Normally on Wednesday mornings I write my Weigh in Wednesday post. But I’ve got nothing to “weigh in” this week so I’ve decided to share my favorite varieties of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberry plants with you instead. And ask for your help with suggestions as to what fruit trees I should plant next year {I currently have 2 Anjou pear trees, and 1 mystery apple tree}.
Strawberries
As far as strawberries go, I have been planting Tristar strawberries in my garden every spring since the Handsome Husband and I have been married. With a large crop in early summer and again in the fall, these are the best strawberries available in my opinion. If you are looking for giant Costco sized, flavorless berries, these are not for you. Tristar berries pack a ton of flavor and are great in strawberry shortcakes, for making homemade jam, and for eating fresh.
This past year we also tried SeaScape strawberries. These berries were a little larger, and tasted great as well, but I don’t think they were as good as my beloved Tristar berries.
Back in the spring of 2009 we planted 4 different varieties of blueberries:
Since I didn’t have a specific type of blueberry I was looking for, I selected my berry plants solely on the descriptions in the catalog. I mean seriously, when you buy blueberries from the grocery store you are just buying “blueberries” right? Who knew there were so many kinds to choose from? I didn’t.
That first year I decided to purchase 12 blueberry plants {3 of each variety}.
When I ordered them, I had the image of my favorite blueberry farm in my head. Tall shrubs, long rows of ripe blueberries and classical music playing in the background. But apparently Linbo Farms has been around since the 1940’s and that’s why they have 5 foot tall blueberry plants and berries as far as the eye can see. LOL. So even if I’m after a “mini” blueberry farm, it’s going to take some time.
And lastly raspberries. Yum. Yum.Yum.
3 years ago I placed an order for 100 Cascade Delight canes from Spooner Farms in Puyallup, Washington. Most people probably buy raspberry canes from their local nursery, or get them from friends as they divide their beds up in the spring. But our family had enjoyed purchasing several flats of the Cascade Delight raspberries from the Spooner Farms berry stand each summer, so when it came time to plant our own patch, we wanted to make sure we were getting our favorite berries.
At the time you could buy the berry canes in bulk in boxes of 100 plants for around $1.50 each, but nowadays the minimum order is 1,00 canes {yikes!}. But, if you can split the order with a few friends, I’d say go for it.
Alright peeps, these are my favorite varieties of berries. If you are interested in purchasing some, simply click on the highlighted text and it will take you to the site where I purchased the berry plants.
Now, here’s where I need a little help from YOU.
I would like to plant 6 fruit trees this spring, but I’m not sure what to plant. I’m thinking maybe some apple and plum trees, maybe even a nut tree. But what kind should I plant? What will grow well in Western Washington. Any advise you have would be great.
~Mavis
If you would like to turn your yard into an edible utopia, check out the book Landscaping with Fruit by Lee Reich. It’s pack with all sorts of helpful tips, and Amazon currently has it in stock and ready to ship.
Also, thanks to my awesome readers, here is an updated list of seed catalogs. If you have a favorite one you don’t see on the list, let me know in the comment section below and I’ll add it.
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Brianschef says
We have 12 – 100 year old plus pecan trees, we harvest pecans from October to February. Each tree produces 50 pounds one year and 100 pounds the next, alternating each year. We have 12 different varieties also…. We have been told no other type or kind of nut tree grows well here(NW Louisiana).
As far as fruit trees go, we have planted(last season), Granny smith apples, red delicious and pink lady. Bananas, tangerines, kumquats(sweet), blueberries, raspberries, figs, and a variety of grapes.
And most all produced some already this year. So in the spring we will plant peaches, cherries(sour as they are rare here), more apple varieties, more bananas, plums, a couple more fig, pomegranate, and what ever else suits my fancy as we wander thru the greenhouse gardens! ; )
Lesley says
I love that you wrote, “What kid should I plant?”
I vote for Monkey Boy. Although both monkeys and birds belong in trees, so either kid!
Mavis says
Oh my word. 🙂 Thank you. It takes a village around here to make my posts coherent sometimes.
Jenn says
Washington state is a big Hazelnut (Filbert) producer and I believe it is the NW side of the mountains where the crops are grown. (Nutella grows on trees here!) The bushes (trees?) are nice looking too and blend well with forest.
Fruit trees: Asian pears (YUM!) I have a friend with mature trees (so jealous) but I have heard you plant pears for your heirs. (they take awhile) and our two pear trees have given us nothing in three years (though we do have racoons and deer so there it that) I think in general berries do better here.
Penelope says
I’d go with Golden delicious, as they are good for most anything and a rather long lasting after harvest, our experience is that they produce each year, but seem biennial as to a heavy harvest. My in laws in eastern WA have a Criterion, which I love, but it seems to be a golden type, and no one will sell me one because of my location. Cortlands are great, and since I can’t get them around here, I’m looking into buying a tree. Fuji’s would be good for you too. Their season is a little long for us but has worked out well enough.
We have a santa rosa plum (so do in laws) and the kids just love them. I’d also get an italian prune plum tree for extended harvest and variety. They have a different consistency and bake and dry well.
I’m planning on a second sour cherry next year. Ours is a Lambert and we can’t get enough of it.
I think a filbert/hazelnut (my favorite) would work in your zone. I’m planning on one as well because it should work here too.
We have an apricot(moorpark), peach (hale), plum, nectarine (fantasia), apple (golden, fuji), sour cherry, pear (bosc, bartlett), and a struggling sweet cherry (utah giant… the ranier never lived), and a place for at least one more. We’re a zone 6.
schmei says
Thanks for this! I re-he-he-heeally want to plant some blueberries next year, so this is helpful input. Any other tips for the new blueberry grower? I have childhood experience growing annual veggies, but fruit bushes seem so much more daunting to me for some reason…
Madam Chnow says
This place has a huge selection of nut trees, from young ones to more mature ones, as well as fruits.
http://www.willisorchards.com/category/Nut+Trees#.UNIYE7aNyRE
Mavis says
Thanks Madam Chow. 🙂
Lucky L says
I vote for apricot, unless you have a lot of squirrels – then you just end up feeding them.
If you go for a peach, decide how you will use them. There are kinds that come off the pit easily for canning and such and the kind that stick to the pit for eating fresh. Same squirrel warning.
michelle guilmet-buck says
Italian Prune. Our Yellow Transparent apple produced enough apples for 9 pies this year after only being in the ground for four years. 🙂 Terrible keepers, but the best for pies (slice, mix with sugar, flour & spices, put into bags & freeze for pies). Rhubarb. Grows like crazy around here. Costco actually has a great selection of fruit trees in the spring!
Lisa W. says
I have a MONSTER pair of Kiwi vines. Beautiful Leaves and they grow like CRAZY (I live in Snohomish Co.) – You have to have a male & female to produce, but every fall I have tons.
jolanta says
not sure if your state allows it, but I would go with black currant. It’s fruit are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Plus, it makes great jams too!!!
KC says
Italian prune plums! (if you like them – I really do, and they flourish in that area if they can get some sun)
Jamie McCorkle says
Not sure if they will grow well, you will have to check, but Goldrush apples are the BEST!!!
Ginny says
Rainier Cherries are the BEST! They are so sweet and delicious, and they grow well in western WA. My friend has a tree in Bremerton and gets a great crop every year!
Lissa says
Oh, if I were you (and when I get back into my own house w/ acreage) – I would plant a good snacking apple tree (do honeycrisp grow here, hint hint!?), a Rainier cherry tree, a sour cherry tree, and OMG YOU CAN GROW KIWI HERE?!?! I am SO going to have kiwi vines.
Jaime says
You need to look into Winesap or Wine Sap, not sure how to spell it. I got some for free this year, went to make applesause with my wonder attachment on my Kitchenaid, so very easy! Well, steamed the apples, then put them throught, and my eyes got big and my mouth open I was so surprised, the applesauce was coming out PINK! It was so so so pretty! It tastes wonderful too, I made apple butter out of it, so the pink went away, it has some dark red in it. But, oh my, if I ever plant an apple tree, it will be this one. It is a winter apple, whatever that mean, but they have streaks of red in the flesh and that is why it turns pink.
Diane says
My father has a “Brooks” variety of plum tree in his backyard. After experiencing this tree, it will be the only plum I’ll ever consider planting. Produces an amazing amount of very delicious plums! GREAT to eat, makes terrific deep dish pie or cobbler, makes good jam and also freezes well. A total winner in my book! Our tree puts out more than our eating fresh, canning needs, and freezer can handle. Yearly we take a significant amount to our church and our local food bank.
This tree is growing NE of the Seattle area, so it should work well for you (Mavis). Just found you blog after seeing a mention in the Seattle Times and I’m loving it. This is the beginning of my fifth gardening season. I’ve a plot in a community garden. For any of you out there that doesn’t have a yard, look to see if your area has a community garden program. Seattle has a terrrific program and from what I’ve read there are similar programs across the country. Eating produce you have grown yourself is super satisfying, as well as economical. Wishing everyone a healthy and Happy New Year and hope the next month passes quickly so that I can get back into the garden ASAP! Cheers.
Sherri says
Are your strawberries annual or perennial?
Mavis says
Perennial. 🙂