Winter Dreams Growingof Fresh Fruit at Home

When the wind blows cold, it’s delightful to leaf through gorgeous gardening and seed catalogs. We could dream of a slightly larger vision for our gardens this coming year rather than the sameold-same-old. There are regular gardeners in our midst choosing to grow much more of their food at home. In particular, a local Monadnock Region gardener is growing a wide variety of new and old-world fruits right at her Keene, New Hampshire home.

Sylvie Singh-Lamy (pictured, above) is an avid gardener like many of us. She is fascinated with growing fruit, sometimes even starting fruit plants from seeds. Her current collection of more than 15 trees and shrubs shows the possibility of reducing our carbon footprint by growing more of our own fruit and growing fruits unavailable locally. We spoke as the last leaves fell.

Sylvie, what motivated you to grow your own fruit?

I grow my own fruit because I love variety, and the activity gives me the chance to talk with neighbors and friends about growing more of their own fruit as well.

Well, some choices are by mistake, some by research, and some by trusted nursery stock. My priorities are fruits that store well to last through winter, as well as by flavor. I have the largest number of apple trees. I chose the “Snow Sweet” apple from Minnesota by mistake, but I’ve been very pleased with its crisp flavor. I’ve complimented this variety with “Cortland” for cooking. I grow an unusual “Black Oxford” apple from Maine, which has a deep purple, almost blackish skin; then there is “Calville Blanc D’Hiver” or “White Winter Calville” and the “Fameuse” apple, also called “Snow.” Historians speculate that both of these varieties originated in France. There are two peach trees as well: “Red Haven” and “Suncrest,” and two plum trees: one “Stanley” and one “Green Gage.” I am excited to add a second Asian pear, “Shinko,” to the “Yoinashi” that I’m already growing. I have purchased trees from both local markets and local nurseries. Whereas five of the quince plants I’m growing are from a particularly tasty fruit, I bought at the Brattleboro Co-op! I loved it so much that I kept the seeds and grew them. Ten seeds sprouted initially, and the remaining five quince plants have been joined in the orchard with a “Smyrna” variety from Scott Farms in Vermont for diversity. There are three Elderberry shrubs: one “Adams,” one “Black Lace,” and a mystery variety. And lastly, a single apricot called “Chinese Mormon.” I began the orchard several years ago; it is definitely a long-term project.

Aren’t you also growing a fruit called medlar?

How

did you choose which partic- ular varieties of apple, quince, kiwi, hops, pears, peaches and elderberry to grow?

Yes! I was delighted to find the “Breda Giant” medlar variety also at Scott Farms. It is very satisfying to experiment with fruits that have been grown since ancient times.* I must tell you that I am also excited to grow pawpaw trees next because they are native fruit. They are finicky trees, needing shade when they are young but more sun later. Luckily I have the perfect canopy of a native cherry tree that will provide shade now. Later it will be able to be limbed up as the pawpaw trees grow larger.**

What advice would you give others about growing fruit trees and shrubs?

Oh, much patience is needed, and pay special attention to your soil. I am fortunate to have a large open field with the full sunshine that fruit plants need. It also helps to grow preferably native, flowering perennials as well because they attract additional, effective pollinators and return reliably every year on their own. Also, be willing to share with the wildlife. While I consider my orchard, an edible landscape, my “queendom,” I depend on the turkeys for fertilizing, while fox control rabbits and fisher control porcupines. The deer fertilize and prune my trees’ tips.

So, while winter winds blow, consider Sylvie Singh-Lamy’s exciting ideas for experimentation by growing a variety of new fruits in your home garden as well!

* “Medlar fruit is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. They have been used in traditional medicine due to their diuretic and astringent effects. Tangy medlar fruit is also a good source of vitamin C and a number of B family vitamins … The tree is native to the area surrounding modern-day Iran and was introduced to Western Europe by the Romans.” Source: finedininglovers. com/article/medlar-winter-fruit-recipes

** “Pawpaw’s fruit is an amazing combination of flavors described as sunny, electric, and downright tropical: a riot of mango-banana-citrus that’s incongruous with its temperate, deciduous forest origins.” Source: tinyurl.com/7nszcebb

Michele Chalice is the owner of Healthy Home Habits.

Let’s do both at your home! Now is a great time to plan for changes to your landscape for next year.

•

• Our Florist Shop is designed for All Occasions.

• Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5 p.m. / Sat 8-4 p.m. / Sunday Hours begin

Pets atHome by Denise Mazzola

many micro-body movements BEFORE he ever gets to the barking, lunging part.

But we miss the small communications.

By Denise Mazzola