Where do you get fruit trees?

[live_momma]

Last spring, a local garden center had a huge variety of dwarf fruit trees, but I didn't have a yard. Now, I have a huge yard, and the same garden center has almost nothing (I was able to replace the Honeycrisp tree that got run over by a truck last fall). I would like to plant quite a few trees (high density planting), but it looks like I'm going

Comments

[rinoakku]

I've seen some fruit trees at Lowes. Though, I don't know if they re-stock them all Spring and Summer. So it may be to late. I don't know.

[freyaw]

When you say alternative variety, what are the factors you most want to keep? The sweetness, the shelf life, the size, the colour?

[live_momma]

Taste and texture. Pink Lady is one of my son's favorite, so I was hoping to be able to grow them. Unfortunately, we're too far north.

[freyaw]

Googling 'zone 5 apple' netted me a whole bunch of computer sites and these two on the first page:
http://extension.usu.edu/juab/htm/agriculture/fruit-tree-production/apple
http://www.wallace-woodstock.com/appletrees.htm

Since, personally, I like my apples crisp more than sweet, so it's been close on eight years since I last ate a Pink Lady, I don't remember what they taste like, but there's a tart cooking apple in there that's hardy to Zone 5.

[live_momma]

Thanks for those two lists! I really wish they listed the problems with the apples as well as telling how perfect every apple is. For example, no one ever mentions that Red Delicious is notorious for its thick, bitter skin, which is one of the reasons RD never wins taste tests, even thought its look is extremely popular. Other varieties could have flaws just as major, and I'd never know until it was too late. :-P

I ordered a Sundance and a Granny Smith from Gurney's, and I already have a Honeycrisp, so I guess three is enough for this year. I also ordered their patio Key Lime tree. I have a nice, sunny south facing window that needs some green during the winter.

[archinatrix]

Where did you find Pink Lady apple trees for sale? I must have one!

[xvsharrax]

I've been growing my pink lady apple trees straight from the seed.

And in response to the post: Gala apples

[manofredclay]

u know the seed from an apple isn't guarantted to have the same fruit as the apple is.. it could have been pollenated by any sort of variety and have all kinds of weird and possibly untasty fruit.

[xvsharrax]

Not bloody likely, captain negative. The seed had sprouted from inside the apple, I ate a pink lady apple and there was a sprout inside it, so I planted it and it's been growing hugely

[manofredclay]

dont forget that the proper time to plant fruit trees is in the fall, around september.

[live_momma]

I know that the best time is early spring or fall, but they'll do OK if you plant them even during the peak of summer as long as you baby them.

[jiggercat]

I have always had good luck with Stark Brothers http://www.starkbros.com/ they are located in Zone 5