For a short period of time, January through March, we offer deciduous fruit trees “bareroot”. Bareroot season is necessarily brief. Because the plants are dormant, they can be sold without containers at considerably lower prices. There is more than a price advantage too. Bareroot plants adjust to native soils more easily than container plants do. The only disadvantage with bareroot stock is that it requires immediate attention; plan to get your plants in the ground the day you take them home.

Apples, figs, persimmons, and plums will produce reliably throughout the Bay Area. Peaches, nectarines, and pluots can perform well, too, in situations that maximize winter chill and summer heat. we stock a good selection of low-chill trees along with other irresistible varieties that can succeed in certain microclimates. For best results locate your fruit trees in open, sunny places in the garden.

Consider the possibility of mixing fruit trees into an existing landscape as a hedgerow or, to conserve space or for purposes of cross-pollination, plant more than one variety in a single planting hole. Summer pruning techniques make it easy to scale down fruit trees to garden size. For additional information pick up the Backyard Fruit Tree handout at the sales counter, or attend one of our fruit tree pruning workshops in January.

Our complete 2010 fruit tree availability list is currently available both online and here at the nursery. Quantities are limited. It’s a good idea to reserve bareroot trees ahead of season.

New varieties for 2010
‘Hudson’s Golden Gem’ Apple
One of the best flavored dessert russets—intensely sweet, crunchy, and aromatic with an elegant conical shape. Fruit hangs on the tree long into winter. Great for the East Bay.

‘Snow Fameuse’ Apple
Famous for its snow white flesh and spicy distinctive flavor—juicy, mildly tart, and sweet. This venerable apple is a probable parent of Macintosh. Low chill and reliably productive tree. Ripens early autumn for fresh eating, cider, sauce.

‘Lapins’ Cherry
Self-fruitful, Bing-like sweet cherry purported to perform admirably in our cherry hostile climate. Large, firm fruit with rich cherry flavor. Productive and naturally dwarf.

‘Janice Seedless Kadota’ Fig
New light fig with large, sweet, delicious, light greenish-yellow fruit. Few seeds. Suited to coastal and inland climates. Prolonged harvest.