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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] What if?

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  • From: "Donna &/or Kieran" <holycow@cookeville.com>
  • To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] What if?
  • Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 22:00:36 -0500

For Steve in the Adirondacks of northern NY:

I'm just thinking.... What if, someday, I decided to move. What if I
moved from here, in zone 3B, to northern Florida? Just for the sake of
argument, let's say the Gainesville area in zone 8B.

So what about Gainesville? Too far north for the really edible citrus
fruits. Right? YEP

Maybe too far south for most apples. I would think any
apples would have to be low chill varieties with pretty low quality?
FROM MY PARENTS EXPERIENCE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, RACCOONS WILL EAT EVERYTHING YOU GROW EXCEPT LEMONS.
Maybe there are some warm growing plums that would be good. Is it still
in the right range for peaches? THEY DO GROW PEACHES THERE I HEAR. I NEVER SAW ANY PEACHES IN FLORIDA. I HAVE SEEN PHOTOS OF PLUMS DEVELOPED FOR GAINESBORO AREA. I HAVE SEEN AND SOLD THE TREES, BUT HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO ATE FROM THE TREES.
How bad would the disease pressure be with such warm humid summers?
DREADFUL. YOU CAN WATCH YOUR TOMATO PLANTS MELT PRACTICALLY BEFORE YOUR EYES.

What other fruits might do well there? BLUEBERRIES, MUSCADINES, POMEGRANATES (This is just a little fantasy I'm having as I watch the snow melt around here.)

I SUGGEST YOU CHANGE YOUR FANTASY: Suppose you were somewhere in western or central Virginia or NC. You've had a little bit of snow just for old times sake, lasted about 24 hours. You've also had lots of pretty shirt sleeve weather. You can grow apples, pears, plums, cherries, and they are less likely to freeze out in the spring than over here on the western side of the Appalacians. The summers are hot and humid, but they don't last 10 months like Florida summers. And best of all, there is cool weather in winter to give you a few months of relief from the bugs. Do a little research on the net while you wait for the snow to melt. We drove over the mtns late one spring and upon entering the Shenandoah Valley it was apparent at once that we were in a softer climate, better soil than we have here. There were beautiful lilacs in bloom, they nearly always freeze out here. And there were apple trees that were huge and covered in blossoms, not the sparse blooming we typically see here. Donna




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