North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <list@ginda.us>]

On Sep 8, 2008, at 6:43 PM, Melissa Kacalanos wrote:

> I've been enjoying the lively discussions of obscure
> fruit on this list. My husband and I just bought a
> house with a big yard, and we're eager to rip up the
> useless lawn and plant more interesting plants next
> spring. You're all giving us lots of great ideas.
> . . .
> But anyway, I'm mostly thinking of planting species
> that are so obscure, the local pests hopefully won't
> know what to do with them. . .
> Melissa
> Central NY, zone 5

It's not obscure, but I recommend you put in some raspberries.  They  
are my easiest and most successful crop. I don't spray them, and  
control the cane borers (my only real pest) by cutting out affected  
canes.  Raspberries are expensive in the store because they are hard  
to ship, but they make it from my backyard to my table without any  
trouble.

I don't have much Japanese beetle pressure.  That might be an issue  
if you do.  And I get some damage from the squirrels.  But compared  
to the damage to the strawberries (total) and the blueberries (need  
extensive fencing) the raspberries are nearly pest-free.

I've also had good luck with currants, but they are not as good for  
eating out of hand.

If you grow Hascaps, please report back.  That's a plant I've been  
thinking of playing with.

Ginda Fisher
eastern MA, zone 6