Thought our bitter winters and short growing seasons meant meant being contempt with growing apples and cherries? You’ll never be happier to have been wrong about something.
Fortunately we do actually have one thing working in our favour. Water! And lots of it. Though long growth seasons and mild dormant months are important to many plants, a shocking number of them have decided coping with our harsh winters is a reasonable trade off for the chance at our abundantly wet summers and springs. These are just a few fruits I was surprised to learn I could enjoy right from my own Alberta yard.
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Kiwis (Vine)
You read that right! Kiwis, in Alberta! I was also tickled to discover that a breed of kiwi from Japan can tolerate temperatures down to -40C!
This self pollinating Kiwi vine produces a small but delicious fruit. Note; particularly hard winter might mean skipping a year of fruit production, but the unique conversation piece, and wonderful treat is no doubt worth the wait.
Casino Apricot (Tree)
Typically apricots and nectarines only thrive in hot, long summer climates. But thanks to the Casino Apricot cultivar, us cold dwellers can now enjoy these delicious fruits from our own yards.
A relatively recent addition to the Alberta tree lexicon, we’ve now encountered a number of clients having excellent success growing big juicy apricots in their yard.
Early Gold Pear (Tree)
The Early Gold produces a bounty of sweet, golden pears in early fall, making the most of our shorter growing season. Plus, this cold-hardy tree requires minimal fuss and is disease-resistant, ensuring a successful harvest year after year.
Evans cherry (Tree)
Ever since black knot fungus swept through Alberta, cherry trees have been a no-go. But what if one delicious variety was immune?
Evans cherry not only makes world class fruits, but it is reportedly one of the only cherry varieties immune to this fungal scourge. Allowing Albertans to welcome this classic fruit back to their gardens.
Combination Apple (Tree)
Can’t choose what kind of apple to grow? How about all of them… on one tree!
Combination apples are apple trees with multiple apple varieties grafted to the same trunk. This can also mean a variety of flower shades in the spring makes these a truly remarkable addition.
Lingonberry (Tree)
A timeless Scandinavian staple; this cranberry/ blueberry type fruit is sure to set your little patch of sweet heaven apart. Best used for cooking and preserves, these wonderful little berries could bring a new favourite to your thanksgiving baking routine.
Cherry Plum - AKA Chum (Tree)
A relatively new example of humans and nature working together to cheat evolution; this lovely fruit which is bigger than a cherry, smaller than a plumb, and tastes like the love child of the two, is a wonderful and unique addition to any garden.
And if you’re sick of donating all your best fruits to the birds and bugs, you’ll appreciate the dwarf, bush like habit of these well behaved little yard friends.
GoosBerry (Bush)
Once you experience owning a gooseberry bush, you’ll doubtless wonder why there ubiquitous relative, the blueberry, hogs all the attention.
Not only are these big plump fruits an absolute pleasure, but the bush is effected by a fractions of the number of ailments that plague so many other common berries. Making the upkeep of them as pleasurable as the fruit itself.
Pink Blueberry (Bush)
Ever wonder what pink lemonade is made out of? Well turns out its not pink lemons!
These wonderful little berries are sweeter than their blue cousins, grow great in cold temperatures, and are an excellent and uncommon touch for any enthusiasts yard.
Are we able to purchase these plants locally. I would love to add the gooseberry and cherry plum to our garden
Sure can! Stock will vary each year at the local nurseries, but if you call around I’m sure you’ll find them