I have a question. Hopefully someone can help. I have read that Bartlett pear trees will successfully pollinate certain Asian Pears. Will those Asian pears in turn pollinate the Bartletts?

I have a question. Hopefully someone can help. I have read that Bartlett pear trees will successfully pollinate certain Asian Pears. Will those Asian pears in turn pollinate the Bartletts?

I have a question. Hopefully someone can help. I have read that Bartlett pear trees will successfully pollinate certain Asian Pears. Will those Asian pears in turn pollinate the Bartletts?

I don't have much experience at all, we've had just a couple Bartlett pears and un-IDed apples, both disease-ridden. We are trying a Reliance peach tree that made it through last winter just fine.

Contact your local cooperative extension, they really keep up on things like that. Ours in Sanford has a volunteer master gardener with a horticultural degree in orchardry, he's the go-to man re: fruit trees in southern Maine. I'm sure the office nearest you at least has a list of varieties that grow well in your area.

Veilchen,

I appreciate the suggestions. I've spoken with a number of the cooperative extensions in the State already. I really was looking to hear of people's personal experiences with fruit trees here on this list.

John

My Father-in-law grew up in Friendship in a house a few hundred yards from the water. They had a couple peach trees in the yard. The peaches were small, but delicious. They self-seeded regularly. Variety is unknown, and obviously old. But it shows how well they can grow in some places in Maine.

I've got a few things planted, but not for long enough to give any real feedback.

Dan in Brooksville

I'm in Richmond, so am also mid-coastal.

I have a Bartlett Pear which came with the house and had been sadly neglected, although pretty productive (my dog LOVES pears!). We gave it a major pruning last winter; last summer it had very little fruit, but whether that was a result of the pruning or the wet spring I can't say. It will get more severe pruning again this year.

I also have 2- 2 year-old cherry trees, a Montmorency and a Stella, both on dwarf rootstock. I did no pruning last winter to counteract a bad Japanese Beetle year and an unwanted pruning by a woodchuck - no, not a deer, I saw the wretched creature at it. They are due for some serious pruning this winter. I am trying to grow them in a small location, so will have to be vigilant with pruning.

The cherry trees seem contented despite the pests, but I am a complete novice. I have had no fruit as yet, am hoping for some this year. I would like to grow peaches and apricots, espaliered along one edge of the yard, but I'm not sure how that will work -- but why not try :-)

Mabel

lamb abbey. If you are interested in growing fruit trees
in Me and old varities...of course you've heard of Fedco!
I have a Black Oxford and a Blue Pearmain from Fedco. I happen to prefer standard size trees as they look to me more like the antique apples they are and they grow to a deer proof height after a few years.

Have you read "The Apples of Maine" by George Stilphen?
He often speaks at Maine Apple Day and is a wealth of knowledge on the subject of growing apples and old varieties in particular.

Also, have you heard of St. Lawrence Nurseries in N.Y.? They carry a very good selection of hard to find antique apple and pear varietes. I found the apple Striped Harvey as well as winter hardy white mulberries and a Cabot pear. They do have a website and a nice little catalog.

Aside from the perils of deer, borers are a problem particularly if you get sloppy and don't keep grass and weeds clear of the trunk of your young apples. I found out the hard way and being an organic grower I spent hours with a long piece of flexible wire "fishing" for the grubs that tunnel down to the roots..no doubt to the amusement of my neighbors! Seriously, they can do a lot of damage or kill young trees. Pear trees are a good choice for Maine.
You can grow sour pie cherries if you select a well drained
South sloping site. Deer do not nibble my pear trees, and
I'm not sure why but it's worth keeping in mind.

I saw a lovely old plum tree in Washington(Maine) and it bore tons of delicious fruit one year, smatterings since.

A friend bought a peach tree from Fedco and has had lovely fruit from it. I do not know the variety but I will ask.

My raspberries are bearing beautifully, more each year. Most are Heritage, the others Purple Royalty.

I gather apples from abandoned trees and make lovely applesauce.

Gurney's offers several fruit trees that are very cold hardy, I was surprised at what can be grown here. I just potted up several small bush cherries, and plum. I even potted up a dwarf lemon and fig I will bring indoors over the Winter. Next on my list is a couple apricots that I hear you can even grown in zone 4. I think apples and pears are just a habit here. It's time to explore. -Mark

Apples, pears, cherries, plums and grapes all produce well for me in Friendship. Got a few berries, too. Coastal gardens have a slight climactic advantage.

cooper, washington co. 20 miles from coast

i have half dozen reliance peach trees

they do very well--good fruit--pest free problems

live many yrs with min.care--some pruning--birds&ants love em

begin bearing 3-4yrs