2015 Plantcat Final Tami

2015 AVERY COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION CENTER PLANT SALE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages: The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the Information...... 1-2

Apples...... 3-10

Pears...... 11

Blueberries...... 12

Strawberries...... 13

Raspberries and Blackberries...... 14

Grapes...... 15

Asparagus and Rhubarb...... 16

Back for 2015……………………………………………..16

Plant Sale

General Information

Welcome to the 2015 annual Avery County Cooperative Extension Center Plant Sale. We look forward to providing the community with plants, which keeps Avery County the traditional rural Mountain County it has always been. In keeping with that mission, we focus on Southern Heirloom Apples, Blueberries, and Brambles. These are the traditional fruits of Avery County and our ancestors. The plants naturally do well in our climate and require a minimum of pesticide input. We are confident they will do well for you. Please utilize the Cooperative Extension handouts to make the most of your plants. These plants should give you many years of traditional fruit for your family. All varieties marked with an * are new to the 2015 catalog.

Please feel free to contact the Avery County Cooperative Extension Center at 828-733-8270, if you have questions regarding the Plant Sale information contained here. Payment is expected at the time of ordering. (We do not accept credit cards.)

The staff expects to distribute the plant orders on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24, 2015 at the Avery County Cooperative Extension Center (in the basement area). You will be contacted by phone to confirm the pick-up date and time.

Plant orders must be received by Wednesday, April 8, 2015. We would like to be able to guarantee that supplies of these varieties will hold out, but we cannot. So, the earlier you place your order the better.

The Avery County Cooperative Extension Center assumes no liability in the products being sold.

We are not able to guarantee the plants once the buyer receives them or be held responsible for the health of plants beyond the distribution dates listed above. We make every effort to deliver high quality plants, and provide the best information on how to properly care for the plants. We have no control over disease, insects or insect damage, home care, planting, or other duties required for the life of the plants. It is for this reason we do not offer any guarantee or refunds for plants after the designated distribution dates. Please inspect all plants prior to leaving. We apologize for the inconvenience and if you have any questions please contact us.

Avery’s Heirloom Apples

We have had a great interest in Heirloom Apples in our area. Lee Calhoun, author of “Our Southern Apples” and David Vernon, owner of “Century Farms”, has helped us to learn much about the history of Heirloom Apples, in the early days of life in our mountain counties. With their help, we are able to provide young trees identical to the historic apples of your ancestors in Avery County.

Also, only through the help of many local folks, we are finding a great number of historic heirloom apple varieties that have been in Avery County since the early 1800’s. We are very happy to have added to the number of varieties offered through our sale this year.

All varieties marked with a ‡ are limited to no more than two per household.

All apple trees in the sale will be semi-dwarf, will reach 10 to 15 feet in height, and need to be planted 15-20 feet apart. The apple trees will be approximately 4-5 feet tall. They are all grafted on MM111 Rootstock.

MM111 qualities include: -Quite disease resistant (not immune) -Can withstand wet spells (but can still be drowned) -Can withstand moderate drought conditions -Produces a tree about 15 feet tall (manageable for most purposes) -Will usually produce fruit in 5-6 years (3-4 years sooner than standard rootstock)

We recognize that many people making purchases through this plant sale are home- gardeners/backyard orchardist and are looking for “low input” fruit trees. In order to better facilitate this we have, from practical experience, identified several apple varieties that tend to produce good quality fruit with little to no chemical pest control necessary. You will find these varieties marked with a † throughout the apple section.

For the more serious grower we do offer a quantity discount, orders of 10-19 apple trees will receive a $2.00/tree discount, while orders of 20 or more apple tree will receive a $3.00/tree discount.

We have added “Doug’s Apple Quick Reference Guide” for your use, to quickly compare varieties. This is an addition to our catalog for those customers that may have trouble finding substitutes, in the event that we are sold out of a particular variety, or are interested in particular uses for the apple trees in our sale. Please note that this information is based on personal testimonies and should be considered opinion only.

3 Doug’s 2015 Apple Quick Reference Guide

Fresh Sauce/Butter Baking Cider Stores Ripens Easy Eating Well to Grow Early or Yellow ** **** * * * July *** Transparent

Early Harvest ** *** * * * July / *** August

Striped June or Bevin’s *** ? ? * ** July / *** Favorite August

Carolina Red June *** ** ? * ** July / *** August

Williams’ Favorite or **** ** ** ** ** August **** Raspberry June

Golden Sweet *** ? ? ** * August ***

Summer Rambo *** **** ? ** ** August / **** Sept.

Big Rambo *** *** ? *** ? September ?

Maiden’s Blush ** **** ? *** ? September ***

Mother Bud **** *** ? *** ? September ?

Mountain Boomer *** ** ? ** * September *

Fall Premium ** ** **** ** ** September ****

Ray Apple *** ** *** **** ** September ****

Red Sheepnose *** * ? ? ** Sept. / *** Oct.

Wolf River * **** * * * Sept. / ** Oct.

Mr. Gurney’s Delicious *** ** ** *** *** Sept. / **** Oct.

Avery Rusty Coat ** * ? **** ** Sept. / ** Oct.

Virginia Beauty **** * * * *** October ***

Summer Banana **** *** * *** *** October **

Virginia Winesap *** ** *** *** *** October ***

Ben Davis * * *** ? **** October ****

Doug’s 2015 Apple Quick Reference Guide

Fresh Sauce/Butter Baking Cider Stores Ripens Easy Eating Well to Grow Black Ben Davis * ? ? ** **** October ?

Fallawater **** ? ? * ** October ***

Flat Fallawater **** ? ? ** *** October ****

Swiss Limbertwig *** ? ? *** *** October ?

Old Fashioned *** *** * ** *** October *** Striped Rome

Jimbo or Notley P ** *** * *** ** October ***

Mammoth Blacktwig **** * **** *** *** October ***

Newtown Pippin **** *** ? *** *** October ***

Northern Spy *** *** * **** *** October ***

Dula’s Beauty ** * *** ? **** October ***

Gragg ** * *** **? **** October ****

Keener Seedling *** * *** *** **** October *** (Rusty Coat)

This information was gathered from many sources, and should be considered as opinions. • * Poor ** Fair *** Good **** Excellent • ? Indicates “Unsure”

† Early Apples

Time & Place Size, Color, Taste Name(s) of Origin and Texture Qualities Ripens Unique full flavored early Carolina Red June Small to medium, dark (Blush June, Georgia Tennessee, apple, red skin, oblong or June to July June, Knight’s Red 1800’s occasional conical, fine grained June) second crop in fall

Yellow Medium, transparent Cedar apple Transparent Russia, Imported yellow skin, tender, fine rust and scab June to July (Early in 1870 by USDA grained, juicy resistant Transparent)

Very similar to Long Island, NY Medium, pale yellow skin, Early Harvest Yellow June to July 1700’s tender, crisp, juicy, tangy Transparent

Greenish Striped June Medium, slightly conical, yellow skin (Bevan’s Favorite, Salem, New crisp, firm, moderately with broad June to July Bivin’s and Early Jersey, 1842 juicy and mildly sweet rainbow like Bevan) red striping Extra Golden Sweet ordinarily (Golden Sweeting, Medium to large, thin sweet, like Early Golden Connecticut yellow skin, firm, juicy, July to August eating a Sweet, and and aromatic tablespoon of Summer Sweet) honey

‡*Williams’ Conical, medium to large, Firm, white, Massachusetts, Favorite bright red, absolutely juicy, mildly July 1750 (Raspberry June) beautiful early apple sub acidic flesh

Apple Butter/Jelly Apples

Wisconsin, Very large, irregular Prized for around 1856, shape, greenish yellow outstanding Wolf River September along the banks with splashes and stripes applesauce and of the Wolf River of red apple butter Old Beech Mtn. Good keeper, Jimbos / Notley P Found in the Large, round, green that outstanding September and No. 1 Moore orchard off turns yellow when ripe applesauce and October Dark Ridge Rd, apple butter over 100 years old

Sweet Eating, Dessert, and

All Purpose Apples

Red Sheepnose Very oblong, (Old Time Very old variety Medium to large, dark tapering to a Sheepnose, Crow known to exist in dull red, greenish white narrow point September and Egg, Black Annie, Connecticut in flesh, firm, moderately at the blossom October Black or Red the early 1700's juicy, banana aroma end, has highly Gilliflower desirable taste Very good Oldest American Medium to large, dull keeper, good Roxbury Russet variety, mid yellowish-green w/ rough September to for cider, (Rusty Coat) 1600’s, Roxbury, brown coat, greenish, October pleasant brisk Mass. course, juicy, flesh flavor O.K. keeper. If Popular apple, Irregular flat oblate anyone found in the shape, multi-colored, remembers Fall Premium Hughes area, September to primarily light red with this apple by (Bramley Seedling currently no October light streaks, complex another name further history is flavor please share it known with us!

Medium to large apple, orange with overlaying Complex flavor Massachusetts August to Ray Apple red blush and stripes, of tart, acidic, before 1849 September flesh is firm, crisp, and and sweet juicy

Medium to large, clear, smooth, glossy yellow † Mr. Gurney’s Peru, Iowa before More flavorful skin covered with red Delicious 1870, original than the Red September shading and striping, w/ (Hawkeye) Delicious variety Delicious fine grained crisp, and juicy flesh

Medium to large, Late ripening, ??? Late 1800’s, roundish to oblong, Black Ben Davis excellent Was widely sold smooth skin, mostly dark (Gano, Red Ben keeper, gets Late October in the early crimson. Flesh is white, Davis, Jake’s Red) better with 1900’s firm and moderately storage juicy

Medium, roundish to Excellent oblong, tough, waxy skin, Ben Davis Kentucky, early keeper, known bright, smooth, mostly (New York Pippin, 1800’s, from the for its ability to mottled with bright red October KY Red Streak, & farm of Captain ship with little and darker red stripes, Many More) Ben Davis bruising, good flesh is white, firm, baking apple course and very crisp

Sweet Eating, Dessert, and

All Purpose Apples

Above medium to large, Summer Rambo 1600s’ France, roundish oblate to oblate, (Summer America from ribbed with unequal Gourmet table fruit, Rambour, colonial times, sides, skin is mottled vigorous producer, August Rambour Franc, 100+ year old with pinkish red and dependable annual Rambour E’ete) trees here in striped. Greenish yellow bearer Avery County flesh, tender, somewhat coarse and very juicy

Imported from Medium to large, round Sweden into to oblate. Skin is thin, Flesh is light green, Late ‡*Big Rambo Delaware by Peter mottled with red and juicy, tart acidic September Rambo in the striped in carmine, often 1640’s mostly red

Marion County, South Carolina Medium, slightly conical, Slight banana prior to 1900 Late deep yellow skin with flavor and aroma, a Summer Banana when trademarked September faint red blush and very sweet and by J. Van Lindley and October stripes quick bearing apple Nursery in Greensboro

Newtown, New Newtown Pippin Large apple, yellow in Complex sweet York, late 1600s, (Southern Golden color with hints of pink at flavor, excellent popularized by Ripens in Pippin, Albemarle the stem end, yellowish fresh eating apple, Thomas Jefferson October Pippin, New York flesh is firm, crisp, and and a in Virginia in the Pippin) very aromatic good storage apple early 1800s

Medium to large, smooth Sharp tangy flavor, Burlington, New pale yellow skin with good for cooking, July to Maiden’s Blush Jersey, 1817 crimson blush, fine crisp when dried flesh September white flesh, juicy and tart remains white

Mountain VA. State Hort. Large to very large, Boomer Society gives first roundish, pale yellow or Mild honey, sweet August to description in greenish yellow skin, flavor September 1900 juicy and firm flesh

Old Fashioned Not to be confused Large, round to oblate, Striped Rome with the Red Rome, thick skin, almost Beauty Rome Township, it is the sweeter of covered with bright red October OH, before 1846 the two. Good (Roman Beauty, stripes. Juicy, firm, and keeper and Rome Beauty, crisp yellowish flesh Rome) dependable bearer

Sweet Eating, Dessert, and

All Purpose Apples

Mother Bud Massachusetts, Deep stripped solid red, Very sweet dessert August to (American 1844 medium size, conical oblong apple, multi-use September Mother)

† Fallawater Large to very large, round to (Mountain Very mild flavor, Bucks County, PA oblate, tough skin that is dull, Pipper, greenish-white flesh, October prior to 1842 dirty green with dull red or Fallenwalder, tender, juicy, sub acid bronze shades Winter Blush) Large, roundish, sometimes Excellent keeper, 1800 East oblong, thick skin, greenish excellent for cooking, Bloomfield, New or yellow with light and dark Northern Spy blooms about two October York by Herman red stripes, fine grained, weeks later than most Chapin tender, juicy, crisp, aromatic, apples and spicy sub acid Medium size, square compact Very unusual and Grown by Swiss apple. Skin is somewhat ‡*Swiss pleasant flavor, with settlers in the russet/rough to touch, October Limbertwig tones of grapefruit, Cumberland Mtns. mottled greenish maroon cider potential is high with bronze blushes

Lenoir, NC from Large, oblate and slightly Good dessert quality Late Limbertwig seeds conical, skin covered w/ dark ‡*Dula’s apple, excellent October planted on the farm red and obscure darker Beauty keeping qualities, and and early of Mr. J.A. Dula, stripes, tender, crisp, juicy prolific bearer November late 1800’s flesh

Our Best Keeping Apples

Medium to large, yellow with † Flat Favorite Avery Very sweet, great splashes of red and bronze, October Fallawater County apple keeper oblate shape

Medium size, dark red skin, Fine keeping abilities, Virginia Troutville, VA 1922 crisp, firm, very juicy flesh, early bloomer, October Winesap and wonderful flavor dependable bearer

Our Best

Keeping Apples

Actually quite sweet, and sweeter still Mammoth Unknown origin, Large, conical shape, when stored a couple Blacktwig known to be a yellowish skin covered with of months, fine (Blacktwig, October seedling from a dark red dots and dark red keeping abilities and Paragon, and Winesap stripes, firm and juicy flesh known as an Arkansas) incredibly good pie apple

Medium, conical shape, 1860, Caldwell greenish-yellow skin w/ dark Excellent keeper, † Gragg County, NC, by and bright red stripes, October good cooking apple James Gragg greenish flesh is tough and juicy

Zach Safewright, of Medium to large, lopsided, Very good keeper, the Piper’s Gap Virginia smooth, dark red or purplish original tree was Community of October Beauty skin, fine grained, tender and planted in 1810, Carroll County, VA juicy stood until 1914 in 1810

Medium, greenish with Keener Lincoln County, NC brown coating with slight red Sweet, very good October to Seedling around 1880 blushing, course, firm and keeper, very late November juicy flesh

Heirloom Pears

In the Fall of 2006, we searched Avery County for Historical Apples. In the process, we ran upon some old fashioned pears. We were able to secure a variety called Seckel pear, or locally known as the Honey pear. Thomas Jefferson wrote of this pear extensively in his writings, saying, “The Seckel pear, which originated near Philadelphia, is the finest pear I’ve tasted since I left France & equaled the best pear there”.

The pear tree available is grafted onto semi-dwarf rootstock, “OHxF97”. These trees should reach 10 to 15 feet in height at maturity and need to be planted 15 feet apart. This year, the pear tree is a one year old from graft and will be approximately 4-6 feet tall. ‡ Very limited quantities, limited to two pear trees per household.

Traits or Size, Color, Taste Name(s) Origin and Texture Qualities Ripens

Small, reddish- Fully ripens Vigorous, productive, brown skinned, very on tree ‡ Seckel (Honey reliable, good for sweet, juicy, without September Pear) canning and in aromatic, crisp flesh becoming soft desserts that has a very and not a distinctive flavor good keeper

Blueberries

Blueberries, of course, do very well in our area. Our acidic soils are their natural home. However, care should be taken to soil sample if bushes are to be planted in a yard or garden, where pH may have been raised significantly. Blueberries are not very good self-pollinators. They will produce much better if two or more varieties are planted together.

Plants should be spaced at least 6 feet apart, and fertilized only lightly the first 2-3 years. Plants will take 3-5 years to begin producing large yields. All varieties offered here will reach 4-6 feet at maturity. More details are available in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service publications.

Size, Color, Taste Name(s) Traits and Texture Qualities Ripens Consistent yields of 4-5 feet, compact 12lbs per plant, small Uniform ripening in Blue and low growing, picking scar, attractive large clusters, good Late July Gold very cold hardy color, excellent fruit flavor and firm fruit quality

5-6 feet, upright Extra large @ 100 Uniform ripening, habit, excellent U- berries per pound, very sweet, holds Late July – Bonus Pick or fresh market bright blue, very good color long after Early August berry flavor harvest Uniform ripening, very good for the Consistent yields of 10- Late August- 5-7 feet, upright and fresh market, also Elliott 20lbs per plant, medium Early slightly spreading good ornamental size @75 berries/cup September quality with orange- red fall color 5-6 feet, vigorous Excellent fruit quality, A heavy producer, and upright, “strong good color, firm, very very tolerant to Late July- Toro and stocky sweet, large fruit @ 60 fluctuating winter Early August structure” berries/cup temps

Strawberries

Strawberry plants are best grown in a matted row type planting. This requires planting them approximately 18-24 inches apart; in rows at least three feet apart. In our area, full fruit production is completed the second year. After the third year, it is recommended that the strawberry patch be re-planted. Strawberry plants are self- pollinating and therefore do not require multiple varieties.

Successful strawberry production requires close attention to planting, weeding, fertilization and winter mulching. Recommendations are all available in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service publications.

Size, Color, Taste Name(s) Traits and Texture Qualities Ripens

A wonderful flavor is Uniform color, tough Good resistance to this variety’s glossy skin, firm flesh, red stele root rot trademark, best early Earliglow medium size; size tends and intermediate June season variety around, to decrease as the season resistance to and excellent for fresh progresses Verticillium wilt eating and freezing

The largest strawberry Huge berry, great flavor Vigorous, hardy, Allstar available today with makes an outstanding June-July and easy to grow old time flavor combination

Long fruit bearing runners, Should be A great ever-bearing Medium size and an make it good for dependable Tristar berry, often bears fruit established reputation for hanging baskets, fruit bearer the year it is planted sweetness and highly all season disease resistant

Raspberries and Blackberries

Raspberries and Blackberries should both be planted in rows approximately 4 feet apart. The spacing between plants and need for trellising, depends upon the variety chosen. These berries are self-pollinating and therefore do not require multiple varieties.

Due to many natural occurring brambles in our area, disease problems are common in domestic plantings, but can be controlled effectively. Details regarding planting and managing raspberries and blackberries are available in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service publications.

Size, Color, Taste Name(s) Type and Texture Qualities Ripens Medium to large berry, attractive Upright, medium sized Summer bearing Killarney bright red color, good and sturdy canes are very June-July Red Raspberry raspberry aroma and winter hardy flavor Medium to large berry, long and firm, Hardy, vigorous and Summer bearing light-colored, Taylor productive. Berries are Mid July Red Raspberry considered best good for freezing flavored red raspberry by many

Fall bearing Red Very firm, very large, Moderately vigorous and August, Autumn Raspberry (Ever coherent berry the is winter hardy, plant @ before Britten bearing) very flavorful 16 -20 inch in-row spacing Heritage

Fall bearing Red Berries have good Recommended for August- Heritage Raspberry (Ever size, color, and flavor, beginners, highly October bearing) excellent for all uses productive fall crop

Late summer through Excellent pale yellow Yellow early fall, golden August- Anne color, large size and Raspberry raspberry with good September very sweet flavor winter hardiness

Excellent for jams and Glossy black, large jellies, very popular Jewel Black Raspberry size, with a rich variety with excellent July raspberry flavor yields of berries on winter hardy canes

Large and very Semi-erect thornless Triple Thornless flavorful, excellent canes that are very winter July-August Crown Blackberry quality fruit hardy

Grapes

Grapes do very well in our area and are a traditional favorite. Grapes are considered somewhat self-fruiting, but will do much better when planted in pairs of different varieties.

Grapes do take some work with trellising, regular fertilizing, and annual pruning. Each grape vine will produce a vine approximately 40 feet long, and will need to be set in rows at least 6 feet apart. Our grapes vines are two year old vines, Graded #1, with at least 8 inch top growth and a substantial root system. Details on grape production are available in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service publications.

Name(s) Traits Common Uses Qualities Ripens Late September, Still sets the Seeded grape, very Developed over 150 becoming Concord standard for jelly hardy, high vigor, and years ago sweeter with and juice making disease resistance October frosts

Multi-purpose Seeded grape, with Often called the White grape, good for outstanding hardiness, Late Niagara Concord fresh eating, jelly, vigor and disease September and juice resistance

Seedless grape, with Large clusters of Winter hardy table excellent sweet flavor Reliance round, red, September grape but doesn’t always medium sized fruit color well

Very similar to Multi-purpose Seeded grape, very (if not the same as) grape, good for hardy, high vigor, and *Captivator September our local pink sugar fresh eating, jelly, shows signs of disease grape and juice resistance

Asparagus and Rhubarb

Asparagus does well in our area. They need to be planted in beds of at least 25 plants. The asparagus come as one year old, large graded crowns. Asparagus need to be spaced in shallow trenches, approximately every 18 inches, in rows 3-4 feet apart. It requires 2-3 years to begin producing fully.

Rhubarb is a traditional favorite in our area and easy to grow. It needs to be planted in well-prepared ground, approximately 3 feet apart, with the top of the root division level with the soil surface. Do not plant too deep! With liberal fertilizing the plants will become established, and will begin to produce well in 2-3 years.

Name(s) Traits Most popular variety Resistant to Jersey Knight Large, succulent Tolerant to from the New Jersey rust, crown rot Asparagus spears heavy soils Breeding Program and fusarium Large, tender Resistance to ‡MacDonald Excellent production Vigorous, stalks, with root rot Rhubarb characteristics upright growing acceptable red problems color

Back By Popular Demand in 2015!!

Name Traits Allegheny or native Chink-A-Pin; Castanea pumila; RG - ++, WT - +++. Allegheny Chink-A-Pins are native to the south eastern USA. They are a shrub or small tree Chink-A-Pin reaching a mature height of about 25ft. They produce large quantities of tiny

nuts in cluster of burs. They are great for wildlife or landscape use. The Chink-A- Pin’s are a 2-year-old plant; 10-18” in height and are well rooted.