2–3" pale white blossoms, sometimes vinegar. Let sit at least overnight. You can make this further in advance— ont n n ore t n 200 et er flower it’s an excellent pantry item on its own. Buds are blushed with pink and open to To make the fruit leather: Cut off fennel fronds and set them aside. Slice entirely white. Blooms profusely end of June t e en t w e to w t o n t n ro t e own t 350˚ into early July in central Maine with no until browned and soft, about 35 minutes. Chop and purée, removing repeat. Medium-green smooth foliage on any tough outer pieces. Purée berries until smooth, then mix with fennel upright arching stems with few thorns. r e n 1 o ne o e ron ene t ro ort or tre n Spread mixture about 1/8" thick on a sheet pan lined with wax paper, but we prune ours back each year n e n e r tor o r oo er or er ow o en 140˚ or o t and keep it freestanding. Grows 10–12 hours. (We smoke the purée with a smoke gun before dehydrating. vigorously upright then billows o t on te e e o ee er fl or ro t e r t t o t out with age. In warmer climates smoke gun, you could put the purée in a stainless-steel bowl and set it to it can grow 20' into a nearby the side of your charcoal grill for 5–10 minutes. Or try grilling the whole tree, though more often seen as an fruit before puréeing.) When the leather is done, peel it off the wax paper arching shrub rose in the north. and set aside. We’ve been growing it for a few years now and anticipate June An hour or two before serving: Prepare a brine—for 1 c. rose-petal when we can sink our noses vinegar, add 2 Tbsp water and a pinch of salt. Add the baby shrimp to the deep into the aromatherapy of brine. Cover and refrigerate. these soft petals. Z4. Assemble the roll-ups: Cut fruit leather into 4" squares (or whatever size/ 561A Mme Plantier Rose, shape you want). Spread 1 tsp mayo on the leather. Stack 2 lettuce leaves $18.50 torn to t re t o on t e to ett e e n w t 1 cured shrimp, roll it up, and repeat. Arrange on a plate and enjoy! 46 (207) 426-9900 R. cinnamomea lena’ inna on ose 4-6 e fle 2 R. r. Dart’s Das ’ 4-5' x same. R. rugosa pink blossoms with a mildly spicy sweet fragrance. Rare and mysterious hybrid, parentage unknown. Darthuis Nursery, species rose, most likely brought to North America by early settlers from Netherlands, date unknown. Stunning semi- France. Commonly found near old abandoned farmsteads throughout o e er r e 3 4 ent flower Maine and New Brunswick. We are offering the more commonly seen with a sweet lemony scent. Blooms all en w o e flower n e t e tr t e e w summer and into fall making a colorful n e on t e r t w ro e to flower n ne een te n hedge or border. Somewhat similar early June on some of the old back roads. Vigorously suckering, low to Hansa but more compact with an growing and very thorny. We look forward to this lovely rose each year. e ten e oo t e err Plant it where it has plenty of space to sucker and spread and do its thing display of beautiful large orange- without pricking you. Highly adaptable. Z4. red hips that soften after a few light 562A Plena Cinnamon Rose, $18.50 frosts. Petals and hips are both edible and medicinal. Bright green disease-resistant R. gallica ar inal e ic elieu’ 2-3' x 3-4' Laffay, France, 1840. Highly fragrant dark purple-burgundy double 3" blooms in midsummer. foliage turns orange in the fall. Full sun to en e et e flower o t e r r r n e n n e r e w o e part shade. Z2. Smooth green foliage. Bushy and smooth stemmed. Not thornless, but 569A Dart’s Dash Rose, $18.50 less thorny than thorned roses. Another one of our favorites. Susan likes to say that Cardinal de Richelieu invented mayonnaise. Rugged and easy to grow. Blooms on old canes so minimum pruning and maintenance required. Soil adaptable. Sun or partial shade. Z3/4. 565A Cardinal de Richelieu Rose, $18.50 R. g. uscan ’ 3-4' x same. Cultivation of the Old Velvet Rose, as it is also called, has been occurring since the 14th c. making it one of the oldest of all the gallicas. Fragrant deep crimson, almost purple, 2–3" double flower w t ro nent o en- e ow t en o e reen - re n ro n te t re t tr n r ro t flower on e ro in oses each summer. Plant it nearby where it can be closely admired. Adaptable Roses prefer full sun (at least 4–6 hrs per day) and a pH of 6.0–7.0. Space and needs little maintenance. Z4. 4–6' apart. They will do well in most well-drained soils with a good 566A Tuscany Rose, $18.50 amount of organic matter. In locations with poor drainage, add gravel at R. pimpinellifolia arison’s ello ’ 6' (R. pimpinellifolia x R. the bottom of the planting hole, or build in drainage. Pick a site with good foetida persiana) 1830. Yellow roses up north are rare. Harison’s is a r flow t o te w t o nort we t w n o o et t on classic deep yellow. Creates a brilliant spectacle every June. Licorice- with tree roots. ente 2 o e flower tr own on r n ne o e te Plant roses as early as soil can be worked. Most roses’ roots don’t greyish-green foliage. Large thorns. Bred by an amateur propagator spread beyond the original hole, so dig a bushel-sized hole, as deep as 2' named Harison who crossed Scotch Briar and Persian Yellow. Z4. or more. We recommend lots of rotten hay in the bottom of the planting 567A Harison’s Yellow Rose, $18.50 hole. Mix soil with liberal quantities of well-rotted manure and compost. Add a coffee-can of rock phosphate or bone meal. R. rugosa 4-6’ x same. Also called Japanese Rose or Beach Rose. Vigorous spreading shrub with dark green wrinkled (rugose) leaves. Soak roots in water overnight or up to 24 hours before planting. Prior Flowers range from deep pink to light pink. Large edible red hips up to planting, prune roses back to 3 canes, 2–5" tall. Plant them 1" below to 1” are good for jams, teas and fresh eating right off the bush. Deb t e e e t e were n t e n r er w ter o n t e o e to Soule of Avena Botanicals uses rugosa petals in her much-loved Rose puddle it in. Mound soil around branches to prevent them from drying Petal Elixir. Considered by herbalists of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic out, and to encourage buds to sprout. As the buds open, pull back the soil traditions to be rejuvenating and cooling. Blooms form on both old and to the correct level. new wood, so pruning necessary only to control size. Prefers full sun Shrub roses and climbers will require little pruning in later years. n we - r ne n o t o flo r e n ert e r en e Any pruning should wait until after the forsythia bloom. Remove dead Tolerates salt, pollution and drought; practically care-free. Native to or broken branches, and periodically cut out the oldest wood. Keep roses China and Japan. Z2. well mulched to retain moisture and reduce weeds. Add 2 shovelfuls of composted manure to each crown in late fall. 568A Rosa Rugosa, bundle of 5, $16.00 Old-fashioned Roses Roses grown in Europe before 1800 are referred to as “Old World” roses, including the cultivars of Rosa gallica and R. alba. Their pink colors ranged from the deepest dark purple of ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’ to a faint pink blush like that of ‘Chloris’. There were no reds among these antique roses and, though rich in fragrance, they bloomed only once per season. In the late 1700s red roses with repeat blooming tendencies were introduced from China, shifting the focus of rose breeding toward those traits. Demand for the aromatic and e n t e o t e or ro e e ne nte flower t t lasted long through the season. The hybrids created since the 1820s are called “modern” roses and are much more commonly seen in gardens today. R. gallica is considered the oldest rose, steeped in history, legend and myth, and still grows wild in some places in the Caucasus, the mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas, where it originated. Its exact origin is unknown but it can be traced back fourteen centuries when it was considered a symbol of love by the Persians. The aromatic petals hold their scent better than any other rose and have long been considered medicinal. This species contains hundreds of different cultivars, some very similar and others unique. Most have similar compact shrub habits and are generally very hardy. Most modern-day roses are presumed to be descendants of the gallicas. The albas are almost as old as the gallicas and are also believed to have traveled west from the Caucasus with the Greeks and Romans. Many of the alba cultivars were re n t e 1 00 n ro e o t e flower on once, they should not be overlooked, as their beauty and fragrance are unparalleled by any modern rose. They are considered “tree roses” with tall canes that can be trained to fences, pillars and stonewalls, like climbers. Unlike many roses, albas bloom on old wood—if pruned too heavily, they n t e e r to flower n e e r oo e t e re actually more disease resistant than many of the modern hybrids. fedcoseeds.com/trees 47 illo Salix spp. l er err Sambucus spp. The genus Salix comprises hundreds of different Elderberry trees appear in myths from days of yore, thought to possess species of plants most commonly called willows but magical and protective powers. Dangling clusters of edible purple-black sometimes called Osier or Sallow. Willows grow all berries ripen in late summer on this broad vigorous multi-stemmed over the world. Some, like the weeping willow, are shrub. The fruit is highly nutritious and medicinal. A century ago, every towering specimens. Others are short scrubby bushes; grandmother knew how to make the perfect elderberry pie. Recipes willows growing in the arctic can be 100 years old for jam could be found in all the old farm cookbooks. Elderberries are but only 2' tall! Uses include ornamental landscaping, making a big comeback as folks rediscover the scrumptiousness of shade, basket-making, erosion control, timber, fuel and e er err e or e r n w ne e r e re -w te flower medicine. All parts, especially the bark, contain salicin, clusters, or cymes, that cover the shrub in early summer make delicious used for relief of pain and fever for hundreds, or even r tter r t e or r r nt w ntert e o - n -fl re e te or thousands, of years. Aspirin is a synthetic analog of centuries, humans have used this plant’s medicinal qualities to treat a salicin. Willows feed local wildlife, insects and wide range of ailments and to boost the immune system. Hippocrates birds. We plant them near the orchard to provide is said to have called the elder tree his “medicine chest.” Birds love the early season forage for our native pollinators. All r t n t e o o ttr t ene n e t n o n tor prefer sun and loamy wet soils, but are adaptable, Note: Cooking elderberries is essential to breaking down toxic easily transplanted and fast growing. (1-2') cyanide-inducing glycosides in the seeds. Not for fresh eating. S. alba rit ensis’ oral ark illo This year we are offering the European elderberry, S. nigra, in addition 15-30' x 12-15' Späeth intro, Britz, Germany, 1878. to our native S. canadensis and S. pubens. Nigra is more tender than the Also called S. a. var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’. Fast-growing natives, but ours in Zone 4 seem to be almost as hardy. Canadensis and shrubby tree with highly ornamental red bark that starts nigra are both delectable; pubens is an ornamental wildlife plant. yellow and graduates to coral. Especially splendid in the Elderberries are low-maintenance and easy to grow. With a little now w nter n e e o en e or n t e w nter attention, they will provide strong yields of fruit for several decades. flower e o w ter t et t e or nt r n e n t e Considered self-fertile but planting multiple varieties or even vase and enjoy. The deep red stems will dry to a rusty red. The multiple species will improve fruit set. (1-3') color is most striking on new growth, so give it an annual spring pruning or even cut it right to the ground. Every spring you’ll get new 5–10' red stems. Typically narrow Salix leaves. Originally raised from seed by the famous nurseryman Ludwig Späeth whose lilac is one of the ME Grown = grown in all-time favorites. Likes water, adaptable to a wide Maine at one of our range of soils and conditions. Full sun to light shade. small local nurseries. Z2. ME Grown. 576A Coral Bark Willow, $13.50
S. gracilistyla elanostac s’ lack uss illo 6-10' x same. Very attractive unique fast-growing plant for wetland areas. Deep purple-black male catkins in early spring; cut branches are marvelous for the dining table or kitchen windowsill. The rather short foliage emerges orange and then Before cooking, remove elderberries from their stems. turns a deep green. Stems turn a rich purple-black in This can be done while the berries are winter. Attractive dark colors all year. Winner of Royal fresh or frozen. We pick and pack Horticulture Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Prune in entire panicles of berries into summer or fall. Adaptable. Prefers moist soil but will plastic bags and put the bags tolerate dry as well. Native to eastern Asia. Z4. ME Grown. in the freezer. Once frozen, 577A Black Pussy Willow, $13.50 remove and whack the bag S. g. t so a anese ink uss illo 6x6' with a stick. The berries Possibly a hybrid of S. gracilistyla x S. caprea. Male will easily fall from the specimen selected in Japan by Dr. Tsuneshige Rokujo. stems. Snip a hole in the Pink buds open to cheery rosy pink catkins for a stunning corner of the bag and the e r r n o o or e ent n t flower berries will roll out. Freezing arrangements. Foliage opens pink and turns rich blue-green will not damage the fruit. with prominent veins and soft fuzzy undersides. Catkins or on e on - e r woo Co e t ter flower n to keep form pulled in and less rangy. Easy to maintain. Prefers ro in l er erries n n n o t w o ne n er e or Elderberries are best grown in rich soil with a pH of 5.5–7.5 but are moist conditions. Named after Mount Aso-san, Japan’s adaptable to a variety of soil types. They love compost! Add compost to r e t t e o no e n ee w e flower o t the hole at the time of planting and every spring after that. They prefer specimen glow and warm in the stark early spring when o t o t w to er te oor r n e n te or r floo n n little else is brightening up the landscape. Z4. ME Grown. the St. Croix River, we’ve harvested elderberries from the canoe! Plant 578A Mt. Aso Japanese Pink Pussy Willow, $13.50 in full sun. Susceptible to borers when weeds are allowed to crowd the base. Control weeds by mulching with a thick layer of hay, leaves or “Digging 6 shrub holes about did me in. woodchips. Aggressive weeding around elders will disturb their shallow I didn’t realize it would be so much work roots and risk injury to the plant. because it is so easy to CLICK, CLICK and Pruning for S. canadensis: in spring, while plant is still dormant, buy. I can’t ‘click click’ and dig holes!… prune away any weak, broken or dead canes. New canes will emerge. I love your catalogs. They are icons of Fruit is produced on both new and old wood but best sets are on one- and cultural splendor and portray just the two-year canes. Periodically cut out the oldest wood. Alternately, some sort of community that I love and people prefer to cut elders back to the ground each year and treat them as admire.” perennials. The latter plants will produce fewer but larger clusters. –Margaret Warren, Enid, OK S. nigra fruits on second-year wood. It’s ok to prune in spring, but be re to e e r t- e r ne or t e ne t e on e 48 (207) 426-9900 S. nigra orsor’ 6-8' x 2-5' Danish cultivar bred for heavy fruit clusters and excellent juicing quality. Nigra t e o e n e e used in Europe. The berries are extremely high in immune-boosting anthocyanins. You can use them in all of the same wonderful ways you would use the canadensis species. Leaves are broader and darker green than other elderberries and the plant gives off a musky scent when you brush past it. Upright habit, extremely vigorous. Native to Europe. Z4/5. ME Grown. 592A Korsor Elderberry, $18.00 S. n. a l’ 5-8' x 2-5' Res Ctr for Hort intro, Aarslev, Denmark. Selected for juice production based on very high anthocyanin content n weet fl or tron r t oot e r o err e 4 5 ME Grown. 594A Samyl Elderberry, $18.00 S. pubens e l er err 12-20' x same, though often smaller when partially shaded. Also called Scarlet Elder and June-Bearing Elder. Ornamental elderberry and important wildlife plant. Commonly seen in the wild all over Maine, popping up in disturbed areas or along old barn foundations. Very cold hardy. To distinguish them from other e er err e note t e r r flower n e t e re-en ne re berry color and the time of fruiting—early summer, not late. Great early forage for bees and birds, not recommended for humans. In his Native Trees, Shrubs & Vines, William Cullina states, “The most remarkable thing about scarlet elder is not just the brilliant color of the fruits but their ripening in midsummer, when green dominates the landscape. Amid “I was on the phone with Sam from Michigan shades of emerald, moss, jade, and olive, the clusters of scarlet this morning. Sam informed me that he has berries practically leap to your eye.” We agree! Native to the U.S. spent his time in quarantine reading his bible Z3. ME Grown. and the Fedco Trees catalog.” 595A Red Elderberry, $16.00 –Ann from Fedco Facilitation Spiraea tomentosa tee le us 2-4' x same. S. canadensis a s No ’ 6-12' x same. NY Ag Exp Stn intro, Seeing this bonny little plant makes a heart leap with joy. 1926. Selected in 1915 from the wild by William Adams in Union Seriously, it’s adorable, and we and the pollinators are Springs, NY, and sent to Geneva where it was introduced 11 years later. o e e w t t t or e er tterfl r en o Large berries and fruit clusters make for easy and fast picking. If you’re pink steeples emerge as terminal spikes about 4–6" tall, heading to a potluck and need to make a pie in a pinch, Adams is the shrub appearing mid-late summer and lasting at least a month. you want. Very large vigorous strong productive bush. Z3. ME Grown. Foliage is medium green, serrated with woolly undersides. 582A Adams No. 1 Elderberry, $18.00 Easy to grow. Lovely en masse. Likes average acid moist soils but not picky. Full sun or part shade. We’ve seen it S. c. o or on’ 6-8' x same. MU intro, 2011. Wild seedling selected emerge in newly cut woodlots on dry soil and thriving on by Robert Gordon in Osceola, MO. Large clusters of large dark berries. pond edges, as single canes or in clumps with multiple High Brix levels makes this elderberry a good one for winemakers. blooms. No serious pest or disease issues. Native Nova Upright slightly spreading habit. Z4. ME Grown. Scotia to Georgia and inland. Z3. ME Grown. (1-3') 583A Bob Gordon Elderberry, $18.00 598A Steeplebush, $15.50 S. c. oo arn’ 5-10' x same. Chance seedling. Elwyn Meader intro, Rochester, NH. Professor Meader named this Goodbarn because it was the good elderberry growing under the eaves of his barn in New Hampshire. ME Grown not er o t e n ne nt w n on o n ro t to o r Unlike most nurseries whose stock is grown in large centralized attention. Thanks, John! Hardy, vigorous with apparent self-fertility. It locations, Fedco features a diverse conglomeration of plants, increasingly blooms heavily and produces large crops annually. Z3. ME Grown. sourced from small farms right here in Maine. During our four decades 584A Goodbarn Elderberry, $18.00 of dedication to local agriculture, we’ve developed a resilient network S. c. o ns’ Up to 10' tall. (Adams No. 1 or Adams No. 2 x open- of Maine growers who strive to raise healthy hardy plants using sound pollinated) Nova Scotia Exp Stn, 1954. Very vigorous. One particular practices. We support this network by helping to source propagation tt n n o r r en rew 5 n one e on n err e n flower t ter tro e oot n ro e n t e e n n r r e the same time late into the summer. Z3. ME Grown. for stock. Our growers often work together, sharing scionwood, seeds 585A Johns Elderberry, $18.00 and cuttings, as well as information on best growing practices. In addition to building a strong community of growers, Fedco strives S. c. No a’ 6-8' x same. Open-pollinated seedling of Adams No. 2. EL to offer plants that are themselves adaptable to the often harsh and Eaton intro, AgCanada Res Stn, Kentville, Nova Scotia, 1959. Selected unpredictable northern climate. Nursery plants propagated from local in 1946 and named for its province of origin. Large sweet fruit matures material and cultivated in similar environmental conditions as their early and uniformly. Suckers easily. Z3. ME Grown. eventual planting sites are known as the “local ecotype.” This means 587A Nova Elderberry, $18.00 that our locally grown trees and shrubs, which have been through the S. c. l e oo ’ 6-12' x same. Selected from wild bushes in 1995, extremes of severe Maine winters, cycles of freezing and thawing, and introduced in 2010, MU/MSU, by PL Byers and AL Thomas. A vigorous periods of drought, are well suited to adapt to life in other northern consistently high-yielding elderberry cultivar, popular in the Midwest. locations. Some trials are showing it produces as much as Adams, if not more, and Fedco growers go to great lengths to propagate some of our favorite ripens a little bit later. Ours are lush and thriving. Z3. ME Grown. plants. As a result, our catalog features a swath of Maine ecotypical 589A Wyldewood Elderberry, $18.00 seedlings from colonies of bayberry along the Penobscot Bay; from S. c. ork’ 4-10' x same. Ezyoff x Adams No. 2. NY Ag Exp Stn, 1964. bur oaks, black walnuts and butternuts towering in the dooryards of old An old reliable, considered by some to be the largest-fruited and heaviest- farmhouses; and from hundreds of apples found in old Maine orchards. bearing cultivar. In most of our Maine trials, this shrub is more compact Behind many of the plants we offer, there’s a story: a blustery winter than Adams, topping out at 4–5', but we’ve seen a 10' specimen growing ferry ride to a coastal island to collect scionwood from a rare apple tree; on a compost pile. Persistent and will bear well for many years alongside t n ternoon t er n t e tr r t o n ent o n o other varieties. Heavy clusters of mildly tart large berries that ripen after trees from the sidewalks in Portland; scrambles up and down the banks Adams. Z3. ME Grown. of a river, magnifying glass in hand, looking for the true American cranberry. 590A York Elderberry, $18.00 We are always hunting for local plant specimens, such as the elusive S. canadensis l er err ee lin s Each one is grown from cold- northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and for new exciting apples, hardy seed and will be a totally unique plant. Some of our best plants pears, plums and other fruits that do well in our bioregion. Do you know grew from batches of such seedlings. Z3. ME Grown. of any excellent local specimens that you would like to see propagated? 591A Elderberry Seedling, $17.50 Please get in touch! 591B Elderberry Seedlings, bundle of 5, $75.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 49 Lilac Syringa spp. e een t re n t e ew n n S. v. o on ur le 12-15' x same. A mass of medium-light purple n e or ener t on ore o ten t n not w en we n o e oo e er e r n ent ew n n t or ne r 400 trees, the ancient lilacs are not far away. The large rambling suckering years. When a friend looked out John’s living room window and thought r ont n e to flo r e r n on ter t e n e he had some fancy new cultivar, John chuckled, “Nope, just the good old disappeared and all that remains of homesteads are crumbling stone common purple.” Never disappoints. Suckers freely, the best lilac for a foundations. Why were the lilacs always planted just outside the kitchen spreading hedge. Z3. door? On cold winter mornings, someone would clean out the wood 601A Common Purple Lilac, $16.50 stove and sprinkle ashes on the icy path to the backhouse. Or maybe the S. v. e Le oine’ 12x12' Marie Legraye x open pollinated. Victor path to the woodshed or the clothesline. Over the years, the earth outside Lemoine et Fils, Nancy, France, 1890. The standard by which other white the kitchen door became more alkaline, which lilacs love. re e er r r nt r e re w te o e flower n ter In the landscape, lilacs are excellent alone or in hedges. Deep green so thick the shrub looks like one massive bloom. Slightly open wide- glossy heart-shaped foliage looks good from spring through growing shrub. Provides a beautiful accent for the pinks and purples. fall. Intensely fragrant blooms in May over a period of A favorite of the late plantsman Roger Luce of Newburgh, ME, who several weeks. Hundreds of varieties have been developed nt ne n ent o e t on o or n e r 3 over the ages. Flowers range from singles to doubles, pure 602A Mme Lemoine Lilac, $16.50 white to the deepest purple, not to mention pinks and reds S. v. ensation’ 10' x same. Sport of Hugo de Vries. Dirk E Maarse and lavenders of every persuasion. Ornamental, edible intro, Aalsmeer, Netherlands, 1938. Very fragrant large single reddish- r ttere flower e er err e n n purple blooms, with each petal edged in pure white. The effect: an great Mother’s Day gift. (1-3') interwoven pattern of purple and white. Unique and beautiful, a real show S. patula iss i ’ 8x8' NH Ag Exp Stn, 1954. stopper. Plant this one where you can see it from not too far away. Deep e ente e tre e ro n e e- purple buds. Upright rounded open form. Fine Gardening magazine blue lavender blooms appear after the vulgaris types e t en t on r e flower w t n tr e r n e e te have gone by. Red-purple buds. Descended from one the cover photo for Fiala’s classic text, Lilacs: The Genus Syringa. Z3. of the twelve seeds that plant-breeder Elwyn Meader 603A Sensation Lilac, $16.50 collected on a hike in 1947 while stationed in Korea as an Army horticulturist. Very compact S. v. e oo lue’ 6x8' Rochester x Mrs. August Belmont. Fiala rounded form. A number of years ago, a intro, Ohio, 1981. Lilac-pink buds precede large beautiful wisteria-like customer sent us a photo of her “Fedco” hanging racemes of single blue blossoms. Named for the blue color Miss Kim and wrote, “If you look in the English pottery you might have seen collecting dust on your closely at the photo you can see a few r n ot er e er ow w t ne r r n e e ent or o t e n n tterfl e t t wo cutting. Upright form. Somewhat more modest in stature than most cover these lilacs, almost like the blooms lilacs. Plant with deep purples and reddish magentas for themselves.” Z3. stunning contrast. Z3. 599A Miss Kim Lilac, $16.50 604A Wedgwood Blue Lilac, $16.50 S. vulgaris arles ol ’ 10x10' Victor Lemoine et Fils intro, Nancy, France, 1896. Purple buds and highly fragrant dark reddish-magenta double CLOUD PIECE flower on o ew t n rrow by Yoko Ono 4–6” moderately loose Imagine the clouds dripping. panicles. Our notes call it a Dig a hole in your garden to bright rosy-pink-purple. put them in. One of the best of all the reds. Lighter and redder than most of the standard varieties. WATCH PIECE I Narrow upright habit with some suckering. Z3. by Yoko Ono 600A Charles Joly Lilac, $16.50 Watch a hundred-year-old tree breathe. Thank the tree in your mind for showing us how to grow and stay.
ro in Lilacs Lilacs are adaptable, easy to grow, nearly indestructible and practically maintenance-free. Plant them in a well-drained location in moderately rich soil. Sandy gravelly loam is perfect. They prefer at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. We suggest planting them with a shovelful of wood ash or lime, then add another shovelful of either every 3 years. A yearly mulch of manure or compost will encourage spectacular annual blooming. Pink, lavender and blue lilacs color up best in soil with a neutral pH. How to prune lilacs o oo e to r ne o r o t r t ter flower n Late-season pruning removes next year’s buds. As the plant matures, prune off a quarter of the new suckers and the oldest growth (a few main stems each year). Some growers prefer to keep the plant low and bushy. Do so by “topping” it off every year: prune any upright branch back to a junction with a lower branch. Others prefer a tall tree-like form. Our friends Philippe and Danielle have let theirs soar to 8' or more, removing the lower branches and creating a magical walkway in the process. Lilacs are more than willing to cater to your own personal on e n o nee to t o ent flower e e t or appearance. Why isn’t my lilac blooming? Too shady: lilacs need sun to form blossoms. Over-pruned: pruned too late, removed buds. Also, some plants respond to excessive pruning tt n t e r ener nto e et t e rowt n te o flower n Too wet: lilacs like well-drained soil. Over-fertilized: lilacs will bloom well without assistance. Too much fertility can lead more vegetative growth and inhibit bud formation. 50 (207) 426-9900 Viburnum cassinoides Nort ern il aisin 5-6' x same. Also called Appalachian Tea, Raisinberry or Witherod (pronounced withe- roun co ers wither o n ore ro n o er e C n n w n er n err rod, not -rod.) Rounded arching dense suckering native shrub. sweet woodruff, geranium and arnica, in the herbaceous perennials, Cre w te flower w t e ow t en on 2 5 fl t-to e e beginning on page 55. bloom from spring to early summer. Highly desired for its edible fruit, w t rn ro reen to n to re to e e ore n t rn n Calluna vulgaris eat er Magical, mythical and medicinal evergreen in September. Fruiting clusters feature several colors at the same time. ro n o er e t re re o flower n o e t t n e o or Best eaten when nearly dried out on the branch, if you can get to it before throughout the season. Heathers are our guilty pleasures—for every the birds! Foliage, once used in tea, emerges bronze or purple tinted, two you buy, we buy like 20 for our own gardens! Each year we vary turning dark green when mature and then orange-red, dark crimson and o r e e t on t w o er t e r e t r et e ro en to flo r purple in fall. Good as a specimen but plant more than one for fruit. in northern climates. Revered in the British Isles, important medicinally Sun to partial shade. Very rugged: adapts to dry or wet sites. Native to in teas, honey, liniments and ointments. First fermented a few thousand eastern North America. Z3. (1-3') years ago, used in gruit, ale, and might be the original ingredient for the 607A Northern Wild Raisin, $18.00 r t w e r n e e n t t n e n etr ro e n roo - n ower ttr t ee tterfl e n ot e e when planted in masses. Recommended for rock gardens and edges of paths—or for opening the portals to the fairy world. Requires acidic soil and full sun to partial shade. Plant about 18" apart each way and let it spread. Mix peat into the soil to lower the pH if necessary—see planting instructions for cranberries and blueberries. We recommend pine needles as an acidic year-round mulch. Does not like high fertility or wet spots. Full sun and windy exposures intensify their colors. Shear every April for best bloom. Native to the dry forests, heaths and bare grounds of Britain and Ireland. More recently naturalized in North America. Z4. (4" pots) C. v. ire ’ 1-2' x 1-2' In early spring vibrant yellow-green foliage e er e o owe t n or n e-re flower n ne te t e o er r n ow t e- e e flower w en ro t e r buds in August. They’ll linger into October, and maybe even through winter. Salmon-red foliage turns to dark brick-red in late fall through winter. So far, this is among our top favorites. Upright habit. L622A Firefly Heather, $12.00 V. lentago Nann err 15-20' x 10-12' C. v. eale’ 1-2' x 1-2' Upright stems are almost completely Also called Sheepberry or Sweet Viburnum. Large open o ere w t n t re rn- e o e n flower t t ro vase-shaped suckering shrub with edible oval berries that turn October. Dark green foliage fades to bronze in winter. Well known in the from green to yellow to red to blue-black raisins that persist in trade. w nter n re o r w t t e r r e fl t-to e ter o L623A H.E. Beale Heather, $12.00 r r nt re w te flower re o on t n r n n t e Maine landscape. Shiny foliage, purplish red in fall. Medicinal bark and leaves. Recommended for naturalizing, bird and wildlife habitat, screens and borders. Prefers moist well-drained average soils but adaptable to poor, compacted or dry soils. Sun or shade. Self-fertile, but plant two or more for better pollination and fruit production. Native to eastern U.S. and Canada. Z2. (1-3' ) 608A Nannyberry, $15.00 V. prunifolium lack a 12-15' x 8-12'. Creamy white 2–4" cymes bloom in early spring while leaves are still opening, attracting dozens of different pollinators. Lustrous green leaves, narrow-to-oval with pointed tips, turn to bronze-red in fall. Dark bluish-black 1/2" fruits with a waxy bloom form hanging clusters through fall, in a similar way to highbush cranberry. Long used as a food source, eaten raw or put away in re er e o n e r n r t fl r n e re n ent o w hawthorn or crabapple. Suckering nature allows it to form a dense colony or hedge, but it can also be pruned as a nice specimen that can reach 20–30' in height. Transplants easily and is adaptable to many soil types, moist to dry, sun to shade. Two or more plants are required for fruit. Appears to be disease and pest free. Native to eastern U.S. Z3. (1-3' ) 609A Black Haw, $15.00 609B Black Haw, bundle of 5, $65.00
Special Plants for Challenging Locations “I look forward to [your] catalogs Drought Tolerant: Wet Tolerant: Shade: more than Christmas.” Amelanchier Amelanchier Black Cohosh –David Griggs, Bovey, MN Carolina Allspice Birch Bunchberry Catmint Black Cohosh Pagoda Dogwood Chokeberry Highbush Blueberry Ferns Cornelian Cherry Chokeberry Balsam Fir Shearing Heather Chestnut American Cranberry Wild Ginger Heathers need to be pruned back every April or they will become woody Elm Dawn Redwood Hazelnut and bare in just a few short years. The stems will not produce new growth Grape Redosier Hops w ere t e flowere t e re o e on n e t e e re re et e Heather Elderberry Hosta they will no longer produce foliage at the base. If the plant is cut back Hens & Chicks Elm Jack-in-the-Pulpit to a woody base, no new growth will occur and your heather will be on Lavender Ferns Lady’s Mantle a downward spiral. If you’re not up for shearing, heathers might not be Lilac Blue Flag Iris Sugar Maple for you. Lingonberry Marshmallow White Pine Shearing can be done with regular clippers like Felcos or with larger Nannyberry Swamp Milkweed Pulmonaria e r t ro t t e te e ow w ere t e flowere t e e on Ninebark Northern Wild Raisin Spicebush before, leaving a few inches of foliage at the base. If done every year Beach Plum Spicebush Wintergreen it should look like a little mound with a haircut. Next thing you know, Rosa Rugosa Willows Witch Hazel bright new growth will start emerging. Shearing not only makes the Spruce Winterberry plants look better but also makes them stronger and more resistant to Witch Hazel fungal problems. fedcoseeds.com/trees 51 ore roun co ers Lin on err V. vitis-idaea Gaultheria procumbens inter reen Also called Foxberry, Cowberry, Mountain Cranberry. Vigorous 6–10" tall with a 1–3' spread. Also called shallow-rooted spreading groundcover is related to blueberries and Eastern Teaberry. Herbaceous aromatic cranberries. Bright red glossy nutritious fruits are slightly smaller than rhizomatous evergreen groundcover native ow e err e rt nt e r e t en e e ent fl or to the woodlands of eastern North America. richer and less astringent than cranberries. Can be Glossy dark green elliptic-to-oblong leaves form eaten fresh but primarily used in sauces, jams, on erect stems. Nodding bell-shaped waxy syrups, fruit leathers, juices and wines. Stores up w te flower oo ro t e e n to 2 months in the fridge. Small shiny dark June. Flowers give way to vivid red berries. green foliage is quite lovely. Adorable tiny Leaves will take on beautiful burgundy shades e - e w te flower n r n ttr t in the fall. Excellent winter food source for plethora of pollinators. Extremely popular free-range chickens, partridge, turkeys, and some in Scandinavia and now catching on in the U.S. two- and four-legged mammals. Fragrant leaves If you’ve got good soil for blueberries, try contain methyl salicylate, a potent external these. Ripens in late summer but is best nt - nfl tor n n e e to e after a frost. Harvest by hand or with a a poultice or massage oil to ease arthritic blueberry rake. Will produce 1–2 lbs per pain and sore muscles. Designated Maine’s State Herb plant depending on the variety and can in 1999. Plant 16" apart in dappled shade in moist but not produce for up to 20 years. Prefers boggy woodland soil. Self-pollinating. Z3. (31/2" pots) full sun and poor sandy acid (pH L625A Wintergreen, $8.00 4.5–5) soils. Plant 12–18" apart L625B Wintergreen, bundle of 3, $20.00 in rows 3–4' apart. To ensure good fruit production, plant more than one Vaccinium macrocarpon te ens’ erican ran err variety. Native to the colder northern This is the cranberry of holiday sauces, bread and jelly. hemisphere. Incredibly tough and very hardy. Z2. All Dense low lustrous evergreen groundcover, reddish are ME Grown. (potted transplants) purple in fall and loaded with large red berries. Once established, makes a beautiful and edible “lawn.” V. v.-i. rnte ank’ Up to 12" tall. Albert Zimmer intro, 1975. Collected Handpick or rake like blueberries before hard in a wild heath near Uchte, Germany. Produces heavy yields of small- or frost. Use fresh, freeze or store in a cool medium-sized berries. basement or root cellar for months. Bitter 628A Erntedank Lingonberry, $18.50 and alkalizing effects make it one of the V. v.-i. rntese en’ 12-15" Also collected by Zimmer from a wild most common remedies for bladder German heath. High-yielding plant produces very large berries. infections. An excellent source of 629A Erntesegen Lingonberry, $18.50 t n C nn floo e or frost protection and harvesting V. v.-i. Linnea’ 5-9" Swedish U intro, 1999. Newer cultivar selected convenience in commercial from an open-pollinated seedling of Sanna, a wild strain. Strong producer operations, but not necessary of medium-sized berries. in home plots. Adaptable to 630A Linnea Lingonberry, $18.50 everything from bogs to dry V. v.-i. a enta 12-15" Swedish U of Ag Sciences intro. Vigorous rocky outcroppings. Self- cultivar produces large purplish-red berries. Selected for high yields. pollinating. Easy to grow; pest 631A Magenta Lingonberry, $18.50 and disease resistant. Native to V. v.-i. e earl’ 12-18" Elden Stang intro, Holland, 1983. Very northeastern U.S. and Canada. adaptable, produces large berries. Somewhat lower yielding, but standard Comes in a bushy 6" clump which in commercial production as an excellent pollinator. May bloom twice in can be carefully divided or planted as a one season. whole and divided in future years. Z2. ME Grown. (1-gallon pots) 632A Red Pearl Lingonberry, $18.50 626A Stevens American Cranberry, $20.00 V. v.-i. e unset’ 8-15" Hartmann’s Plant Co intro. Medium-to-large r fl or err e Con ere one o t e o t oro t r ro in erican ran erries 633A Red Sunset Lingonberry, $18.50 American Cranberries are shallow-rooted and require light acid soil (pH V. v.-i. e al’ 4-8" WI-108, Univ of WI intro, 4.0–5.5), preferably cool, moist and high in organic matter, similar to soil Madison, WI, 1994. From open-pollinated in which blueberries grow well. Will grow in dry locations. Plant them in seed collected in southwest Finland. Produces spring once the ground can be worked in a bed or in a naturalized setting. r -to- e err e w t oo fl or We do not recommend mixing in sulfur to acidify the soil. Sulfur is slow- May bloom twice in one season. acting and can be added to soil surface in subsequent years if necessary. Mixing it into the soil can damage tender young roots. 634A Regal Lingonberry, $18.50 For a 5x5' bed: V. v.-i. u ’ 12" Also from the Swedish For acidic “blueberry” soils: If you’re fortunate to have a site where U program. Medium-sized light red berries. blueberries grow naturally, clear a spot of vegetation, cultivate the soil, add Moderately vigorous with lots of some peat and sand if you like, and you’re ready to plant. spreading rhizomes. For sandy soils: Remove soil 10" deep and mix soil with 2 bales of 635A Ruby Lingonberry, damp peat moss. Replace mixture in bed and cover with 2" of sand. $18.50 For clay or silty soils: Remove soil 10" deep and place it around the V. v.-i. ussi’ 4-8" edge of the bed as a berm. Replace the soil with a 50-50 mix of soil and Sometimes spelled Susi. peat (about 2 bales of peat). Cover with an additional 2" of sand. Plant Patented by the Swedish cranberries 12" apart, so the roots are in the peat and the sand is covering Ag Dept, 1985. Medium- the lower portion of the stems. to-large berries. Excellent Remove all weeds as needed. Water the plants weekly so that the peat is pollinator for other varieties. 1 moist but not saturated. Add nitrogen at a rate of /3–1 lb (or 20–50 lbs of 636A Sussi Lingonberry, manure) per 100 sq feet each year. No pesticides should be necessary. $18.50 n e ore r t r ro t w en err e re re In late fall, cover the bed to protect the plants from the drying effect Lin on err ollection of winter winds. Use a mulch of leaves or pine needles; or cover with Get your patch going and boost polyester row cover and then clear plastic; or cover with row cover and pollination with this collection then plenty of leaves. of 5 different varieties, each e o e n e r r rote t flower o er n w t individually labeled. plastic during frosty nights. 639A Lingonberry Collection, Every two years partially cover the plants with a 1/2–1" layer of sand in bundle of 5, $82.00 spring before growth begins. This will help produce more berries and keep weeds down.
52 (207) 426-9900 ar en oots Rheum rhabarbarum u ar ee lin s Seedlings of heirloom No garden is complete without the classic triumvirate of Horseradish, variety ‘Victoria’. Famous for early summer pie and wine, but also good Asparagus and Rhubarb! n e re e o or oo e w t e t n r clumps of juicy acid leaf stalks were once a staple food. The root is a Armoracia rusticana i o ’ orsera is Exceptionally toning purgative herb traditionally used every spring for thousands of vigorous perennial with large dock-like leaves and spicy hot roots, savored years. There are dozens if not hundreds of rhubarb varieties. May have for centuries for their culinary and medicinal qualities. Horseradish tea originated in Siberia and been carried across Asia on the Silk Road to is said to be an effective control for brown rot on stone fruits. Deep Turkey and then into Europe. Victorian cookbooks included rhubarb taproot with numerous shallow runner roots. Choose carefully where compotes, fools and charlottes. Eventually brought to North America you plant it because you may never through the efforts of Ben Franklin and John Bartram. Low-maintenance, get it all out. Even the tiniest w ont n e t ro er flower t re re o e n new root piece will produce a new leaves allowed to grow. Leaves are not edible. plant. Leaves can be cooked as From our trials, we’ve learned that rhubarb rarely comes true to type greens. Roots are traditionally when grown from seed, a fact often undisclosed in the nursery trade. We harvested in the fall, but you are offering seedling crowns grown on a local organic farm. There will be can dig them anytime. Roots variation within the crop. Some stalks will be green with deep red bases keep 3–4 months in the fridge. and others will be solid green or splashed with red. All are vigorous and To use as a stimulant, grate delicious, and we’ve enjoyed them in our pies, wines and sauces. Z2. ME the fresh roots and mix with a Grown. (1-yr crowns) little lemon juice or apple-cider L643A Rhubarb Seedling, $12.00 vinegar and refrigerate. Use soon, then make more. Big Top is an especially disease-resistant variety. ro in u ar Prefers moist rich soil. Plant with Plant the top of the root division level with soil surface in well- t e nte t own n t e fl t e prepared well-drained rich slightly acid soil (pH 5.5–6.5). Space up, or just toss them in and watch them crowns 2–4' apart in rows 3–4' apart. Add a bushel of well-rotted grow. Native to northern Europe. Z3. (roots) manure or compost under each crown. When plant is established, fertilize liberally with composted manure and balanced garden L640A Big Top Horseradish, bundle of 5, $18.00 fertilizer or compost every spring, as it’s a heavy feeder. Harvest Aspara us officinalis s ara us A spring staple for millennia, for 4 weeks 2 years after planting. may have originated around the Mediterranean Sea, perhaps in Asia Thereafter you can harvest for Minor. The pharaohs, Greeks and Romans were all aware of 8–10 weeks each year. t n tr t o t e n e e t e fl or e e r e t Never remove more than known American horticultural advertisement, from March 2/3 of the stalks from a 1719, is for “English Sparrow-grass Roots.” Uncut shoots plant. Water during dry become a light green feathery hedge, a beautiful backdrop to a spells for extended season. flower r en one ee o e t e nt n n flower o Every 10 years or so, asparagus. Occasionally non–spear-forming females will show divide plants in early up in a planting. Leave them be or rogue them out as you wish. spring, leaving about 1/3 John visited friends who added Biochar to their soil. Wow, were of the crown in place. their stalks beefy! (large-rooted 1-yr crowns) Cut up the remainder A. o. erse u re e’ Early. Rutgers U intro, 2000. All-male nto t- e e e hybrid that is more productive than the older all-male varieties. and replant. Excellent tolerance to asparagus rust and fusarium crown rot. Produces high yields of large-diameter tender spears in spring. Z4. L641A Jersey Supreme Asparagus, bundle of 25, $25.00 Rhubarb Tkemali A. o. ur le assion’ Early. Developed from the Italian Recipe from Khris Hogg, owner of Perennial Cider Bar in Belfast, ME. heirloom Violetto di Albenga. Brian Benson intro. Very large deep This tart and savory sauce is based on a Georgian condiment traditionally purple stalk with a creamy white interior. Purple asparagus is e ro e t e o o r t t we on t e ere r actually a type of white asparagus shown the light. Sweeter and is a great alternative, and although we haven’t tried it yet, Beach Plum less stringy than its green counterparts, so you can use more of might be an even more accurate local rendering of the original. the spear. Tender enough to eat raw in salads. Turns green when We enjoy this with chicken, seafood, or as a spread on toast with fresh cooked. Z4. cheese. It can also be stretched with oil into a salad dressing, or blended L642A Purple Passion Asparagus, bundle of 25, $25.00 with fresh mayonnaise for a sandwich spread or dressing for pasta salad or other cold dishes. The seasoning amounts can be tweaked to your taste ro in s ara us without ruining anything. This sauce freezes well, so you can savor the Plant when you receive your order or as soon as the ground can be freshness of spring whenever you’d like. Recipe makes about 2 cups. worked. Requires fertile soil with pH 6.8–7.2 and high levels of 1 lb rhubarb, chopped into 1" chunks phosphorus. Plant 14–18" apart, 6–10" deep, in trenches 4' apart. 1 Tbsp vinegar (red wine is traditional, but apple cider vinegar works) r o r tren e o ew t ee er n t e otto w t 4 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped of compost and rotted manure. Lay plants with crown up and cover 1 Tbsp cumin, freshly ground with 2" of soil. Plants emerge very slowly. As young shoots grow, 1/2 tsp coriander, freshly ground add soil gradually, just covering the shoots, until the trench is full. 1/2 c. cilantro, chopped In late fall, remove dead stalks and mulch with 3" of manure. 1/2 c. dill, chopped Second summer: Add lime, rock fertilizers and compost as Salt to taste needed. Control weeds but do not injure crowns. 1/4 tsp ground chiles (if you like a little heat) Later years: Same routine but increase fertilizer. Be sure to leave some spears each year to grow stalks that will nourish the In a small pot, add rhubarb with a couple roots and give you more spears next year. Keep the bed weed- tablespoons of water and a pinch of salt. free and mulched heavily. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until Harvest: New research shows the rhubarb begins to soften and release that asparagus can be selectively its juice. Stir once or twice to prevent harvested for 2 weeks during burning. Resist the urge to add more the second growing season, for 4 water—there should be enough weeks in the third, and a full season water in the rhubarb to make a thereafter. We recommend caution cooking liquid. in harvesting too much too soon. Stir in vinegar, garlic, cumin Before the third or fourth season, and coriander. Simmer on low heat harvest only the largest shoots for another 5 minutes. from vigorous plants so the young Turn off heat and stir in herbs. plants can establish themselves. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender or food processor. Salt to taste. fedcoseeds.com/trees 53 us roo s Agaricus subrufescens l on aricus Related to the well- Many of us are crazy about mushrooms. We love hunting for them in the known portabella, crimini and button mushrooms but has its own damp forests during spring and fall, cooking them, tincturing them or n e ro n fl or re n ent o on e e e row on just admiring their mysterious beauty. People have cultivated mushrooms composted material and thrives in warmer temperatures. A great addition for thousands of years. Around a century ago, American seed catalogs for the home gardener, can be incorporated with compost into vegetable offered mushroom spawn bricks for 30¢ each, right there between the and perennial plantings and does well in season-extension structures. melons and the mustard greens. (Available as sawdust spawn only.) We’re excited to collaborate with North Spore Mushrooms to offer 655C Almond Agaricus Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 the following selections for you to get started on your own fungus Hericium erinaceus Lion’s ane Pure white cluster of icicle-like garden. These products are all Maine-grown without pesticides, on teeth, often found on beech and birch in the wild. When cooked, they natural substrates. Available as plug spawn and sawdust spawn. All can have a consistency similar to crab meat. Naturally fruits during cooler be refrigerated until you are ready to start growing. We send detailed months. Due to a slower colonization rate, a higher inoculation rate n tr t on w t o r or er n o n n ore n o o t e te should be used. Can be grown on many different hardwood species, on our website. We ship mushrooms and tools in April during our regular large- or small-diameter logs. shipping season. If you’re a beginner, consider starting out with a kit. L656A Lion’s Mane Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 L656B Lion’s Mane Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 656C Lion’s Mane Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 a n For each type, we offer one or more of the following options: L656D Lion’s Mane Plug Kit, $25.00 • lu a n Small wooden dowels colonized by mushroom mycelium. 656E Lion’s Mane Countertop Kit, $25.00 5 50 plugs will inoculate a single 4' long, 4" diameter log. Drill /16" holes Laetiporus sulphureus icken o t e oo s Large bright (or 8.5mm with angle-grinder adapter) into your log, hammer in the plugs orange fruit bodies have a texture reminiscent of chicken. Great in soups and seal the holes with wax. Plugs are an excellent choice for beginners. and stir-fries. Fruits all season from late spring into late fall. Prefers Plugs come in bags of 100 or 500. large-diameter oak logs. (Not available in kits.) • a ust a n Hardwood sawdust colonized by mushroom L657A Chicken of the Woods Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 mycelium. Each bag contains 51/2 lbs of inoculated hardwood L657B Chicken of the Woods Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 sawdust, enough for about 25 logs. Drill 12mm holes in your logs, 657C Chicken of the Woods Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 pack the sawdust using an inoculation tool and seal with wax. Good Lentinula edodes iitake Brown umbrella-shaped spongy caps, for commercial mushroom growers. Note: Wine Cap may be grown on very nutritious and medicinal. Good for drying and reconstituting in hardwood sawdust in garden paths. Almond Agaricus can be mixed into winter soups. Meaty texture when cooked. Grows best on oak and maple. compost for the garden. All other types are grown on logs. Fruits throughout the growing season and responds well to commercial • lu its A kit contains 100 plugs, a small block of wax with dauber, forced-fruiting production methods. This is the Wide Range Shiitake 5/16" drill bit and instructions. Everything but the log, drill and hammer strain. to get you started growing mushrooms. Available for all types except L658A Shiitake Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 Almond Agaricus, Chicken of the Woods and Wine Cap. L658B Shiitake Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 • ounterto its Grow mushrooms in the kitchen on this inoculated 658C Shiitake Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 sawdust loaf! Simply slice open the bag, and keep in a humid environment, L658D Shiitake Plug Kit, $25.00 like beside the sink. Mushrooms should start to produce “pins” within two 658E Shiitake Countertop Kit, $25.00 weeks and will grow quickly. Each kit contains a 5-lb inoculated sawdust Pleurotus citrinopileatus ol en ster Tropical oyster strain block that could produce up to 3 lbs of mushrooms over 2–4 months. that thrives in warm weather. Produces beautiful clusters with yellow Instructions included. Available for Grey Oyster, Golden Oyster, Lion’s caps that are a favorite at farmers markets. Grows well on many different Mane and Shiitake. The easiest way to get into growing mushrooms. hardwood species including oak, maple and poplar. Makes a great gift. L659A Golden Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 L659B Golden Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 659C Golden Oyster Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 at ou’ll Nee These mushrooms will fruit best on L659D Golden Oyster Plug Kit, $25.00 hardwood logs or sawdust. Instructions will include recommended log 659E Golden Oyster Countertop Kit, $25.00 species lists. Depending on the product you choose, you will need to P. ostreatus re ster er o r fle r e e re - provide your own hammer and drill. Here are a few tools to help you get white oyster-shaped caps often found growing on old dying maple trees. started: Our most productive oyster strain. Reliable and cold tolerant, fruits noculation ool A simple hand tool for rapid inoculation of hardwood ro n e r r n or te row we on n erent logs with sawdust spawn. (Not needed for plug spawn.) Use with 12mm hardwood species including oak, maple and poplar. drill bit holes for best results. L660A Grey Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 L649A Inoculation Tool, $40.00 L660B Grey Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 n le rin er a ter Used to attach a drill bit to an angle grinder 660C Grey Oyster Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 to increase speed on large projects. Fits 5/8" spindle and takes both 12mm L660D Grey Oyster Plug Kit, $25.00 and 8.5mm drill bits. 660E Grey Oyster Countertop Kit, $25.00 L650A Angle Grinder Adapter, $50.00 P. pulmonarius talian ster Clusters of tender brown caps with t w te te Con ere to e one o t e ne t n r o ter 5/ Drill it Low-speed drill bit for small-scale plug-spawn projects. 5 mushrooms. Also considered to be medicinal with cardiovascular and L651A /16" Low-Speed Drill Bit, $7.00 o e tero - ontro n ene t row we on n erent r woo i ee Drill its e e or o no t on e ne species including oak, maple and poplar. to clear the hole of sawdust as it drills to a set depth that matches plug L661A Italian Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 100, $15.00 length or sawdust dosage. For large projects, we recommend an angle L661B Italian Oyster Plug Spawn, bag of 500, $32.00 grinder adapter with an 8.5mm bit for plug spawn or a 12mm bit for 661C Italian Oyster Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 sawdust. L661D Italian Oyster Plug Kit, $25.00 L652A 8.5 mm High-Speed Drill Bit with Stop Collar, $20.00 Stropharia rugosoannulata ine a Vigorous red-capped L653A 12 mm High-Speed Drill Bit with Stop Collar, $20.00 fruiting bodies for growing in non-sterile environments such as outdoor ealin a A clear food-grade cheese wax ideal for sealing holes sawdust beds, wood chips and straw. Prefers hardwood chips but will in inoculated logs. One pound of wax is enough to seal about 10 logs. grow on a mix of soft and hard. Once established, they will produce for Sealing the holes is critical to success because it protects the spawn from several years and can be easily transplanted to fresh woody debris beds. drying out and from contamination. Wax is in granular form. (Available as sawdust spawn only.) L654A Sealing Wax, 1 lb, $6.00 662C Wine Cap Sawdust Spawn, $20.00 54 (207) 426-9900 Herbaceous Perennial Plants Allium illenniu ’ lo erin nion 15 20 t ro on o USDA hardiness zone (chart on page 71) follows each description. te ro n 2 ro - r e flower on t r te o e o t r t All our plants are nursery propagated. They are not dug from the wild! o tr o reen o e weet- ente oo e All plant stock is bare root unless otherwise noted. re t tflower or r e w nter rr n e ent w et er o t t e e ore or ter t e reen ee o or ttr t ene n e t w t Achillea millefolium Yarrow Blooms June through September t weet ne t r et re e n rr o n e r e t er w n e n e t r n 2 3 fl t-to e e e e t e n n eer n r e w t e nt e flower e ern reen o e like an onion. Adds rugged charm and vertical structure to herb and rock is aromatic when crushed. Excellent r en 4 er or re n r e rr n e ent ro t L682 A: 1 for $7.00 B: 3 for $13.00 C: 6 for $23.50 re o o e flower e r ntee Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit 12 24 t n r n long season of blooms. Colors can fade out in one or two o o n e e e r o e to t e ro n e w t t ree extreme humidity but regular cutting will keep e flet r n n r t te to e tr e t nn - r e 3 the blooms looking bright and fresh. It’s a long cuplike spathe (the pulpit) that contains and arches over the erect sweet and easy early morning task to walk the reen - e ow t w e t to t t e fl n ee rrow t n t o et nt 12 24 Jack. This magical Northeastern native prefers dappled shade and moist rt n we - r ne o n to rt r woo n o nt 10 1 rt 3 e or w te rrow ee e 63 3 L683 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 3 for $18.25 C: 6 for $33.00 A. m. ertel’s ose’ 12–15" tall. Asarum canadense ana ian il in er 6 12 t e rt- ee ro e- n flower ter ne o shaped leaves up to 7" wide will spread into a beautiful groundcover. t e o t we - e e rrow we e e e re r e n t een n t e r en not e or flo not small and glossy like the European in windy weather like some of the taller species. Aromatic roots used like other varieties. (21/4" plug stock) gingers for their warming qualities and L675 A: 1 for $4.75 or oot n n e t on o o B: 3 for $15.25 n ot on ne rown or root n C: 6 for $29.00 o e e re - rown rn- A. m. u er astels’ 24 t Co or n e o t e o n e flower row ne r t e o r e re w te e ow on or n e e n en er - or n t e r e e o o n te ert e or n rown t e r n o er- o ro t ME Grown. r w n n e t ower re n to e r ( re-root rown for but won’t decorate your landscape. e re e n o t r woo n L676 A: 1 for $7.75 B: 3 for $18.25 C: 6 for $32.00 o 3 21/2" plugs in pots) A. m. erra otta’ 1 36 t ower e t rt o t e - L684 A: 3 for $18.00 apricot with yellow undertones and gradually mature to a stunning 1 B: 6 for $30.00 o er - ron e ne o o r or te 2 /4" plug stock) C: 12 for $54.00 L677 A: 1 for $4.75 B: 3 for $15.25 C: 6 for $29.00 Asclepias incarnata a e ilk ee Aconitum napellus English Monkshood 36 40 t 5 t t e to ort er or Also called Friar’s Cap ro e o te- er n e r r nt fl t-to e ter o oo w t en e ow e o r o et- e t rne re -ro e o ore flower e et- e flower o e e e nt te o e n te ow- e e e re 4 5 er r n e n - t e oo r re nee t n on C - or n re t n e e ent tflower t w en 1/3 to 1/2 the spike is in or n t r n ttr t ee bloom. I love watching bumblebees disappear under the tterfl e n n r hood then clamber out covered in pollen. The entire plant row n t r n floo n is poisonous; wash your hands after handling or cutting. n wet e ow nt 1 36 re er rt e nt 15 20 rt n o t o 3 rt n o t o - L678 A: 3 for $8.00 ert e or n rown t B: 6 for $14.00 e r 3 ME Grown. C: 12 for $24.50 L685 A: 1 for $9.00 B: 2 for $15.75 C: 3 for $21.50 Alcea Hollyhock 5 6 t C tower n re o ere w t - e o o or e ten e oo ro ne to to er e r we re o er n lantin ui e or are root erennials r t- e r flower n t r t t re tr To re e e o r r ntee ee e 2 or te on e 55-66 o t erenn not enn e o t e on t e have followed these instructions: r et C t nt to 12 ter flower n en ou recei e our or er n e to en o r e root rowt nt 12 rt n en t e n e t e nt to e te o t we - r ne o Supplies may be limited, so oot n rown o e r n e not o t or r tt e order early to avoid disappointment! 3 31/2" plug stock) Do not plant directly outside! A. ficifolia Las Ve as’ in les i ot u rootstock in ell raine sli tl oist ottin i e r e - e e o o root nee t e t 4 ee 3 5 eter ot n e flower n o r n e o o or ro e to r e root nee 6 ee 6 eter ot e tn t- rown to re n to w te n e ow • Avoid coiling the roots in the bottom of undersized containers. to copper. et ots in a rotecte s ot in se i s a e L679 A: 1 for $4.50 Durin t is ti e ou ust rotect our lants ro B: 3 for $11.75 ree n C: 6 for $22.00 • Drying out A. rosea lack ni t’ A single dusky mid- • Too much water n t- r e e t w t w t e ow e e • Long periods of cold and wet conditions L680 A: 1 for $4.50 rans lant outsi e a ter an er o rost as asse B: 3 for $11.75 • Dig a hole twice the size of the pot. C: 6 for $22.00 • Add a little compost to the hole. A. rosea alo erise’ r e n e er e- nt rown-to t e ow ro n e e n flower w t ee r e enter o ou cannot ot u our lants i e iatel u on recei t L681 A: 1 for $4.50 tore re-root nt to n oo r 35 40˚ o t on or no ore B: 3 for $11.75 than one week. C: 6 for $22.00 fedcoseeds.com/trees 55 Baptisia australis lue alse n i o 3 4 e n e r er Delphinium Ne illenniu ini tars’ i 21/2 t t n -o t w t r nt e ne- e flower t e o n tor nt Love the elegant charm of the giant delphiniums but can’t tro en- n e e tr n er n tro en ro t e r to t e o w ere give them the space they require in your garden? t n e or e ne or n nt t n r - Dwarf delphiniums have all the stately grace of e tr t re on e t re ee o t rn n n ntere t the giants without all the fuss and falling over! to t e t n n e e e o n e ten e root te oo This mix offers sizeable cylindrical terminal or o n o e to re ent ero on nt 3 rt n n n we - flower e t t r e o e nee- r ne o 3 of palmate glossy green foliage. Colors range L686 A: 1 for $8.25 B: 3 for $18.75 C: 6 for $33.00 ro r e e e n or re Belamcanda chinensis lack err Lil 24 36 t o e ore to er nt to e t n t t n n Leopard Lily. e o ot n n e Iris domestica though no t n r t r et t e ew enn one seems to call it that. Brilliant 11/2 or n e -re flower w t roon o t r e n er- orner o t e ot re e o e r - e n o ee reen o e t r - world with reports of successful forming plants spread by underground rhizomes. Capable of blanketing perennial plantings in the frostier ent re e n o t row n on t on nt 1 rt n parts of Canada. Avoid overhead on tent o t we - r ne o n to rt e 4 watering to prevent disease. re o en e to ee L687 A: 1 for $6.75 B: 3 for $17.25 C: 6 for $31.00 t e root oo n o t nt Chelone obliqua urtle ea 2 3 t o e ne ee - reen 36 rt n ert e e e to e e e nt e o n oo e flower t t re e non- o t e very much like a turtle’s head. Try planting en masse at the mouth of e t t n ne 3 woo n t eer o t e tter o e er e t n o t woo (31/2" hardy plug stock) or t t e w ter e e t e e e n te- e on flower w flo r L690 A: 1 for $6.50 n w e r n e o o ro to n on t e re not B: 2 for $11.25 w ter o e nt o t 12 rt n e n t 4 C: 3 for $15.25 L688 A: 1 for $4.75 B: 3 for $15.25 C: 6 for $29.00 Cornus canadensis unc err 3–8" tall. Every year in June ne nto e ret t n o e r n t e oo woo o t County to peek at a magic carpet of wild bunchberries. The dark woods Dicentra spectabilis l as ione re t t w t t e re -w te n t re o woo flower e lee in eart 30 36 t er e t o e o e- reen w or o o nt o e e n te er or e n e rt- e flower w t ter o e e r et err e or n ttr t on r n delicate white inner petals dangle like e rre n t e ot er or n e t n o r re t ort woo charms on bracelets along graceful Best planted en masse in cool damp acidic woodland soil. Nursery racemes above attractive clumps of cut ro te 2 21/2-3 to foliage. Blooms early through midspring; L689 A: 2 for $22.75 B: 4 for $39.50 C: 6 for $54.00 oe or nt n er on - e n beloved. L692 A: 1 for $6.75 B: 3 for $17.50 C: 6 for $31.50
Digitalis purpurea o lo e e t t r e - e flower with veined and spotted throats form along stately spires above basal rosettes o ee reen e et o e ower ne t ro t oo or tt n or t e n t r e or er t- e in every cottage garden. This year’s offerings are both considered perennial but are best treated as biennials. Spread out the seedlings as they appear and a glorious patch will result in a few years. nt 12 24 rt n o t t soil in full sun to part shade. Caution: all parts of the plant are poisonous; w n ter n n 3 (31/2" plug stock) D. p. Dal ation r e’ 16 20 t Indigenous Royalites re re tter- e ow flower ew e r o e o e n to on te ort on o o r ee e o w t roon- otte t ro t ert n r et e e o Corn n o C tt e e n to e n L693 A: 1 for $4.50 n ro e t ere n ne t t wor n to re tr te eno ot B: 3 for $11.75 land and to create dialogue on healing throughout the extended C: 6 for $22.00 o n t n e n or n e n- ro e t r n eno o t e program is one small way to appreciate and recognize the native breeders D. p. Dal ation eac ’ 2 3 t and seed keepers of the past whose varieties have endured and continue e nt e - e ow o o w t or n e to sustain us here on Turtle Island. speckled throats. Soft and subtle beauty. This year we are extending the program to our Trees catalog by L694 A: 1 for $4.50 donating royalties from any plant that bears a Native American name. B: 3 for $11.75 e re o n e t t net or e e w en o n e C: 6 for $22.00 by a white person. These plants were likely named without permission. D. p. u ar lu ’ 30 36 t e t r t e ont n e n t e n r er tr e t not o et n we en o n flower w t r r e- e r e t t e e t e we n re te nt n nno ent t r speckled throats. rt n erent n e en ent o n e n n e n o n er t L695 A: 1 for $4.50 in our landscape. B: 3 for $11.75 on e ore ree n t t on n n er t e t ere were ree ee C: 6 for $22.00 ee er n o o r n e t r e rr t e enet o t e o trees tended long before European arrival. Where you see Indigenous Royalites t t e en o o r e r t on o w now we re e t n 10 o o r e o t e e nt to e n
56 (207) 426-9900 Geranium ranes ill or on e t r ne o-o-on flower n period and lush attractive deeply cut leaves make this North American n t e e or or er e n ro r en or n or r o n on ter oo t n t e on n rrow r n ee o fl tter nt o e t e re n o e w or en e clumps and turns a rich red in fall. Name confusion may be a big reason w t ttr t e e -to- row en not ore we nown t e o r e n n n oor nt w t re flower w e e called geranium is actually Pelargonium or e t re t nt n t e lightly shaded areas of wild open woodland gardens or in the orchard n erne t o r n ent e tree nt 12 1 rt n er e r en o 4 G. cinereum allerina’ 6 12 t e nt nt n flower w t re - r e e n n n r er r e e e Co t re - reen o e er e t n ro e n or e n r en L700 A: 1 for $6.25 erns re flower e ore- ro n erenn re re ente B: 2 for $11.00 ore t n 10 000 e e wor w e r n n ro 0 tro tree ern C: 3 for $14.75 to teen nt ro t n ro r n ne ro n ne we en o G. maculatum otte ranes ill 24 t ern er on t e ro e n n t e woo ern Clusters of single 11/4 n - er- e e won er ow- nten n e o e nt t t t r e n woo flower o nown Wild Geranium -r o n en erene r to r en or n e this is the true geranium. w t 2 o e e ne e r to ee rown ro r n o t ene n e t ttr tor Adiantum pedatum ai en air ern 10 12 t o nown t e o n tor nt ow- Eastern Maidenhair Fern. Delicate whorled form makes it one of my growing spreading groundcover or te o te r e n t en roo tow r t e ro n and the best choice for planting with more narrow black stems growing in elegant arches from the main in the orchard. te n t n t n o- e reen e e ne e er te re er L701 A: 3 for $7.50 rt e n t ne o nt 12 rt t e to e tern B: 6 for $13.00 ort er 2 C: 12 for $24.00 L696 A: 2 for $7.50 B: 4 for $12.50 C: 6 for $16.75 G. pratense rion’ 20 24 t Dryopteris marginalis Leat er oo ern 24 t o nown C ter o n e 1 re- e flower Evergreen Wood Fern. Strong sturdy stems and slightly glossy leathery w t o et e n or t er re - reen ron e t one o t e e t ern or flor rr n e ent mound than other geraniums we offer. Blooms In late spring it’s great fun to look for immature sori (spore cases) on the ont n o ro te r n t ro n er e o t e ron nt or reen on t e r n o t e r t fl o flower rr e n te t e e flet ter n t e e r t e or n e o or to r t - rown w t ter re e t oo e er reen e e flo r t ro t e w nter n n e o n n ro ont n n we nto t n 4 woo e o e n C n onw r o t to n rt er we t L702 A: 1 for $6.25 to t e o o nt n er or e t n e t n 3 o r o n t B: 2 for $11.00 er t w to er te ore o n e nt 12 rt n o t C: 3 for $14.75 we - r ne woo n o 3 L697 A: 2 for $7.50 B: 4 for $12.50 C: 6 for $16.75 Osmunda regalis o al ern Attains giant proportions! Soft n w e o n e- e t reen ron n re 3 Where Did the Woodland Perennials Go? long. Sometimes called Flowering Fern because some of the fronds e e e e to te or r ont n e o er n o en e tr e rown ore e on t e r t t t en e or t e t e - e oo root n o o on e t n e t to er t t t e nt e r n e ne o t e ow e t r en ern e re t o o nt o r e n t e n r er tr e re ee - ro te n e n not t t e w ter e or n woo n C n re to 6 t n re to ro t e w n e ot o t e n- o n erenn o e ow n ore t n w e t t r t o t on r e n Osmunda is one wet n t e e n t e woo n nt ten to e ow row n n o t e o e t nt ener n t e to ort n o t er n t e 1 2 e r t to er n te o ten w t ow e r te ter t t o e o ern n re to e 1000 e r o r re it takes many more years to reach a size that would survive transplanting. o n er re er wet o re n rt e nt 1 rt n r n t e e r to re t r t ro t e t e t er n te on tent o t o 2 and our beloved ramps can take up to 11 years! We are working to build L698 A: 2 for $7.50 B: 4 for $12.50 C: 6 for $16.75 up a locally grown supply of these plants so we can bring them back to the catalog. Gallium odoratum eet oo ru 6 t o e Master Although some woodland plants may have appeared abundant in of the Woods n te r n t n w te t r- e flower e r t e w t e r ow er n t on n rowt t r re ow t e r o e o t w or o r r nt o reen e e re o e re ro t on to ee w t o er e n n o t e e e e new- own r e e e o weet n t n n plants are now extinct or threatened in their native ranges because of ent r t on e n er n to e Maiwein or ne commercial harvesting. By forcing them out of their habitats so we can refreshing alcoholic punch drunk in celebration of fertility and the spirits e t e n o r we re t t n t e t n t on nt n o t e ore t n t e e e t w o ten e w t o t tr w n have limited genetic diversity and the plants lose the resiliency needed to o trew n or ent n floor fend off pests and diseases. Seeds ripen from July to August. A useful n woo n nt re re er e on t on n w not and vigorous groundcover for partially thrive in most gardens. It’s for this reason Lady’s Slipper orchids have shaded moist areas with slightly acidic so rarely made appearances in the cultivated landscape despite many at- o re n er ro n r o e tempts. The soil and fungal conditions required exist only in the plant’s so think twice before you plant it in a natural forest ecosystem. Woodland plants don’t require additional fertil- or flower or er e t t n t n o o t t t nn or o e erenn re re t r t er e or e n t w e en on e e n orr n row n t e re re n n er nt n n t e r er basic understanding of their native habitat and reproductive traits. or for naturalizing the wilder parts e e no nee to e ro t o nt to t e etr ent o t e r en 4 2 o t w o t on rower e n w - nt n er t t e L699 A: 2 for $9.75 nurseries that put in years of hard work to protect wild populations. If the B: 4 for $16.75 nt re e n n nt t e re not e to e een ro te C: 6 for $22.50 at a nursery. The good news is there are small specialty nurseries that source seeds in a way that doesn’t harm wild populations of these rare n e te nt o e o o r or te r t ere n ne re ernwoo r er n ont e n e e r er n ert or t on t rt n n t e erenn ro ee ee e 62 fedcoseeds.com/trees 57 Helenium autumnale e ol nee e ee i 4 5 t Hosta Bold foliage forms orderly mounds with dependable sprays of o e e or n n e r er t e en e t e r r nt e - e flower on t t e n er e ow- o on n e r n n e e o ron e nten n e or er nt ro e e- o n ro n o er ro rown r on n e ow or r nt r n to ro t t t e r r n o or te t re n e en -o - er n e flower o t one n er tree n e woo n r en o t to er te resemble coreopsis in shape but have a wide range of soil conditions but need moisture. Those with blue and a large center button much like a variegated leaves develop their best color in shade. Deep shade gives oneflower Co ne w t ter n ewer flower t etter e o or nt 2 4 rt n r o w t o or re t te- e on o or e te e e er 4 5 e r or e e t e one t e w ot e to row e e ent ro e w t e t e re n e t 3 tflower n t t r e H. Lakesi e aisle rint’ when most perennials are done Dramatic design and texture make this oo n nt 1 rt n o t t- e or n o e tor n - ert e or n n e e rt- e e e rown t e r 3 with wide wavy green ME Grown. r n en er L703 A: 1 for $6.75 re -w te n B: 3 for $17.25 yellow streaks in the C: 6 for $31.00 o e e r en e center of the leaf shoot e t er e r e out from the cream petioles Hemerocallis Daylily C on ow- nten n e erenn ro e in a fabulous feathered o n rrow r e e e to e w t - e flower ro r w ett- t e ttern to September. Hemerocallis e n e t re err n to t e t en er flower on 24 t t e flower t on t n e e e or te o ere e 12 t n 30 w e w t oo er o n e e ten e n t e on te wor we L709 A: 1 for $9.50 n o et ro e- ree o e o t wee o r e n er w e B: 2 for $16.25 r n e o on t on ro n to e wet to r nt 12 1 rt C: 3 for $21.75 n er e o ene t ro n nn o e or two o o o t H. Vel et oon’ r t o en- e ow e e w t tr n r reen e r to one- e r-o e - rown root to w t two n 2 centers. We searched far and wide for an interesting hosta that grows well H. Little usiness’ 12 15 t nt 3 r err -re flower n ot e n n we n o n t ort o t e o w t e- reen t ro t oo n re oo o t r et oon e en er flower 24 t n 36 w e t e o te e ro e ent n e nt L710 A: 1 for $7.50 vigorous multiplier and looks fabulous paired in bouquets B: 2 for $13.00 w t ot er e e tt e r ette n C: 3 for $17.50 o ne - te e on oo L704 A: 1 for $5.50 B: 3 for $14.25 C: 6 for $25.75 H. Little ra ette’ 18" tall. A small and mighty n t re w t 2 -w e t r e- r e te w t r e n ro e- r e w ter r n e reen t ro t o nt e t one o o r or te or t e ront o t e or er e on oo L705 A: 1 for $5.50 B: 3 for $14.25 C: 6 for $25.75 H. auna Loa’ 22 -t o e w t te e t re n 24 40 n er e en n on o r o oto n e r t on nnot t re t e ow n r o t e e 5 o o w t er -or n e enter t t ow e t e o noe t e oo o o o or t to t wn or n e w t r r et r fle e e t n n t n t r e o t r et n 2010 n re ent fl rr o re e t to bring it back. Early to midseason blooms. L706 A: 1 for $5.50 B: 3 for $14.25 C: 6 for $25.75 H. iloa une u ’ 23" tall. Adorable miniature 23/4 o en- e ow flower w t r re e e- one n r t green throats. These little beauties re o to e n t e r en or midsummer bouquets. Early to midseason blooms. L707 A: 1 for $6.00 B: 3 for $15.50 C: 6 for $28.00 H. i ons erture’ 24 tall. Brighten up your foundation nt n w t t e e nt 6 en er-ro e flower w t r r e e e- one o en- e ow t ro t n ee r e wr e e Con ere er- oo er w t ore t n 300 flower er e on ter t ree years in the ground. Throw some u on ous ostas i o r e t r en nt e e of these in with your old orange w oo e o t e e t o t r et e we n et o r n on t e t to et o r no te nt n r et o o e o reen r r n ne or ton e w n - w t t enter n t r n w t r enter e tter w late season blooms. e no orter t n 30 t n to 0 w e t t r t nt w L708 A: 1 for $6.75 be individually bagged and labeled by name. B: 2 for $11.50 L711 A: 6 plants for $31.50 58 (207) 426-9900 C: 3 for $15.50 Iris sibirica i erian ris n te ne e te flower n e o e Lilium riental Lil i 30 44 t een o t e erenn or er t en er te- reen o e t t oo oo er o er te o ow n r r n e to row Co or r n e ro - o t on t on t er or e t n r o t o nt 1 rt n -w te to r nt o or w t ot n tr e e e or n n or rt e e t e roo to re n e ore r et e n t o r r nt r ent r w r w row e er ew e r 3 to o r r en n t re t tflower or et t e t n n I. s. ontrast in t les’ 2 34 t e- t n 3 5 flower w t e e ent e n nt or tflower oo e en or n ee w ne- r e t n r n n ter e- solid masses. Light shade prolongs summer blooms and keeps the bulbs r e t e e -fl re ro nent oo nt 6 ee 6 rt n r t we - r ne white and yellow signals with purple veining. o 3 L712 A: 1 for $5.25 L719 A: 3 for $8.75 B: 3 for $13.25 B: 6 for $15.75 C: 6 for $23.75 C: 12 for $26.00 I. s. u e Vel et’ 24 30 t L. tigrinum itronelle’ i er Lil te e et 41/2" blossoms with 2 5 t o t r et ro e n ne t n e t ere o no e on- e ow r t r te re - r e flower w t re r e et t n r o e - r e fl re enero fle e w t r r e ot w t - n - o e ro nent r t -re nt er ro e oro on - oo n tetr o beautiful mahogany pollen. Tiger lilies are ne o t e e t er n n t n e r - n t e garden. Introduced in 1973 by leaf axils along the stem. When the plant is t e w ro n ro t the famous and beloved Currier 1 3 wen e t e ore 2 1 /2–1 /4" bulbs) L713 A: 1 for $5.25 L720 A: 3 for $6.50 B: 3 for $13.25 B: 6 for $10.50 C: 6 for $23.75 C: 12 for $20.50 I. s. un s er’ 28" tall. Lemony yellow standards and deeper Lobelia syphilitica reat lue Lo elia n ne- e ow 3 5 t n e r r n t or eo L714 A: 1 for $7.75 North American native forms deep green B: 3 for $20.00 ro ette w ro e t reen te C: 6 for $35.75 w t tern te n e- e e e e- o et flower e e r er Don’t deadhead: healthy plants produce I. versicolor Nort ern lue la 30 36 t ort e tern n t e several thousand seeds per stem and e e rr e or eo e- o et flower w t o r e e n n n require damp open ground to germinate w te n e on- e ow e en er e- reen r n n e- we nt on t e r er n n e e e o er tron ert e t re to t e n e e re tre e e e o o n t e erenn on tent o t o n re er 2 4 o ow t n n w ter nt border or in the meadow. Absolutely 12 24 rt n n to rt e r oo t e 2 stunning once established. Best planted L715 A: 3 for $10.50 n t e n on tent o t o B: 6 for $18.50 w t n wee o et t on t e r t C: 12 for $33.00 e r - ert e or n rown Leucanthemum superbum e r 3 ME Grown. ra Dais ’ 24 t now- L721 A: 1 for $6.75 w te et or fl o e B: 2 for $12.50 rings around a bright yellow disk. C: 3 for $16.50 t rt oo n - ere n Nepeta faassenii alker’s Lo ’ at int 2 3 t e te t entr ne n w t re r n e ro t re - reen o e w t on r n te to e cutting will bloom into fall. en er- e flower ro e n e ent o e or tflower e e- t n ow o o or ne r ne o t e e e t erenn to summer. Creates a strong depend- row nt 12 1 rt n e ow- row n e e on n to rt e n we - n r en t ower ttr t r ne o - ert e ee tterfl e n r or n rown t e r n n r t on 200 4 ME Grown. re-root rown erenn nt o t e e r C t L716 A: 1 for $6.75 back in midsummer to encourage B: 2 for $12.50 te oo e ot n r C: 3 for $16.50 t w row n n we - r ne Liatris spicata la in tar Also called o nt 1 24 rt n n Gayfeather t en e ott e r flower to rt e 3 e tower o e ne r - e o e L722 A: 1 for $7.50 elegant structure to the perennial border and B: 2 for $13.00 e o et or tflower e re to e e t C: 3 for $17.50 least 1/3 of the stem on each plant for best results. Oligoneuron rigidum ti ol enro 2 5 t o e Rigida. Blooms from July to September. Tolerates a broad or er e e er o t e Solidago genus and recently r n e o row n on t on t not ro t nt re e n Oligoneuron rower ene e t e t n n 3 ee 12 rt n we - r ne t e or eo e ow- o r n o o enro t e ert e o 3 11/4–11/2" corms) nto en e ow fl t-to e ter w t ttr t e te- reen L. s. loristan ite re w te flower foliage that you’d never recognize as a goldenrod. The pollinators w n row 30 36 t o te o e t e o enro t r w t e n w t o t L717 A: 10 for $2.75 oo n wee or o on or te n o nt B: 20 for $4.75 a native pollinator magnet that holds its own in the C: 50 for $10.00 r en on oo one e ent tflower nt n n to rt e n r we - r ne L. s. ur le la in tar ent - o - ert e or n rown r e flower w n row 20 30 t e r 3 ME Grown. L718 A: 10 for $2.75 L723 A: 1 for $6.75 B: 20 for $4.75 B: 2 for $12.50 C: 50 for $10.00 C: 3 for $16.50 fedcoseeds.com/trees 59 Paeonia Itoh Peony Also known as Intersectional Hybrid Peonies these wonders are a cross between herbaceous garden peonies and tree eon e n e t re t e e t o ot nt 6 o o e t e one on tree eon e o en t ter t e r en eon e e e e growth habit is similar to garden peonies with attractive mounded foliage that dies back in the winter. But do not cut Itoh peonies down the ground in the fall—next year’s buds need room to develop on the lower stems. e e t e t 6 o r woo te o e t e ro n e or o to t e ne e r er w o o e e t o n o tte t to ro r en n tree eon e e n ee e n 1 4 t not e to ee ee n oo n t e 1 0 o w ow e n er n ree er er on to ntro e to eon e to t e e t w ere r er too t e nter e t on torch. nt n n r n n n tr t on w e n e w t o r order. Supplies limited—order early to avoid disappointment! 3 to has 3–5 eyes.) Paeonia to art ella’ 30 36 t r r nt 6 e - o e e on- e ow flower w t re fl e t t e enter o o n as fully double on occasion. L724 A: 1 for $40.00 Paeonia to ulia ose’ 30 36 t C err -re o en to r r nt e - o e or n e- r ot- n flower w t t e r e e n o o e ent e to e ow e o or n e een on one plant at the same time. L725 A: 1 for $47.00 Paeonia to cru i l u tious’ 30 36 t e - o e 6 oo re t re w t - n e e Paeonia lactiflora Garden Peony Also called Chinese Peony e L726 A: 1 for $70.00 oot e r n r n n or o t 3 3 o tro r reen ee o e o e t er on t r te o e t e o e r o en nto r e e t flower ro te r n to early summer. (Ants may help the buds open so don’t discourage their re en e t e 3 to 5 e r to e t e ore oo n n re ent being disturbed or left in a pot for more than one winter. Wait several years until the plants have many stems (therefore many eyes) before n 3 to 3 5 e e e e t w ere note P. l. o an er or ance’ 30 t r r nt o e r n -re o -t e o o n e re to ro o e rower t e e flower t rt o t re n e o or ter ew to ee or n e -re w t ore o or r t on t e e on oe on en e t e t e t n n e o to er Charlie and the Chocolate Factory e w nte to ee or o r e e er blooms. L727 A: 1 for $20.00 B: 2 for $35.00 C: 3 for $47.00 P. l. esti a a i a’ 3 t ntro e n 1 51 e en ente r e o e w te flower w t t r on r e on t e entr petals. Early season blooms. 2–3 eyes. L728 A: 1 for $13.00 B: 2 for $23.00 C: 3 for $31.00 P. l. ara ern ar t’ 36 t ntro e n 1 06 r r nt flower o en w t n rrow re ne ot onto t ro e- n t re to e te n w t t re - er e e C n n e ot w r n er one ne o or te w t e t t e r t o nt of doubling—appears richly full but not crammed. Late season blooms. L729 A: 1 for $8.75 B: 2 for $15.00 C: 3 for $20.50 P. l. e a n’ 32 t ntro e o et e etween 1 22 n 1 43 o t e o t o eon o w e er et e e on r r nt o e o o e t re tr n ent - n et o ere w t subtle deeper pink speckles. The overall effect is breathtaking. Sturdy te not flo o t eon e te e on oo en t before Sarah Bernhardt and keeps longer in a vase. L730 A: 1 for $23.00 B: 2 for $39.50 C: 3 for $53.25
Growing Garden Peonies • Peonies prefer: n to rt e n r ert e we - r ne o • Recommended soil amendments: o o t one e o te • When you receive your peony rootstock ot t e o ow n t e instructions on page 55. • After danger of frost, transplant 2 3 rt w t r en ner w t w nter r en n o t ern the eyes no more than 11/2" below the soil. n er r en n t te ew or n t er tr n t e or o t w nte to t t o r o n een n • Peonies require support to prevent w ont n e to e nte r rt o ot ro ee to tree e flower ro flo n too n t n r en o-o e er n ro e t • Autumn plant care: Cut back e o ro t to n one w o w ten e e n n t ere to t o e ro n e e to nee o to et t ro t t n ort not on t e allow a fresh start in spring. r er t t e r er we Amend soil with compost r n o e er r around the base of the plant. 60 (207) 426-9900 Papaver orientale riental o re t t n - or n Phlox ar en lo erenn e t re ne t r t ro t - reen e e n er n Large spreading clusters of re e- er o o t t e w to n e n t re ee o t t re r r nt ow on - oo n n e ent o onent n te- e on o et n r e rr n e ent flower n to te er e ent re nt oe er- or nt on t e r e w en t e will accent your border or leaves turn brown in early summer and disappear almost entirely by naturalized area with wonderful t t o new e e w e r n t e r ent o e color and fragrance. Attracts or t root o oo en o ee e ore nt n o root n re tterfl e n n r t e oo o w t e e e re to rt n n ne tr we - r ne ent o onent o te- er o erw ter n rt r r n or n t e o t o on we n o et ten flower n e o re nter re o en e to re ent e n 3 season by watering and prompt P. o. Little att ’s lu ’ 20 t on- o ore e e n re er -r o o o ort er on o t e or n tt o t t t oo n o t n er n o o t- e r r e o ere n t e ene t ro re r e- re n nt 2 1 0 r ener n r o e rt n to rt e 3 e or nt wo n tr P. amplifolia oliat ’ 26 30 t nt r r nt - r e flower rrow owner o t e o w t t rr w te o e n r e e e flower e re tw e t e n on r er n o er et size of any phlox we’ve seen! England. L735 A: 1 for $6.50 B: 2 for $11.00 C: 3 for $14.25 L731 A: 1 for $6.50 P. a. ercules’ 26 30 t nt r r nt t n flower w t B: 2 for $11.00 t e t rr w te o e n r er e e n t e n o o er e C: 3 for $14.75 o t rot er n o o re t P. o. urkenlouis’ 24 36 t er L736 A: 1 for $7.50 B: 2 for $13.25 C: 3 for $17.75 n r t o or n e -re r n e n P. paniculata e i in oo ’ 1 24 t o t r et w t r fle o o r e r r nt err -re flower L732 A: 1 for $6.50 L737 A: 1 for $7.50 B: 2 for $13.25 C: 3 for $17.75 B: 2 for $11.00 C: 3 for $14.75 Pulmonaria rs oon’ Lun ort 9–12" t n e ent to 2 w e r ten o r e r en w t t o -te t re Penstemon digitalis o lo e ear ton ue woo n erenn er w n e- e o en 3 t e on t e r n ee to o r r en to r n n flower re t n tr n with these white to light pink spires covered effect with both colors appearing at once on the w t no n t r e - e flower e nt r e o te te- reen e e nt 14 rt n n to rt e n re re e n er-w te ot e ert e e - r we - r ne o re ent r nt e r e on ontr t to self sow and develop a nice stand over blooming daffodils and emerging hostas t e - ert e or n rown n ern nt 1 2 rt n o t t e r 3 ME Grown. o n to rt e 3 L733 A: 1 for $6.75 L738 A: 1 for $4.00 B: 2 for $12.50 B: 3 for $10.00 C: 3 for $16.50 C: 6 for $17.50 Pulsatilla vulgaris u ra’ as ue lo er Up to 12" tall. Also known as Wind Flower ro t - reen flower te o ten e er e w en t e o now re t on t e ro n oon ter r e o en e - e r n flower w t o en- e ow t en oo t e ne t rr ern o e e n to or t oo t e flower te re t 4 5 t t ont n e to row ter oo e e e ent re n e t o 12 w t n e er ter o feathery silvery seedheads. Excellent choice for rock gardens and the front of the border. With proper care it will develop a deep extensive Perovskia atriplicifolia ussian a e root te nt 10 rt n n to rt e n r er o 36 4 t oo n er w t we - r ne o re er not to e t r e on e e t e 4 31/2" e e nt en er re o en er- e t r plug stock) flower ne e re - reen e e re L739 A: 1 for $4.00 ro t w en r e ero one B: 3 for $10.00 o t e on e t oo t e o n e-flowere C: 6 for $17.50 nt e -woo r e er e ow n Sempervivum ens an icks i If you’ve got boulders r n t ter ro t o er te ro t n t e ort or ro n n- ren e ot n o e e t n n n t e r t n n w ter t e oor r o e t e n or n n Likes to spread out once it cascading Sempervivum display. Sempervivum means gets established and it is so w e ow- row n ro ette- or n beautiful it deserves every succulents produce runners and babies by the foot of space it can get! o t o ro t- n e t-to er nt e on nt 24 36 rt e t e e n o - r too e er t t one 4 re ort o w nter offer a fun way to learn about fractals and are from poor drainage rather than how our world works—you can plant them in a o o t o 4 tr w err ot w t t e or n e -to- L734 A: 1 for $7.50 re or ot n t ro e t or o w o e o B: 3 for $19.00 n n - o er e e e o t C: 6 for $34.25 n en n C n o e er or e t n er- r ne r e o with lots of sun and dappled shade. We’re offering a mix of r et e n n re reen n r e 3 21/2" pots) L741 A: 1 for $4.00 B: 3 for $9.00 C: 6 for $15.50
fedcoseeds.com/trees 61 Senna hebecarpa il enna 4 6 t o e Partridge Tree tt e n r - e ow flower or en e ter o e ttr t e o o n e - e o e or n to t e t not et nown t e no ort er n n t e e t o er n tro en o n e e o e o now t ttr t tterfl e n ee n ro e oo or n r w e e e o on en er r - rown ee o e o e r nt e e o t t te n- o n nt n t e w e ow t e ee o r t w en r e ttr t n rtr e t r e n t e e nt 2 rt n o t to wet o n r e n o t w to er te n or o ro n - ert e or n rown e r 4 ME Grown. L742 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 2 for $12.75 C: 3 for $17.25 Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England Aster r n e t o 4 6 t ort er n n t e w t ree r n n r o r t o ore flower e or te t e t n n e t ro o t t e ort e t Co or r n e ro e- r e to en er- n w t e ow e e ter add hardy grace to the back of the wild border and will naturalize on banks or in the meadow. Cut back slightly in early to mid June to induce an abundance of 11/2–2" rayed blooms from late August nto to er eer on t e t t e ro e te- e on o r e o ne t r or n r o n tor nt 12–18" apart in light moist humusy soil in full sun with good air circulation. - ert e or n rown t e r 3 ME Grown. L743 A: 1 for $6.75 B: 3 for $17.25 C: 6 for $31.00 Symphytum uplandicum ockin ’ ussian o re 24 4 t re o en e o n on nt or or r e n e e ent t on to t e o o t e t r n n tro en ne ot n ron Use as mulch or turn the leaf into compost tea or o r r en C ter o e - e ent - r e flower n e o e t e ee reen r t e o e n o re t o t to have a higher pyrrolizidine alkaloid content than the species. o inal e 65 re erre or n er e ne -to- row vigorous plant demands space and if the roots are disturbed can be very invasive; be careful where you plant it and control with regular harvest. nt 24 rt n we - r ne o n or e - ert e or n rown t e r 3 ME Grown. L744 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 2 for $12.75 C: 3 for $17.25 Veronicastrum virginicum ul er’s oot 4 6 t e nt tower- n ort er n n t e en r e flower e w t en e clustered tiny white blossoms that open from the top down in early sum- er n e- e e e or w or on r e r t te t t r re- nee t n ee o e t flower e t r te t re to t e o t e erenn or er n re re ent n n we - t r n r en nt 2 rt n n n wet we - r ne o - er- t e or n rown t e r 3 ME Grown. L745 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 2 for $12.75 C: 3 for $17.25
ME Grown = grown in ne t one o o r small local nurseries.
62 (207) 426-9900 Alchemilla mollis La ’s antle 12–18" tall. Enchanting tiny fans Herbaceous Medicinals of leaves emerge in early spring and unfold into a mound of rounded The following plants have long histories of traditional medicinal use. n- re e er re - reen o e r o t n e ow- reen t r t to o to e te o r e o t t e et n e o n oo on 15 t t o e t e o e o t er t t e e n plants for medicinal purposes. The statements in our catalog regarding variety as A. vulgaris; ornamental growers list tr t on e n e o nt e not een e te t e this very similar species as A. mollis in e nt we e re not nten e to no e tre t re or re ent this botanically bewildering genus. any disease. A. vulgaris tends toward a looser nt t e e r or ore to e t e ore t e flower root more spreading habit than the often take several years to reach harvestable maturity. The organic tighter more upright A. mollis. t n re ert e Both varieties have traditionally Achillea millefolium Yarrow 24 t been used as a poultice to Named for its use by Achilles to staunch tone n r re t t e n tt e wo n ent r e -o tr t on to promote fertility. Lady’s of use as an external styptic. A natural nt e new to nt - nfl tor rrow een e wo en fame as an orchard companion to re te t e en tr e re n e plant. When planted at the base ee n n e n er o n rrow o ten o o e tree t e- used in combination with other herbs as a cold loving plant attracts hordes of re e n to re e e er n on o flower n to t te ene n e t n t e t e t on n ro e r t on te fl t-to e flower beautiful low spreading groundcover. clusters bloom June through September. Excellent orchard companion re er rt e nt 12 rt n n e t t on to t e erenn or er e ow er or oon o t o - ert e or n r en nt 1 24 rt n n n we - r ne o - rown t e r 3 ME Grown. ert e or n rown t e r 3 ME Grown. L748 A: 1 for $7.25 L746 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 3 for $17.25 B: 2 for $12.75 C: 6 for $31.00 C: 3 for $17.25 Actaea racemosa lack o os 6 10 t Also known as Black Snakeroot or Fairy Candles; formerly known as Cimicifuga racemosa. This North American native provides the ultimate backdrop for t e t e woo n r en ro te nto t on r n r e e o re w te n o er ent ne flower e o r o er 3 4 To Our Lady’s Mantle o n o ne-te t re reen o o n By James Inglis Cochrane, 1853 o e ret n nt - nfl tor r nt e en n tr nt - o or r n r e n e ne on t e o w r ner e n e ot on n e n n o flower t t oo ore e re r premenstrual and perimenopausal formulas. n t reen e t o e t rr oot ont n re n nt or t o to e rt o e n tre wo en o re er rt e t to er te e t n nner o t e o en t e n n ee o t o row we When on Inch Cailliach’s isle the convent chime in wet spots. Develops large clumps of Summoned to Vespers at the close of day. root to o e t roo to re nt 3 e nt t e ne er-en n tr e rt n r o t o rt n rt e t too on- o n e r to t n rown o nn n en en t re ent er r o ew en e t oot n t r r n C n n 3 ME Grown. To muse at leisure on the quiet life L747 A: 1 for $8.50 B: 2 for $14.75 C: 3 for $20.00 e r er w en e er e flower nown to n er e ower
Native Plants & The Wild Seed Project e r t on o n t e nt e to n n re n n er o flower t t re n e e to o n tor n o e-flowere t r e e o e o r t t ee n t e en r w nto t e to e o en ee nee n orne n e flower e te t e t t t n r re no on er ttr t e to ee t e re o ten t r n e o n tor nt o won t n n r oneflower ere ne r one wron t t o t e ort ern one e Diervilla lonicera t o t nt or e e e o ter r e t er C r o e t e re tor o t e ee ro e t e n t n t t t e ort n Library in which she described how recent introductions of Diervilla hybrids w t re o e t eter t e n e t t t e en on t e nt e e e o e re o e n e o t on r tr t to en o e o t n n e t making red cultivars unappealing to native caterpillars and thus no longer a source of oo e re o er n t e tr t e e on e 42 o re nt n or n e t n r o n t e orn ent r o e n e n to t row n ere n t ere t t e re t or n e garden is an opportunity to create space where natural processes can occur. roor n e t n t e o ow e to e t that sometimes insects are going to defoliate our favorite plants. Not all caterpillars are pests! e ne- e non- ro t Wild Seed Project w ee ro e t net great place to learn about growing native plants from seed and incorporating t e nto t e n e ee ro e t wor to n re e t e e o n t e nt n ett n n or er to on er e o er t en o r e nt t t on n t e e o te n e e r w e t t n re te o n t on n migration corridors for insects and birds. As a small cooperative seeking to provide et o r e nt to o r to er we t e o e een ee re t e o n e ro ee n e n eter ne w nt re t-r o e n e n t e w o w nt to ort t ort nt wor o n o t to on te to ee ro e t w en o or er ro fedcoseeds.com/trees 63 Althaea officinalis ars allo 5 t Echinacea 3 5 t ort er n n t e nt o ten o er- r e te e te en er-w te flower w t r er n t e w n n nee o t e t t on n o r r en o er te w n lavender stamens appear up and down the stalks of e t n ro t on e e t e re ee n nt nt 20 30 this beautiful towering medicinal plant. I’ve been rt n n n t n o e n ene t r on t drawn to marshmallow ever since I watched the different species. E. purpurea and angustifolia are considered the herbalist Deb Soule rub its soft velvet leaf standard for making medicinal tincture. E. paradoxa does share some n t er ee n e n ow t e r - o t e e ne- t t n o o n purpurea but throated hummingbird appreciates the nectar of in our opinion is best planted for the birds and the bees as a r ow flower e e flower n complement to your purpurea t o er te w n e t mucilagenous roots are traditionally used n ro t on e e t e re ee n nt nt to soothe the mucous membrane linings of 20 30 rt n n n t n o 3 t e n n e t e tr t n to t e n n E. paradoxa ello one o er r t re- o t e r n r tr t e e t e re or te e ow flower w t roo n et rro n and the dried roots are best when soaked overnight dark brown seed cones—irresistible to gobbling n oo w ter or te r e t 4- e r-o root o n e t e to t e r o nt n n for medicinal use. Wonderful in a hedgerow and rro n n re - ert e or n n ent nte w t o o t e rown t e r ME Grown. often blossom together in late July and into L753 A: 1 for $7.75 t e e - ow nt 1 2 rt B: 2 for $13.25 n t o t o rt n rt e C: 3 for $18.00 - ert e or n rown t e r 4 ME Grown. L749 A: 1 for $9.00 E. purpurea ur le one o er Echinos means B: 2 for $15.75 n n t e oneflower n ee e re C: 3 for $21.50 e t o er e ow- rown rro n e n e row o refle e en er- r e et Arnica chamissonis Low spreading native groundcover with bright ttr t tterfl e n ot er ene n e t e ow - e flower e e tern n o n e to tre t r e n t re t e root o 3- e r-o nt or r n n nfl t on e er t e ntern e e t n o eo t remedy that gives an immediate boost to doses. In the right conditions a few plants will develop into the immune system; use it when you en e on - e t ene n e t ttr tor ee o or fl o n on t n oo n row e n o r te rown t oot n t r r ME Grown. and is a generally accepted medicinal substitute for A. montana nt n n 1 rt n o t L754 A: 1 for $7.75 we - r ne o - ert e or n B: 2 for $13.25 rown t e r 3 ME Grown. C: 3 for $18.00 L750 A: 1 for $7.25 Eupatorium perfoliatum oneset 5 t o e Thor- B: 2 for $12.75 oughwort e t ort er n n t e w t fl t-to e ter o C: 3 for $17.25 re -w te to - en er flower e to r t te w t ee e ne r reen on - e er o te e e r - Artemisia absinthium or oo 3 t ro t t on e to e te t e to o re one e er tter er n t e to ro e e t r n n r - e infectious disease known to cause extreme fever and aching pain that woo nt w t t t te n tern te ne t travels deep into the bones—hence the name boneset. Tincture of the er - re - reen e e o ere w t en w te r flower n to n e e n e we t n t te t e ne - e n or r o n on o e tron e- te n t nt - nfl tor like scent and acts as an aromatic pest confuser. Adds a North American Indians and early frosty color to the back of a perennial border. Traditionally colonial settlers administered boneset e e t e t nt nt e re nt otent te r n fl e e n t n e t re e ent n tre t ent or nte t n r te common use continued well into the otor o t e o r e o nt e n t e n 20t e oo to te t ontro er r n w o r n t e 1 t e ro n enero te- e on ontent on w r ro n t e t one ontent n r n o ne t r or t tterfl e n ot er n er re r t on fl ore w t wor woo pollinating insects. Boneset is a practical and e ent o w nown to e e on n n te fetching addition to the wilder part of the orchard doses and potentially toxic in excess. Deadhead to prevent n erenn or er nt 3 rt n nw nte e - ee n r e n n n oor r o nt moist soil and full sun to dappled shade. 24 36 rt e re e e ent r n e - ert e or n - ert e or n rown t rown t e r 3 ME Grown. e r 3 ME Grown. L751 A: 1 for $7.25 L755 A: 1 for $7.75 B: 2 for $12.75 B: 2 for $13.25 C: 3 for $17.25 C: 3 for $18.00 1 36 t Astragalus membranaceus inese ilk Vetc Glycyrrhiza glabra Licorice 3 4 t weet n oot n root re Important Chinese medicinal known as huang qi ee -roote e to re t e ren n tre t o n ron t re e t ro t leguminous plant forms an upright bush rr t t on et t n e e tor nt n nt - o weetne w t n te e t o ere harmony and palatability to nearly every herbal combination. Culpeper’s with tiny pinnate leaves and small Complete Herbal ro 1653 e t t n e r ont n n e r n r e e e r n row o w t - n e w t o t re o n w r n ort flower n t n n e ow flower en e o er n to et er e on one o e not er on t e t o t e or o ont nown to re t e ne e e o o t o er e e o o r e no nt e system while combating exhaustion. n tro en e t ot o roo n ee t wee e o t n re te t e on -ter ton e e e e to n re e root n r nner o w nt oot enetr te ee n t e stamina and improve resistance to cold o ete o e on o t e o nner o et e tr e te er t re r e t 4- to 6- e r-o great distances before sending up a shoot—if the soil is root n nt n n 12 oo e o n err nt r nner o n t e rt n ee r e we - r ne e ro e to n n wre t o e t e woo to e o - ert e or n on en ent or w nter te o n nter nt rown t e r 4 ME Grown. e et e e on on ett e n e n r n t e L752 A: 1 for $8.50 r t n e on e r o rowt or e n nt B: 2 for $14.50 24 36 rt n n we - r ne o n C: 3 for $19.75 to re ent e n oot tt n r e t e e n 3 to 4 e r - ert e or n rown t e r 4 ME Grown. L756 A: 1 for $7.25 B: 2 for $12.75 C: 3 for $17.25 64 (207) 426-9900 Lavandula angustifolia unstea ’ M. punctata Dotte orse int 2 4 t La en er 16 1 t Con ere t e r e t Also called Spotted Bee Balm e r en er w t t en er flower weet- ente r r nt o e- e er o o flower e e ten o e ro t er - reen t e o or o n - r e reen - n eo te e e oo er e e e n roon e e e w t t n n e or er ro er o e or e en nt r n ot e t flower e Compact habit lends itself to edging are relatively small but stacked up on the walkways. Traditionally used to calm stem and held by bracts that resemble petals. nervous excitability and relieve muscle t e to t e e tern ro er ont ten on nt 12 24 rt n n n o t to or n we t nto e ro t o t we - r ne o to re ent w nter to er nt t oo etter w t on tent e n 4 o t o nt n to rt n n n L757 A: 1 for $8.50 o 3 4 to B: 2 for $14.50 L763 A: 1 for $7.25 C: 3 for $19.75 B: 3 for $18.25 Levisticum officinale Lo a e 6 t oo e nt e er nt C: 6 for $33.00 w t toot e o o n e e reen - e ow e ero flower and small oval seeds. A dramatic architectural element for an edible Pycanthemum virginianum Mountain Mint 30 t or er ttr t ene n e t o reen e e e tron ee o r o o n tor w t t en e flowere e er t te n n e e to fl or o tew n ero e Cr n t e o o ro nto t re w te to seeds and add to bread and pastries; candy the stems and roots into a light lavender with tiny purple spots. Wispy upright sweet medicinal syrup that is said to restore the appetite and revive the branching foliage smells intensely minty when crushed. o e o e e on - e r nt re e t or r n or er e to A strong infusion of the aerial parts makes a tasty minty t e tter er n e n on o t on re n nt wo en o te tr t on e to ett e n e t on re nt 24 36 rt n n to rt e n r o t we - r ne o by shallow underground rhizomes and will ramble - ert e or n rown t e r 3 ME Grown. ro n o et t o oo e nt n o t on L758 A: 1 for $6.50 B: 2 for $11.25 C: 3 for $15.25 w e re er o t o n w o we Mentha piperita ocolate int 1 24 t r or te nt n n to rt e n e e t e r t weet re re n e er nt- tt fl or t- e or n it will grow well in a wide range of soils. w nter r e - er re en o r re t ett e o r to o er te e t n ro t r row n t r ten r t e ert rn e re fl or o r or te e t along the woodland edge—deer are not fond of this or ent o n e n e t er t rn o e ent we rew nt t e to e tern ro ne to n o o te nt to en o r n o r te re n to to o r o n n o t to eor n e - ert e ot o o ot r e t t e e e e ore t oe to flower w t n or n rown t e r Pregnant women nt nt t w ere o w nt t ore er nt n n n n e ent avoid. 4 ME Grown. r en o - ert e or n rown t e r o e L764 A: 1 for $7.25 5 t o n o e n to e t e n 4 ME Grown. B: 2 for $12.75 L759 A: 1 for $6.50 B: 2 for $11.25 C: 3 for $15.25 C: 3 for $17.25 Symphytum officinale o re 24 4 t Monarda ee al Also called Bergamot or Oswego Tea. Beloved Also called Knitbone C ter o e - ee tterfl e n one o t e e t n r net n t re e n r e flower n e o e to o er n w flower or w t t r et on n on t e ee reen r t e o e heads borne above colorful bracts in July and August. Aromatic foliage. recommended as an orchard oo or or er or wet re n or tt n n on o t e er companion. Well known for its rt n e e to ro e e t on re n fl t en e e o n- oot n ro ert e Cont n e te or e to e t n e n e nt 16 20 rt n t nto n ro ote e n o n shade in moist soil. Thrives in full sun if given adequate moisture or and bone; also demulcent for lung mulched with leaf mold; tolerates most conditions. n t ro t e e r on o re M. bradburnia ra ur ’s onar a’ 2 t n on e t o t ree Also called Bradbury’s Bee Balm er that this species is the one to use blooms display whorls of pale pink petals speckled e n -to- row oro with dark purple spots. Shorter and more compact plant can be invasive; be careful than M s ulosa o e oo oo we nto where you plant it and control with t n ere n entr ne - ert e regular harvest. Choose a site that or n rown t e r 5 ME Grown. will never see a rototiller or you will e to re ret t nt 16 24 rt n we - r ne o L760 A: 1 for $7.25 n or e 3 ME Grown. B: 3 for $18.25 C: 6 for $33.00 L765 A: 1 for $5.75 B: 3 for $14.50 M. didyma anora a e s’ C: 6 for $26.00 3 4 t o oo in a diverse range of red Valeriana officinalis Valerian 2 4 t shades destined to attract scads A strong and upright plant with small o tterfl e n n r w te or ro flower n fl t ter for your cats and kids to chase o e o nn te e e oot n n - ert e tr t on e n nt - or n rown t e o ner ne n e t e r 3 ME Grown. ten e or ee e ne n et and other nervous complaints. Divide L761 A: 1 for $7.25 or r e t t root to e er 4 to 5 B: 3 for $18.25 e r nt 12 15 rt n o t we - C: 6 for $33.00 drained soil in full sun. We cannot M. fistulosa il er a ot 2 4 t ship to CT. - ert e r n t e w flower e e w t ro t or n rown t e r lavender blossoms. This is the species most 3 ME Grown. commonly used for medicinal purposes. L766 A: 1 for $7.25 - ert e or n rown t e B: 2 for $12.50 r 3 ME Grown. C: 3 for $16.75 L762 A: 1 for $7.25 ME Grown = grown in B: 3 for $18.25 r t t ttoo e o to er n er o e t C: 6 for $33.00 ne t one o o r small local nurseries. e tr en rt e fedcoseeds.com/trees 65 Gladiolus or Lil 36 t ow er oo er e e en er u er ul s tflower t o ere w t 10 or ore o en nne - e r n - nte o er won er r et to t e tflower r et flower t t oo ro otto to to e or t e r wor - e n re t e n o - one r en n e on t e ro e e o o n wor t oo or o t beckoned my mother to spend many a summer Sunday in search of the wee ro wee ter nt n e t e on ro e n e er ew e e wo n et r n w t oo or 10 te ow t ore G. lue oon i r nt e- o et e 1 r n - nte re not r to nort ern e rt o or o n t on or o r tflower and thrifty people lift and store them over the winter; the rest of us treat fantasies. them as annuals. L769 A: 10 for $7.25 Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Luci er’ B: 20 for $12.75 24 36 t ow n t e r en C: 50 for $28.00 er r o r t re flower G. Lar e lo erin la i open from bottom to top on long arching er r o o or tr e ron e te e r t o fl e t e o or tr o or n o e o - e o e Lucifer everything else under the sun— t or t row we n what fun! ot e on - t n tflower L770 A: 10 for $5.25 nt n n 3 ee 3 rt n B: 20 for $9.00 o t we - r ne o C: 50 for $20.50 L767 A: 10 for $7.00 G. ar i ras i A festive parade B: 20 for $12.25 o o o n e o r - C: 50 for $27.50 n n e - o on r nt reen o e r e reen n o are three of the traditional colors often e n e e r t on o t e r e to o e t e reen t n o Dahlia ustic unset Da lia i 36 46 t Co or n t power. This mix is bright and celebratory with a r n e ro ee r e r r n ron or n e r t re touch of subtle elegance. no or n nt e n ro e en e o L771 A: 10 for $7.25 re t t n o o ro er t ro t B: 20 for $12.75 n n re e te- e on e to t e tt n C: 50 for $28.00 garden. Native to hot parts of the Americas n r t e e o e oo ro ornamental dahlias are descended Growing Gladiolus from years of breeding and crossing D. ter t e t r n ro t nt or n n 5 ee n rt pinnata and D. juarezi o o erw nter t er nt n or on e on o oo r t nt n n e r to t er e ore t e t ro t r t e - t en n e er two wee t ro ne e e o n tore t e n we - ent te w ee t e flower o n t ro t oo 35 45 r r e n or t e t e or t nt n t e to ee r n ter n er o ro t nt 3 4 the plants from keeling over when the foliage and ee 12 24 rt et t e t er fl t flower e et to e w t e e n row e t w t 3 4 o r o re t n er t w t tr w to ret n e en o t re n will tolerate conditions from full sun prevent weeds. to light shade. This year’s stock is • Cut the stalks when 2–3 blossoms have - ert e or n ro t o ene t n re to re t e e e to us by the hardworking Tania which feed the developing corm. Cubberly and Adam Lemieux of • To overwinter the corms: dig them up ower ME Grown. ter t e to e e r t e o L768 A: 3 for $17.25 one e n t e new one ow t to r o B: 6 for $30.00 n tore t e n er n we - C: 12 for $54.00 ent te oo 35 45 r r e
On the Retirement of Gene Frey n e r r 2020 ene re ret re ter 40 e r wor er- e er o o r oo er t e n e o e on e r o o er t on o r o n er C wn re r te ene or w re o e n er owor er n e er n t e ne ene w w on ent o n t ne n n C too note e r on t t ene wo e r t to t e t re o e o ot on w e t e on one w n to don a scuba suit and wade through a few feet of chicken crap to clean out the old chicken barn t t now o e o r ee t e o t o r o ter te w t n n r n t e ee o floor or on e r t e en o reer ene w t e one n o e on constantly for all kinds of help or advice. We lovingly refer to him as Dad. ene e e e o nto t e o-o t to one ro t t e e n rt t r enter orn n r n er o ee t e e n re er o t e we re e on or o t n t n ro ow to o ter to e t on o t e to et to -nee e on e e te t e er ower o t n n ro r r n t e o o n e on o e o oo e t t t e on e e re e n o t on to t e o to t on eet n e tron e t o t o e e to wor tt n e rt nto e n tre t n all of us as his collaborators. ret re ent ene e re r te or o e one or e o n we we r we re trying to limit how many times we call you with questions. We already miss the way you rock plaid rt n t t reen nowfl e we ter o now e t oo e e er ont o t e e r r t te n e we or o r Gene was featured in e ort n re er (Jan. 17, 2017) in an article highlighting old seed catalogs, something he archived for years as our catalog art and layout manager. You can also catch a glimpse of him on our Organic Growers Supply website modeling the Dino-melon t-shirt, which he designed.
66 (207) 426-9900 When you get your order: Immediate Care TREE PLANTING AND CARE DO NOT ALLOW ROOTS TO DRY OUT AT ALL!!! The basics of tree care outlined here are meant to get you started. When your new trees and shrubs arrive, Obviously, we can’t tell you everything you need to know in a few pages. they need to be planted as soon as possible. o e e n or t on e o t on or o re eren e o rt r Don’t be deterred by snow. If you can nt n t e te e r t on o te t e n eter n n dig a shovel into the ground, plant your t e e nee o o r te e o r n rower o er trees. If you wait until spring is in full a soil testing and fertilization recommendation service. Learn more at swing, your plants might become stressed fedcoseeds.com/ogs. and have a hard time recovering. Reading, observation, trial and error, and talking with other growers and with extension agents can expand your knowledge of trees and Sometimes frozen ground makes r Con t t e oo t or re o en e re eren e oo immediate planting impossible. When this is the o n e n t o r we te e o ee o tree case, follow the instructions below and all will be well. Why do we send plants even when there is snow on the ground? e we t er e e t General Planting Directions for Trees and Shrubs we must be steady. Bare-root plants need to move out The best way to ensure your plants will thrive is to follow cultural of storage and travel to their permanent homes before or re re ent C oo e t e r t te or t e nt o en ent as they are breaking dormancy, but not much later. For our on nee e n n t e nt on t re re n ert t on system to work, we must follow a tight shipping schedule Fruit trees may need more. (See next page for fruit tree fertilization regardless of regional weather conditions. We begin re o en t on n te r n n te r en n or er To reduce transplant shock, plant on cool cloudy days in the early te one w r er one r t morning or late afternoon. Soak roots of deciduous trees and shrubs for up to 24 hours before planting, but not longer. Keep the roots from drying If you can’t plant immediately and are unable to store or heel in plants out; even a few minutes in the sun and breeze can damage a tree or shrub. as instructed below, ordering bare-root plants may not be right for you. Keep them watered and covered until the moment you set them in their planting holes!
Planting Woodies Within 48 Hours Follow these steps for planting: e e t e t wr n ro n t e root o e w ter to remoisten the packing material and store your trees and shrubs in a cool 1. Dig a large hole, at least twice as wide and about as deep as the root e e e e rn or e r o e t n n t system. Most roots grow laterally and need plenty of room to spread out. o r tree w ene t t e o e t e t 3 w e If You Cannot Plant Within 48 Hours 2. Loosen up the soil at the bottom of the hole and especially around You can keep plants for a week or two by following one of these the sides. For fruit trees, if you haven’t used our Deluxe Fall Preparation temporary measures and continuing to water as needed: Method ne t e o 3- o o r nt n e • Open your package and inspect for damage. Fold the plastic back in our Seeds & Supplies catalog or t e o ee o o or we - from around the tops. Keep the wet shredded newspaper around the roots aged compost and mineral fertilizers like rock phosphate or azomite, but n re-wr t e t ro n t e root n r to e n te not raw manure or other nitrogen sources. Incorporate into the soil, then air pockets. Water as needed to keep the roots moist, but don’t let them make a mound at the bottom of the hole over which to spread the roots. stand in water. Keep the trees in a cool shaded or dark place like a shed, 3. Examine the plant for a “dirt line” or a change in bark color barn, cellar or garage, but don’t allow the plants to freeze before you get n t n n r er e t erent ro t e r t ne ener t e n t e ro n o e t n n t you should plant trees and shrubs at the same depth they grew in the • You could also “heel in” your plants temporarily in a protected cool nursery. Set the plant in the hole and spread the roots out around the shady spot. Dig a trench or turn back an appropriate amount of earth mound. Make sure the roots are not circling in the hole. It’s better to trim n r t e root t r to re o e r o et ter t oro root t t n o t e o t e nt t t e r t e t o Plant as soon as possible. t e o ro n t r to re o e r o et 4. Water immediately. Don’t skimp on the initial watering; make sure Caring for Other Plants Until Planting Time there’s plenty to settle in all the loosened soil. Wiggle the trunk as the Asparagus water seeps in to ensure no air pockets remain around the roots. Leave a Store asparagus roots dry and uncovered in a cool shaded place. berm around each tree so water will not run off. Keep trees well watered Hops t ro o t t e r t er e re re t e e ent o 1 2 r n er Refrigerate slightly moistened rhizomes in a plastic bag until planting. wee on er ee er o n re e e t e re ent r n n re not Horseradish & Rhubarb 5. To remember which varieties you planted, paint a map of the orchard en e t to ow t e nt to re t e e o e ne on your wall, or replace the plastic Fedco plant tags with permanent vinyl e t n t e r n n e t n oo e e 35 50˚ e tags. See below left. want to stay moist but not wet. Mushroom Spawn Refrigerate in packaging until ready to use. Strawberries We ship with the roots slightly on the dry side. If it’s going to be a while until planting, mist the roots and re-cover. Refrigerate until you are ready to plant. When it’s time to plant, do it in the evening or on a cloudy day. Herbaceous Perennials Open bags and check the stock immediately. Roots and crowns o e r n e not or r tt e r e o is harmless and will not affect the plant’s future performance. Pot up crowns and roots; do not plant directly outdoors. If you cannot pot the crowns up immediately, store t e n t e r n n oo 35 40˚ location for a short time. See page 55 for full perennial planting instructions. The Perfect Tree Label Commercially available garden labels do not last. Permanent marker fades. n te r o n t e w n n o on ow we e o r own n n siding. It works so well, we should remove it from all the houses and make it all into plant labels. It’s inexpensive, or easily salvaged, and you can make dozens from a single piece of siding. Cut siding into strips using a utility knife. n tr to en t n n r ner r o e t one en tt w t w re r te on e w t en r er en w t or e e fedcoseeds.com/trees 67 Choosing a Site for Fruit Trees and Berries Initial Pruning at Planting Time The best sites for fruit crops have well-drained fertile All Trees and Shrubs soils, protection from wind, good air drainage and Prune any branches that were broken during shipping. Sometimes we n ent e o e n 6 o r o n nee to r ne entr e er n or er to t tree nto n o er e oo r flow w o er te don’t worry—a new leader will grow from the topmost bud. Prune all frosts and fungal disease. If possible, avoid dead or injured branches and roots. Further pruning of most trees is not “frost pockets.” necessary at planting time. Sunny south- or west-facing slopes are not Do not prune tops or prune or bend tap advisable for less hardy varieties. These slopes roots of nut or oak trees unless necessary. tend to warm up before the danger of frost has Find general information on pruning on e ree flower re t re n t en e 42 Con er 33 ro e 4 n damaged by frost, causing loss of fruit. South and 50 ene t ro e r n n we t o e o e w e fl t t n e r r n especially in later stages of growth. temperatures that can damage less hardy trees. Soil pH for fruit trees should be between 5.5 and 8.0, toward the lower All Fruit Trees end for apples, the higher end for peaches, and in the middle for others. o r n n r t e e e o t e re re ent ee rt ne t e young trees except to Do not plant trees where power lines will interfere with them. establish a basic shape, as it delays bearing. It’s okay to cut off extra trunks and large branches as Fall Preparation or Spring Initial Feeding for Fruit Trees needed, but keep in mind that every time you prune If you’re interested in preparing locations for your trees this fall, or potential leaf-bearing branches from a young tree, for feeding newly planted fruit trees, the following amendment recipe o et t e tree w row n r t ooner should address most sites in the eastern U.S., which tend to be acidic if you allow it to maximize photosynthesis. Once it begins to and moderate to low in calcium and phosphorus. To order any of these r t o n r ne nn w re o e er or root oot products, refer to our Seeds & Supplies catalog, or fedcoseeds.com/ogs. On peaches and plums, the trees may want to develop 2–4 leaders, Deluxe Fall Preparation Method or n o en- e e w r ne t o e oo tron t t t o t n t e o e o er n re 4 6 n eter w t faces a direction you’d like your branch to grow. On apple and pear trees, 5 lbs gypsum or Hi-Cal lime you may choose to either leave the central leader alone and let it grow or 5 o o o te ort-ter n o or cut it back according to the instructions below. Either way is acceptable; 5 o te on -ter ner n tr e ner it’s a matter of personal preference. 5 r n te e or ro e o te t re 2-3 - en ner n ro - ow er re own Apple Trees e tree w o t w ene t ro t n t r n n to For building high levels of humus, also add: e t e ter t t re r n ro r n n nt t e tree e n to 2 lbs alfalfa meal fruit. 2 lbs bone char • Year one (initial planting time): If the tree is a branch-less “whip,” 2 lbs kelp meal o t t e to to tron o t 3 4 ro t e ro n 2 lbs blood meal 1 This will encourage branching. If the new tree arrives with branches, 100 o o t /8 r r ne o t 3 4 r n e t t e e t o e or o r r t t er Co er w t 3 4 o wn o t 3 4 ro t e ro n or er o re er e owe t o clippings, leaves or brush chips, which r n er o e er w e to o e t n o e will smother the sod, conserve moisture, too low, these long branches will rest on the ground under the weight of prevent leaching and provide a habitat for soil r t n t e eer w e e o t e o e t to ow organisms to break down the recipe. In the under and mulch. spring, pull back the mulch and dig your Some folks choose not to prune at the time of planting and wait to tree hole, incorporating the mineral e t e tree n e ent e r et o ne too e ent n o o t nto t e • Year two: Trim off root suckers or other odd branches that come up If you didn’t get around to fall prep, you can apply this same mix as a from around the base. Otherwise, leave the tree alone and let it grow. mulch to your newly planted tree in the spring. • The next few years: If something looks really crowded, broken or Simpler Method dead, prune it. Otherwise, leave your tree alone and let it grow. If you or o t e o en ent n e 1 2 w ee rrow o don’t fuss over it too much, you’ll get fruit sooner! compost on each planting-hole site. If you live by the ocean, add a couple wheelbarrows of seaweed. Then cover with mulch. In the spring, pull back the mulch and plant your fruit tree, incorporating the compost into Pruning Established Fruit Trees the hole as you dig. n e o r r t tree e n to e r o o r ne nn oo pruning brings sunlight to all parts of your tree. Maximum sunlight en- Feeding Older Fruit Trees o r e ore n er- t r t n t o en o r e r t Cover the surface of the ground out to the tree’s drip line with the same to or or ne t e r ro we - r ne tree w ro e r er ter te o e or r er tree e e r n o er n re e t e r t n w ten tow r ore nn e r n oo r n n o r - ner o nt to 10 15 e or n ent tree o n e to 25 es fungal diseases and promotes greater spray penetration. There’s an old lbs of each mineral in a ring beneath the drip line. n t t r o e e to fl t ro o r r t tree For revitalizing older fruit trees, you could also consider using our Most pruning should be done in late n ent e ert er o n t e o ee o o winter or early spring. We recommend Mulch as described above. oo - t r o n e r n lightweight pruning saw. You may also Soil testing & organic fertilizer recommendation service wish to invest in long-handled loppers, Which soil amendments do you choose and how much do you apply? Don’t a pole pruner or a pole saw. Keep guess—test! Fedco can help. We’ll send you a soil test kit and sampling your pruning tools sharp for instructions, plus a postage-paid box to return your soil sample and test form smooth clean cuts. to the Maine State Soil Lab. Once your results are in, we’ll offer customized n oo oo on re o en t on or ow to orre t n e en e or n e n o r growing fruit trees will soil. Cost is $45. Learn more about this service in our Seeds & Supplies have the information catalog, or at fedcoseeds.com/ogs. you need. Consult old and new books as well as orcharding Orchard Ladders: Sturdy lightweight traditionally shaped wooden articles and develop orchard ladders have wide bottoms for stability and narrow tops for easy a system that works handling and placement. Contact the manufacturer: for you. Pruning eter w n 20 22-3654 not t n [email protected] will make a huge baldwinappleladders.com difference. 68 (207) 426-9900 Mulch Beware the Apple Borer! ee wee n e e r w ro new tree n r n n rt o entr n nort ern ew 2 4 o o o te ter e e woo or o t England the roundheaded appletree r t e r ne 1/2 1 to re n o e ene t t e borer, Saperda candida, is the may substantially reduce transplant shock. Keep mulch back several number one enemy of young apple, inches from the tree trunk. We lay down cardboard or newspaper and r e n n e tree o spread mulch on top of it. Mulch encourages earthworms, holds moisture, are growing young apple trees keeps down weeds, insulates against excess heat and cold, aerates and in these locations, you must loosens soils, builds humus and fertilizes feeder roots, 90% of which are protect your trees from this pest. w t n 6 o t e r e Farther south and north the borer may not be a pest. If you don’t know if they are a problem in your area, Staking & Crooked Trees check with any grower near you: they’ll know. Otherwise, err on the ew nte t n r - e n e - w r r t tree n orn ent e o t on o ee on ot er e er o t e ro e trees seldom need staking. If your tree is in a very windy site or develops e r wt orn n e n er e n n t t n e w r e tree o re re t n Borer beetles lay eggs under the bark near the base of the tree. The Drive a stout post near the tree. Wrap the tree trunk with a scrap of burlap developing larvae tunnel through the wood, eventually weakening or rubber to protect against abrasion. Secure the wrapped part of the tree the tree until it falls over. The trouble sign is small deposits of orange to the post with string or wire. Tie tree somewhat loosely, as a slight sawdust, called frass, at the base of the tree. Check lower trunks for rocking motion will encourage rooting. Once roots are well anchored, frass and tunneling in late May, and again in September. Left unchecked, the stake may not be needed. borers usually mean death for young trees. Mark small trees with a stake Here are our strategies for controlling borers: with ribbons to warn operators of lawn mowers, tractors, cars and Coat the trunks with Neem or Paint skidders. • With Neem Oil We have been experimenting with several methods Some tree varieties naturally or tre t n orer n nee o t e n e e t e o nee tend to grow a little crooked (like nt r n n te nee o w r e to Co er o n tree e e e n t e won t tr n ro t e o ne 12 e one t e on ro n 1 grow straight not matter how e n or e r ne t e nee r e n e o e ne e t e e much room we give them in the e not e o e en t t on t e ent t o root o 111 nursery. To mitigate this issue, you and are currently experimenting with diluted neem formulas in our local may try staking. You may also try nurseries and at the Maine Heritage Orchard. These experiments include planting the crooked tree so the spraying a 2% neem solution on clonal rootstocks as well as different roots are at a slight angle and the en o nee rro n ow er n ow ere nt e top is more upward-pointing, as if hope to have results from these trials by our next catalog! to split the difference. Most trees • With Paint ter nee o nt e t e e t eterrent t e do not grow perfectly straight. n re re no r -to- n n re ent o not nt nt tree Retraining your eye to appreciate have been in the ground for 3–5 years. Until then, be sure to continue tree n e or e e er monitoring them for signs of borer. t n t n n t re Recipe: Mix white interior latex paint with joint compound. (The stuff you smear on sheet rock joints and nail holes—you can buy a small tub at any hardware store. Some exterior paint formulations contain ingredients t t n r t e tree oe e on ten o e t t t te e to nt not o on e nt nee e w e deter borers and also make detection of infestations easier. Once you Spacing of Fruit Trees, Nut Trees & Berries o te orer o e o e to t or t t o t ee e ow oo or between between the orange frass! plants rows Cut It Out n e o e ent e o e or o t ot n t e tr n n ert e w r 15 15 a wire and dig around until you locate and kill the larva. Cut away soft e e - w r 15 15 spongy pockets with a knife. Even serious carving is less harmful to the e t n r 25 30 25 30 tree than leaving the larvae alive inside. r 1 2 4 Blasted Borers When you discover a soft spot or hole in the tree, get o r e n o o re e r or e n n o ter t t e on Blackberries 3 4 6 12 skinny tube nozzle up to the hole and give it a blast. Should do the trick. Blueberries, highbush 3 6 10 The Polyculture Deterrent Borer beetles thrive in shady moist warm Blueberries, lowbush 1 1 en ron ent ee r t e t 6 ro t e tree e r n r e 10 our “functional” orchard suggest that a mixed polyculture environment Hazel 4 6 hedge may disguise the apple trees and fool the borers. We plant woody and er eo erenn ro n t e tree ee n t e 12 or o Kiwis 10 10 Borers are lazy opportunists. If there are a lot of apple trees within t tree - or r 35 35 easy reach, they will attack. Otherwise, you may never see them. The t tree - ore t 20 20 polyculture orchard may present too much work for them. e r n e r 20 20 Raspberries 2 6 12 Stone Fruit 15 20 15 20 Strawberries see instructions, p. 26 Sweet Cherries 25 25
fedcoseeds.com/trees 69 Scab in the apple orchard e Venturia unaequalis t e o t en n e e or t e ew n n e rower Scab is a fungus, spread by spores that overwinter in fallen fruit and leaf litter, rising up in rainy spring weather to cause grief all over again. It appears as ro t e on t e r t or o e bit of scab is not a bad thing. It won’t hurt you or your tree or fruit. Some growers actually believe that a small o nt o tr er ene e - rote t on re on e n t e e Protecting Trees from Mice and Voles But a lot of scab can destroy the fruit and even kill the tree. Severity of Fruit trees and ornamentals are sometimes girdled by mice or voles infection can vary depending on the year, the site, and the variety. e t n t e r r n w t e tree or r e n er With organic or conventional fungicides as a last resort, what can you greatest in winter. Stomp around the trunks after each fresh snowfall to do to avoid or minimize scab damage in your trees? create a packed-ice barrier that will prevent mice from traveling beneath • Avoid susceptible varieties. t o ne r e re the snow. Keep the grass mowed in the fall and remove large mulch susceptible to some extent, certain varieties are especially vulnerable to piles from near the trunks. Rodents like to nest in hay more than in chip scab. In particular, McIntosh and its relatives are scab magnets. These e wr o r w re ot or t r tree r w include Cortland, Fameuse and Macoun. If you grow these apples, protect your tree from being girdled. you’ll probably struggle with scab in your orchard. If you can avoid o e reen n or t r tree r on e n e these varieties, you may be able to keep scab to a tolerable level without or r e tree re o e t e ro r to to er t e ttr t r n n e o t e r oo re e t e t o e te borers if left on the tree in the summer. tolerant as long as highly susceptible varieties are kept away. Our trials show that a mulch of wood chips surrounding young trees n 1 45 r e t er n t e n er t o no e n greatly reduces the chance of summer vole damage. Tall grasses invite collaboration to develop scab-immune varieties. Many of these have them in. The polyculture model may provide cover for the voles and can n t e r n e r r t ne r e et e re re t n er o e e o ee t e t erenn o t 12 the varieties using Malus floribunda as a parent. It contains a gene from the tree. that imparts scab immunity to the fruit. By crossing and recrossing, o e o r or r w r en t e were e to o te n n e t ene n t e n ntro t on Voles Don’t Like Narcissus! e e o ere o e o t e e r et e n n o ro t e For many years we’ve been ro r n ert ro t e o te ew or ree n ro r planting daffodils around If you like the fruit from these varieties, growing them can be a good the base of some of our strategy for avoiding scab. e tree o rt r • Thin the fruit. In late spring or early summer, we thin all our tree reason; it just looks great. fruit, remove enough fruitlets that the mature fruits won’t touch. You Co e to n o t t t o want air circulation. Insects also like those places where fruits rub against can beautify your orchard each other. and deter voles at the same • Clean up drops and fallen leaves. Scab lives in the drops (fallen time. Plant daffodils in a r t o n e t t t e ro e t e nto er ee t e circle a foot or two away from the to your livestock or compost them. Some farmers let livestock in the base. The tunneling voles don’t like the bulbs or r to e t t e ro o r e e e n t e rn o o t and will veer away. or mow them. By practicing good hygiene in the orchard, some growers We don’t have the super-destructive pine have been able to grow good McIntosh organically. voles in our orchard—whether or not the bulbs would deter them, we don’t know.
Oh Dear, Deer! The best deer protection is a dog in the yard. If you don’t have one or Top-Quality Orchard and Horticultural Supplies o r or r too r ro t e o e n ee en e w wor Available Year-round at Organic Growers Supply! Some people have good luck with electric fences. Small protective fence Co e e t o r r n rower w re o e enclosures can be made by circling your tree with a cylinder of chicken on t e e ee e o n C nton or or er on ne t wire or other fencing. fedcoseeds.com/ogs or through our paper Seeds & Supplies catalog to have these orchard essentials shipped to you. n ent e ert er re t e o r t tree • Fruition Mix for fertilizing established fruit trees • Fall Fruit Tree Prep Mix • Hole-istic Spring Planting Mix • Blueberry Booster Mix for planting and fertilizing n n r or t e r o r NEW! • True Love Mix for roses and other ornamentals! NEW! • Soil Testing & Fertilizer Recommendation Service r t n oo t e or r t e n e t e • Felco Pruners & Pruning Saws • Silky Pruning Saws Aphids and ants • Ratcheting Pruners & Loppers n o ot o e to e tree n t e e t e o n • Telescoping Fruit Picker leaves look gross. Whenever you see aphids you will see ants climbing • Deluxe Picking Bucket & Harness up and down the tree feeding them. Here’s an easy solution. Wrap a piece • Traps, Lures & Sprays for orchard pests o t er o t 6 w e ro n t e tr n o t oot or two o t e en n ett n ree r ot er re e nt ground. Tape this sleeve to itself but not to the tree. Smear Tanglefoot o t r r r t e (available in our Seeds & Supplies catalog on t e er nt w not • SOLO® Backpack Sprayer cross the barrier and, without the ants, the aphids will die. In a day or two • Wollastonite—soluble-grade calcium silicate no more aphids. ee r n • Orchard Crop Irrigation Starter Kit • Orcharding Books Caterpillars n ore Most caterpillars will not damage healthy plants and are important members of the environment. However, a few kinds, such as tent Organic Growers Supply and Fedco Seeds caterpillars, are extremely destructive to fruit trees. You’ll know when warehouses are open for curbside pickups. you see them—they hatch in large crowds and rapidly defoliate plants. Check our website or call for details. Vigilant daily observation, manual collection and disposal are necessary from mid-summer to fall. Be careful handling browntail moth caterpillars. They can cause a severe rash. 70 (207) 426-9900 Tools and books are in our Fedco Seeds & Supplies catalog, or at fedcoseeds.com/ogs
Cover art by Sue Szwed. Original catalog art by Ellen Alsop, John Bunker, Phoebe Bunker, Laura Childs, Gene Frey, Jada Fitch, Laura Grover, Jacob Harding, Melissa May, Sarah Oliver, Isabelle Jane Rogers, Emily Skrobis, Elizabeth Smedberg, Liz Stanley, Sue Szwed & Gabriel Willow and lastly the ghosts of the ancient public domain. Interested in drawing for us? Email Laura at [email protected] Index Page Chelone 56 Groundcovers 51-52 Nuts 30 Sycamore 32 Abies 33 Cherry, Cornelian 41 Groundnut 29 Oak 32 Symphyotrichum 62 Acer 32 Cherry, Nanking 46 Hamamelis 43 Oligoneuron 59 Symphytum spp. 62, 65 Achillea 55, 63 Cherry, Pie 21 Hazelnut 30 Onion, Flowering 55 Syringa spp. 50 Aconitum 55 Cherry, Sweet 20 Heather 51 Ostrya 32 Thuja 33 Actaea 63 Chestnut 30 Helenium 58 Papaver 61 Tiger Lily 59 Actinidia 28 Chinese Milk Vetch 64 Hemerocallis 58 Pasque Flower 61 Tilia 32 Agri-gel 33 Chokeberry 40 Hens & Chicks 61 Peach 21 Tools 54 Alcea spp. 55 Cider Apple 16-17 Hickory 30 Pear 18-20 T-shirts 10 Alchemilla 63 Clethra 40 Hollyhock 55 Penstemon 61 Turtlehead 56 Allium 55 Collections Honeysuckle 29 Peony 60 Ulmus 32 Althaea 64 Cider Apple 17 Honeysuckle, Bush 42 Perennial Plants 55-65 Vaccinium spp. 25, 52 Amelanchier 40 Crabapple 45 Hophornbeam 32 Perovskia 61 Valerian 65 Apios 29 Grape 28 Hops 29 Philadelphus 45 Veronicastrum 62 Apple 4-17, 44-45 Heirloom Apple 15 Horseradish 53 Phlox spp. 61 Viburnum spp. 51 Arborvitae 33 Hybrid Plum 23 Hosta 58 Physocarpus 45 Vines 27-29 Arisaema 55 Lingonberry 52 Humulus 29 Picea spp. 33 Vitis 27-28 Armoracia 53 Pear 19 Hydrangea 43 Pine 33 Walnut 30 Arnica 64 Perry Pear 19 Ilex 43 Plantanus 32 Wild Bergamot 65 Aronia spp. 40 Comfrey 62, 65 Iris 59 Plum 22-23 Wild Raisin, Northern 51 Artemisia 64 Coneflower 64 Jack-in-the-Pulpit 55 Plum, Beach 46 Willow 32, 48 Asarum 55 Conifers 33 Juglans spp. 30 Poppy, Oriental 61 Winterberry 43 Asclepias 55 Cornelian Cherry 41 Juneberry 40 Pruning 42, 68 Wintergreen 52 Asian Pear 20 Cornus spp. 41, 56 Kiwiberry 28 Prunus 20-23, 46 Witch Hazel 43 Asparagus 53 Corylus 30 Lady’s Mantle 63 Pulmonaria 61 Wormwood 64 Aster 62 Cotinus 42 Lavender 65 Pulsatilla 61 Yarrow 55, 63 Astragalus 64 Crabapple 44-45 Leucanthemum 59 Pussy Willow 48 Order Info 34 Baptisia 56 Cranberry 52 Levisticum 65 Pycanthemum 65 Order Forms 35-38 Bayberry 45 Cranesbill 57 Liatris 59 Pyrus 18-20 Beach Plum 46 Crocosmia 66 Licorice 64 Quercus 32 Bee Balm 65 Culver’s Root 62 Lilac 50 Quince 42 Belamcanda 56 Cydonia 42 Lily 59 Raspberry 24 Berries 24-26 Dahlia 66 Linden 32 Redbud 40 Betula spp. 32 Daylily 58 Lindera 43 Redosier 41 Birch 32 Delphinium 56 Lingonberry 52 Rheum 53 Blackberry 24 Dicentra 56 Lobelia 59 Rhubarb 53 Blackberry Lily 56 Diervilla 42 Lonicera 29 Rootstock 5, 38-39 Black Cohosh 63 Digitalis 56 Lovage 65 Rose 46-47 Black Haw 51 Dogwood 41 Lungwort 61 Rubus 24 Black Raspberry 24 Echinacea 64 Malus 4-17, 44-45 Sage, Russian 61 Black Walnut 30 Elderberry 48-49 Maple 32 Salix spp. 32, 48 Blazing Star 59 Elm 32 Marshmallow 64 Sambucus spp. 48-49 Bleeding Heart 56 Eupatorium 64 Medicinal Plants 63-65 Scionwood 38-39 Blueberry 25 Evergreens 33 Medlar 45 Sempervivum 61 Blue Flag 59 False Indigo, Blue 56 Mentha 65 Senna 62 Boneset 64 Ferns 57 Mespilus 45 Serviceberry 40 Books 14 Filbert 30 Milkweed 55 Shadbush 40 Bulbs 66 Fir 33 Mint, Chocolate 65 Shade Trees 32 Bunchberry 56 Forsythia 42 Mint, Mountain 65 Shasta Daisy 59 Butternut 30 Foxglove 56 Mockorange 45 Smoketree 42 Calluna 51 Fragaria 26 Monarda spp. 65 Sneezeweed 58 USDA Average Calycanthus 40 Garden Roots 53 Monkshood 55 Spicebush 43 Hardiness Minimum Cane Fruits 24 Gaultheria 52 Morus 45 Spruce 33 Zone Temperature Carolina Allspice 40 Geranium spp. 57 Mulberry 45 Stewardship Apple 14 Carya 30 Ginger, Canadian Wild 55 Mushrooms 54 Stone Fruit 20-23 2 -50˚ to -40˚ Castanea 30 Gladiolus 66 Myrica 45 Strawberry 26 3 -40˚ to -30˚ Catmint 59 Glycyrrhiza 64 Nannyberry 51 Sugar Maple 32 4 -30˚ to -20˚ Cedar 33 Goldenrod, Stiff 59 Nepeta 59 Summersweet 40 5 -20˚ to -10˚ Cercis 40 Grape 27-28 Ninebark 45 Sword Lily 66 6 -10˚ to 0˚
fedcoseeds.com/trees 71 Fedco Trees Presorted Standard PO Box 520 U.S. Postage Paid Clinton, ME 04927-0520 Bridgeport, CT Permit #140 change service requested
Trees, Shrubs & Perennials for Spring Planting
Discount Deadline: January 15, 2021 Scion Order Deadline: February 19, 2021 Final Order Deadline: March 5, 2021 Ordering instructions, page 34.
Become a Consumer-Member of our Co-op! Join the more than 1,200 consumer-members who support our cooperative by contributing $100 membership equity. Learn about membership at fedcoseeds.com/members.htm, or call us.
Be sure to subscribe to all three Fedco catalogs at fedcoseeds.com/connect • Bulbs comes out in June for fall shipping. • Trees, in September for spring shipping. • Seeds & Supplies, in November for year-round ordering.
2021 Tree Sale? It ain’t happenin’. Alas, due to the pandemic, we will not host our annual spring Tree Sale at our warehouse. Check our website mid-April for updates on any surplus stock! fedcoseeds.com/trees