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Home Orchard Packages

One of the most common questions we get at Raintree Nursery from new home owners and beginner gardeners is "what trees should I plant together?" and it's a good one! Before a tree can start producing fruit, pollination requirements have to met and it's not always an easy answer!

For this reason and more Raintree Nursery is offering Home Orchard Packages - select bundles of trees designed by our in-house horticulturists for the optimal balance of pollination, ripening times, and performance. We offer a variety of Home Orchard Packages for a variety of needs including apples, pears, cherries, plums, berries and even miniature varieties for growers with limited space!

Not only at Home Orchard Packages convenient and easy to install in your home landscape, they also have the benefit of being affordable. For a limited time Home Orchard Packages are on sale so you can finally plant out that orchard you've been talking about without breaking your budget. Take a look and browse our selection, but make your choices early before they sell out!

Happy planting!

Choosing the Best Blueberries

Choosing the right blueberry bushes for your area is an important step in making sure your garden will be successful and productive. While blueberries can be grown all over the United States may people don't realize that there are different kind of blueberry plants that are better suited for different regions.

Northern Highbush Blueberrym (Vaccinium corymbosum)

The northern highbush blueberry is by far the most commonly planted variety of blueberry in the United States. Prized commercially for their appearance, size, and flavor, the cultivars in this group are commonly sold for fresh eating. Northern highbush blueberries can survive freezing conditions as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit, but most cultivars require 700-800 chill hours per year making them most reliable in moderate northern regions.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Earliblue
• Jersey
• Elliot
• Hardiblue
• Olympia
• Bluegold

Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

The lowbush blueberry is a variety native to the northern United States and Canada. Grown commercially in Quebec and the northeast for for their pulp and juice the cultivars in this group are commonly used as an ingredient in other products. Native tribes would mash the berries into what they called "moosemeat" and use it to make pemmican. Lowbush blueberries can survive freezing conditions as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, but most cultivars require 600-800 chill hours per year making them most reliable in northern regions.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Chippewa
  
• Northblue
• Tophat
• Brunswick
• Perpetua
  
• Burgandy

Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum)

The rabbiteye blueberry is native to the southeastern regions of the United States. Unlike northern highbush and lowbush blueberries, rabbiteye blueberries are much more susceptible to cold damage and typically require the hottest and longer growing seasons offered by the southeastern United States. The fruit of rabbiteye blueberries tend to be a darker blue, with thicker skin and in some cases a granier texture than northern highbush. Rabbiteye blueberries can survive freezing conditions as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit and most cultivars require as few as 600 chill hours per year making them most reliable in the southeastern regions.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Woodward
• Tifblue
• Garden Blue
  
• Delight
• Climax
  
• Brightwell

Choosing the Best Strawberries

Choosing the right strawberry plants for your area is an important step in making sure your garden will be successful and productive. While strawberries can be grown all over the United States may people don't realize that there are different kind of strawberry plants that are better suited for different gardening goals.

June Bearing Strawberry (Frageria x ananassa)

The June bearing strawberry variety is by far the most commonly planted variety of strawberry in the United States. Prized commercially for their size, productivity and flavor, the cultivars in this group are commonly sold for everything from jam making to fresh eating. June bearing strawberries tend to produce more stolons than day neutral strawberries, making them easier to propagate in large numbers. Due to the fact that June bearing strawberries tend to produce their entire crop at once these cultivars are best if you're planning on jam making or preserving the fruit.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Jewel
• Earliglow
• Benton
  
• Shuksan
• Puget Crimson
  

Day Neutral Strawberry (Frageria x ananassa)

The day neutral, or "ever bearing" strawberry is the most popular variety with gardeners and home growers. The difference between day neutral and June bearing strawberries isn't how many berries they produce, but when. Day neutral cultivars bloom three times a year, as opposed to one, extending the strawberry season and making harvest easier to manage for many home growers. Day neutral curtivars produce fewer stolons as well, which some gardeners prefer if they aren't propagating new plants. Due to their smaller, but multiple, yields, day neutral strawberries are best for the hobby gardener that plans to eat all of their berries fresh.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Albion
  
• Eversweet
• Seascape
• Mara Des Bois
  

Alpine Strawberry (Frageria vesca)

The alpine strawberry is a variety bred out of the wild, or woodland, strawberry native to the forests and hillside of Europe. Unlike the more common commercial strawberries that are ubiquitous in markets around the world, alpine strawberries tend to be much smaller. Don't let their size fool you though, alpine strawberries are widely considered to have a superior flavor and an aroma to their larger cousin and have gained popularity with home gardeners as a perennial berry and ground cover. Some cultivars of alpine strawberry, such as the white or yellow alpine, even ripen partial to full shade!

Suggested cultivars include:

• Mingonette
• White Alpine
  
• Yellow Alpine
  
• Rugen

Musk Strawberry (Frageria moschata)

Musk strawberries are native to the forests of central Europe. Popularized briefly by Jane Austin, musk strawberries have receded into relative obscurity, which is a pity. The musk strawberry has mottled brownish red or rose-violet skin and tender white flesh, typically larger than alpine strawberries, but smaller than common varieties. Its hallmark is its peculiar floral, spicy aroma, with hints of honey, musk and wine, so strong even a small bowl of berries can suffuse a whole room. Unlike other strawberries, musk cultivars are not self-fertile and require a pollinator.

Suggested cultivars include:

• Capron
• Profumata
  
• Male Musk
  
• Russian Male Musk
  

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Grower Success Stories!

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The Family Garden Plan

by

Melissa K. Norris

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Cider Apple Orchard Packages

Virtually unknown today in modern day America, cider apples were once the most common and most valuable tree grown on the North American continent. Cider apples were ubiquitous everywhere people settled and were often the first trees planted by settlers up and down the eastern seaboard. Prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were known to have maintained hugely productive cider apple orchards on their personal estates!

For this reason for this is that apple cider, both fresh and fermented, was more valuable than cash to the early American colonies. As a ready source of alcohol, clean drinking water, and disease fighting vitamin C, apple cider was enjoyed year round, but was critical for a community in the winter months between the fall harvest and earliest spring crops. Apple cider was so valuable in fact it could be, and was, used to pay worker wages, taxes, and even tithe to the local church!

During the early 1900's the prohibition movement all but wiped out the American cider industry causing most of the established cider orchards to be cut down and replaced, losing many of the regional cultivars of cider apples in the process. Today, due to the diligence and hard work of fruit historians and universities, some of the most popular cider apples have been re-discovered and re-established for new generations of cider makers!

Through our Home Orchard Packages, Raintree Nursery is offering you the chance to join in the American tradition of cider making with our Cider Apple Package. Save 20% off on five classic American cider apples and relive the history of one of our greatest and most enduring traditions!

Happy planting!

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Pears of the Pacific Northwest

Pears have a long and rich history dating back to before ancient Greece. Long considered a "gift from the gods" pear trees are steeped in millennia of folk lore and symbology. In modern times pears are common place fruits enjoyed by millions world wide, bred and developed in every part of the world, including right here in the Pacific Northwest!

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Choosing Which Plants Will Work for You

, let''s be honest -- starting your first garden or orchard is fun, but it can be a little mind boggling. You''re sitting there browsing the Raintree Nursery website and you''re overwhelmed at the myriad choices available to you. Berries? Trees? Bushes? Where do you start? Don''t worry, we''re here to help. This short guide will help you determine the most important factors you need to know when choosing how to start your dream project.

USDA Zone

The first, and easiest to find, piece of information you''re going to need is what zone you live in. The USDA Zone is an area designation that reflects the average minimum lowest temperature your property will experience through the winter months. This data is critical in making sure the varieties you choose are able to survive the coldest parts of the year.

Fortunately the USDA provides a handy Zone Map for the whole of the United States. Just plug in your zip code and away we go!

Chill Hours

Now that you know what USDA Zone you''re in you know how cold it could get, and that''s important for more than plant hardiness -- it''s also important for chill hours. What are chill hours? Simply put chill hours are the number of hours the temperature remains approximately 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Without sufficient chill hours many plants cannot regulate the hormones necessary to properly flower, and sometimes even grow, the following spring. Depending on your area you will be aiming to select plants with compatible chill hour requirements.

Sunlight

So you''ve gotten the cold stuff out of the way, now comes the hot stuff! By sunlight access. If you want to grow fruit, you''re going need the trees to make flowers right? Most fruiting plants need a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight (during late July through early August) to start making next springtime''s flower buds.

Plants also need sunlight and heat to make the sugars and oils that flavor berries and fruits. Depending on your location some will prefer full sun, while others will need partial shade to bring out their best flavors without overheating and damaging the fruit.

Full sun is defined as 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, preferably midday or afternoon. Partial shade comes in around 3-6 hours of sunlight, while full shade is of course little to no direct sunlight.

Apples and pears, as an example, thrive in full sun, while currants and huckleberries may prefer partial shade to prevent sun scald if you live in an area where the summers are hot and dry.

Summer Temperatures and Growing Season

Most fruiting plants love the sun, they just can''t get enough of it! Literally! For that reason it''s important to know how hot it gets and what your overall growing season looks like. Unlike the USDA Zone information though, growing season information is harder to get your hands on. Never fear though, as your area is sure to have a number of resources at hand including local gardeners, farmers, co-operative extension offices, and fruit clubs that will be happy to help. Once you know what your general growing season looks like, it becomes possible to choose plants based on their ripening times and conditions. For areas with shorter growing seasons, fruits that ripen early are fantastic choices, while areas with later growing seasons can take advantage of late ripening options.

Soil Type and pH Levels

The last critical piece of information you, as a new grower, need to be successful is what kind of soil you are going to be planting into. Soil types range from sandy loam to heavy clay, with varying pH and nutrient levels. Investigating your soil can be as easy as sticking a shovel in the ground, or as complex as taking a soil sample and having it analyzed. The more you know, the better chances you will have in choosing compatible cultivars for your specific piece of paradise. There are plants, and planting techniques, for all kind of soils, but until you know what you''re working with it''s hard to make confident plant choices.

An extended version of this guide can be found on our website. Click here to learn more!

Happy planting!

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Disease Resistant Apples

There is nothing more frustrating when growing your first orchard as dealing with disease. Even when you''ve done everything right, from planting and watering to mulching and pruning, trees can experience disease even at a young age threatening their life and your apple crop! Now don''t panic, there is a solution: start your orchard off easy with disease resistant varieties of apples! Generations of apple selection have provided modern growers with healthy, vigorous, easy to grow apple trees perfectly suited for your backyard.

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Why You Should Start a Container Garden

Here at Raintree Nursery we are dedicated to supporting the curiosity and drive to plant trees and harvest good sustainable food. We are also intimately aware that not everyone who wants to grow their own food owns their land or has access to growing space. The solution? Container gardening!

The Benefits

Container gardens have a lot of benefits. They''re easy to set up, easy to care for, mobile, and modular. Most importantly though, they can be maintained anywhere a container can be installed! Porches, patios, balconies, empty lots, and even rooftops are all viable places to grow plants that you can harvest from year after years.

The Containers

The containers you choose to use in container gardening depend entirely on your environment. Hanging baskets and smaller pots are excellent for a west or south facing porch, flower boxes are great for window sills, troughs with trellises can be located on the sunny side of a building, and larger pots are ideal for patios. Be creative! Mix and match!

The Plants

While large fruit trees are generally out of reach, there are dozens of perennial fruiting plants that be grown, with some care and pruning, in containers as small as a flower pot, or as large as whiskey barrel! Here is a short list of the plants that can successfully be grown in a contained environment.

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Lingonberries
• Huckleberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Grapes
• Columnar Apples
• Elderberries
• Seaberries
• Miniature Citrus
• Select Subtropical Plants
  

The Care

If you''ve never taken care of a potted plant it''s important to understand that pots are not the ground, no matter how large. Containers tend to be hotter and dryer environments, meaning that your plants will need supplemental water to stay healthy and happy, as well as potentially moved into partial shade during the hotter parts of the year. Once each plant nears it''s maximum size for it''s container you will also need to prune them yearly to prevent them from outgrowing it''s environment, or consider replanting in a larger container. Each plant has it''s own needs and habits so care requirements differ from species to species!

The End

Now all that''s left to do is get outside and start planning your container garden! Everyone should have a patch of dirt to call their own, but until you do you can set out some pots, hang some baskets, and when it''s time to move on take your patches of dirt with you on your next adventure!

Happy planting!

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Pears of the Pacific Northwest

Pears have a long and rich history dating back to before ancient Greece. Long considered a "gift from the gods" pear trees are steeped in millennia of folk lore and symbology. In modern times pears are common place fruits enjoyed by millions world wide, bred and developed in every part of the world, including right here in the Pacific Northwest!

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It''s Berry Patch Time!

, is there anything more exciting and satisfying in the garden than berry picking? Scores of sweet and fragrant drops of sugar and sunshine, plucked gently from the plant and transferred immediately to your mouth. What could be better? More berries!

Here at Raintree Nursery we have tons of strawberries, lingonberries, and raspberries waiting to be planted in your yard. The more you order, the more you save on all of our delicious and easy to grow varieties!

Many varieties of berries can start bearing the same year you plant them. Start your very own berry patch this springtime and you''ll have bushels of berries before you know it!

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How do you like them Apples?

People love apples and always have. The humble apple tree (Malus Domestica) is easily one the most wildly cultivated of fruit trees in the world. Hailing from Central Asia in the southern Kazakhstan mountains, apples have been cultivated as a staple food crop for thousands of years. We love apples so much in fact that they feature in countless myths, poems, songs, idioms, and proverbs.

Thanks to intensive research, breeding, and grafting techniques the modern day apples come in all shapes, sizes, and colors with most requiring cross pollination to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Raintree Nursery offers dozens of fantastic kinds of apple tree including heirloom apples, cider apples, and the latest in fresh eating varieties.

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Best British Pears

It is believed that pears (Pyrus communis) first arrived in England with the Romans, who considered it a gourmet delicacy even finer than figs! Since this olden days pear cultivation has gone through many cycles in the UK, giving us many of the pear varieties grown worldwide today. Perry, a fermented pear cider, was also born in Worcestershire where many perry pears are still grown today!

Best British Apple Cultivars

Of all the places in the world apples have been grown and developed, the British know them best. A great deal of the British knowledge of apple growing and cider craft came with the Norman conquest of the British Isles in 1066 and the people there have kept developing the art and science of apple growing ever since. Here we have an excellent selection of some of our favorite British apple cultivars from across the pond that we''re certain you''ll fall in love as quickly as we did!

The Greatest Grapes

Clusters of sweet, flavor packed, sun charged grapes hanging in bunches from the vine. Is there any image more evocative? Few fruits are as deeply ingrained and intertwined in the history of mankind as the grape is.

Grape cultivation began in earnest over 6000 years ago with the oldest known winery in Armenia dating back to 4000 BC! Even the Egyptians were passionate grape growers producing several varieties for both fresh eating and wine making.

Modern Grapes (Vitis vinifera), both for wine making and table grapes, are grown in every part of the world and while the cultivation and general quality of the grapes has remained roughly unchanged for thousands of years, new varieties are still being bred and distributed even today!