North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Donna &/or Kieran" <holycow@cookeville.com>]

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