FRUIT BUSHES &
FRUIT TREES
Fruit Trees will be available in May while supplies last.
Apple Trees
Standard Apple Trees: Full size tree. Grows to a height of 20-25 ' tall and 25' wide at full maturity. Standard trees generally begin bearing 5-6 years after planting.
Semi Dwarf Apple Trees: Trees grow 12-15 ' tall and 14' wide at maturity. Bears fruit at an earlier age, usually 4-5 years after planting.
Planting Apple Trees
Plant in full sun to produce abundant, quality fruit. Protect from high winds. An open area in a cultivated lawn is ideal, but do not plant them near other trees or shrubs. These other plantings compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight. In general, space semi-dwarf apple trees 14 to 20 feet apart. Plant Standard trees 30-35 feet apart. Apple trees need rich, slightly moist, but well-draining soil. Avoid boggy, low-lying areas where water pools. Do not fertilize the first year after planting, but plan to fertilize annually in subsequent years. Dig a hole as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. Plant the tree so the graft sits 1 to 2 inches above the soil. The graft is the area at the base of the tree where the scion was grafted to the root stock. The bark may be a slightly different color, or you will see a crook or knob. If the graft is planted beneath the soil or very close to it, the rootstock will begin to form a tree. This tree grows very quickly and won't produce fruit, or will produce poor quality fruit. Fill in the hole with soil and firm down with your foot. Keep the soil evenly moist the first summer.
APPLE TREES: Semi Dwarf
Bethel - NOT AVAILABLE 2026 - Bethel, VT, before 1855. Well-known all-purpose Vermont heirloom. Large dark red fruit with prominent dot, The red-striped Bethel apple is a large, firm, flavorful winter apple. It keeps well in storage. Great eating out of hand right off the tree, but as it mellows in storage it becomes a fine apple for pies and cider.
Connell Red: zone 4-7, Hardy, heavy bearer. Connell Red is a large deep red apple with an outstanding flavor sure to please your taste buds. Large size fruit, excellent for fresh eating or cooking. Blooms Mid-Late season. This apple is ready to harvest in October. It stores well, lasting up to six months.
Cortland: zone 4-7, Cortland apples are medium to large in size, and often rather flat in shape. They are bright red and covered with dark red streaks; often they are capped with a green blush. Their crisp, finely grained white flesh is exceptionally juicy with a sharp, sweet-tart flavor, excellent eating and cooking. Ripens in October.
Empire: zone 5-8, Medium size fruit with red blushed skin. Sweet flavor and firm texture. exceptionally good fresh eating. Medium storage life. Blooms Mid-Late season and is an excellent pollinator for other varieties. Resistant to mildew and fire blight. Ripens late Sept/Early October.
Freedom: zone 4-7. Large red fruit, good for eating, sauces and juice. Crisp and juicy with slight tart flavor. Fruit will keep until January in cold storage. Very vigorous and productive tree. Disease resistant. Immune to apple scab and resistant to mildew, cedar-apple rust and fire blight. Does not require fungicide sprays. Blooms mid-late season. Ripens late September.
Frostbite: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 - zone 3-7, Small apple with a very sweet, intense taste. crisp, firm texture and juicy. Extremely cold hardy, Great for cooking and cider. Blooms mid-late season. Ripens Late Sept/Early October.
Gravenstein: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 - zone 4-8, a wonderful cooking apple. Crisp and tart and with a touch of honey, Gravenstein apples are medium to large, skin thin, tender, greenish-yellow with broken stripes of red. Flesh firm, crisp, juicy, tart. Good for eating fresh, and one of the best apples for pies, sauce and juice.
Haralred - zone 3, Haralred® Apple is an improved version of Haralson Apple. The medium-large fruits are firm and tart, making Haralred® Apple an excellent choice making pies. This variety holds its shape when cooked, but it’s not suitable for applesauce. The fruit ripens in early October
Haralson: zone 3-6, Medium sized red fruit. Hard, crisp, and tart. Keeps well. Good dual-purpose apple. Blooms late season. Ripens Early October.
Honeycrisp: zone 4-7, Exceptionally sweet, crisp and juicy. Excellent storage up to 7 months. Blooms mid-season. Ripens late September.
Honeygold: zone 4-7. Medium to large yellow apple. Fruit is crisp, juicy, and sweet. Excellent for eating and cooking. Medium storage life. Bloom date mid-late season. Ripens late Sept./early October.
Idared: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 4-8, the red apple from Idaho - is an attractive apple with a mild apple flavor. Its main feature is its remarkably long storage potential - even in a domestic fridge it will readily keep for 6 months. Idared apples grow on slightly small trees, their average 12 to 16 feet (4-5 m.) height and width, which are nonetheless good fruit producers. Excellent choice of apple for cooking, making pie, apple sauce, dessert, and cider due to its sweet-tart and juicy flavor. Medium to large in size. Green to yellow base color covered in bright red. Flesh is pale yellow color. Keeps well in storage for four months. Ripens in October.
Liberty: zone 4-7. Tree is low-maintenance due to its natural disease resistance to apple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew. Fruit has a yellow background with attractive red overtones, a crisp white flesh, and a harmonious sweet-tart taste. Perfect for fresh eating, cooking, canning, or keeping – proper storage improves the flavor! Bloom date mid-season. Ripens late September.
Macoun: zone 4-7, Fruit is medium to large in size with a dark purple-red over a green background to contrast the crisp, white flesh. Dessert apple. Mid-to late season blooming. ripens Mid-October. Fruit tends to drop when ripe.
McIntosh: zone 4-7. Nearly solid bright red skin. Heavy bearer. Good for eating and baking. Fruit tend to drop when ripe. Blooms mid-season. Ripens late September.
Red Baron: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 - zone 3, Medium-size red and yellow apple with juicy flesh and a mild sweet flavor. Good for fresh eating with a storage life of 4 to 5 weeks. Tree is hardy and resistant to fire blight.
Red Prairie Spy - zone 3, Prairie Spy is a beautiful red apple with cream-colored streaks running across the skin of this large fruit, incredibly sweet when it reaches peak ripeness and is great for fresh eating, baking and cooking! Attains peak flavor after other apples have fallen, extending harvest season by up to 30 days.
State Fair: zone 3-6. Medium sized fruit. Flavor is tart and good for eating and baking. Good texture, semi-acid to sweet. All-purpose apple. Short storage. Bloom date early season. Ripens Mid/late August.
Sweet Sixteen: zone 4-7. medium sized red striped apple with crisp, juicy texture. Sweet, unusual flavor. Outstanding dessert apple. Fireblight resistant.
Wealthy: zone 4-7. Striped red fruit with a tart balanced flavor. Multipurpose apple, especially good for cooking. Keeps well. Fruit tends to drop when ripe. Blooms early/mid-season. Ripens mid- September.
Winecrisp: - zone 4-8, Medium sized dark red apple with outstanding flavor. cream colored flesh is juicy with full spicy flavors. Use for fresh eating and cooking. Good storage. Bloom date mid-season. Ripens early mid-season. Scab resistant
York Imperial: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 Zone 4-8, Tree bears medium-to-large sized fruit with a slightly lopsided appearance. Skin is yellow blushed light red. Flesh is firm, dense and juicy — great for baking and cider making. Excellent keeper, and flavor improves after a month or so in proper storage. Antique variety. Ripens in October
Standard Apple Tree:
Wolf River: zone 4-7, Best known for its large size - up to 5" diameter, tart fruit. Color is pale yellow to green with carmine red blushes and stripes. Primarily used as a cooking apple, Blooms mid-season. Ripens early/mid-September
Yellow Transparent: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 3-6. Crisp, light and sweet – makes the ultimate home-cooked applesauce. Heavy producer. Pick before maturity for better storage. Best used for cooking. Scab resistant.
Espalier Apple Tree:
Hat Trick: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 4-7, Self-pollinating, Three outstanding apples on one tree. Honeycrisp on the bottom, Sweet Sixteen in the middle, and Zestar apples on top. No pollinator needed since are there are 3 different varieties on one tree. Budded and grown as an espalier, trained to grow flat against a wall. Grows 16-18' tall and wide. Blooms late season. Ripens late August/late September.
Apricot Trees:
NOT AVAILABLE 2026
Planting Apricot Trees
Select a location in your yard that receives full sun. Dig a deep hole. Add plenty of decomposed compost, if available. Mix thoroughly with regular garden soil. Bury the plant up to where it was in the container. Soak the soil thoroughly. Add more rich garden soil around the tree, if needed. Once your new Apricot tree is planted, it should grow quickly. Stake the tree in its first year of life if in a windy location. Strong winds can bend the young sapling, causing the trunk to grow at an angle. Really strong winds might even cause the tree to sway and damage roots. Apricots typically start to bear fruit at two years of age, but might not produce a substantial amount of fruit until they are three to five years of age.
Brookcot: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 3-8. grows 10-15', Self-pollinating (however yields improve with a cross pollinator), Bright yellowish-orange with a red blush, fruit is juicy with good flavor for fresh eating or canning. Blooms late April, Semi-freestone fruit ripens in early August, 1.25" diameter. at maturity.
Moongold: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 4-8, grows 10-15', Needs Pollinator, (Sungold is recommended pollinator), sweet and slightly acid, Blooms late April, Ripens late July
Sungold: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 4-8, grows 15-20' tall , Needs Pollinator (Moongold is recommended pollinator), Bright clear gold 1.25" fruit hangs on tree till ripe. Mild and sweet flavor. Eating quality is good sauce fair to good, jam very good. Blooms late April, Ripens late July
Cherry Trees:
Planting Cherry Trees
Plant in a sunny site with good air circulation; avoid planting near trees or buildings that shade. Cherry trees need deep, well-drained soil. Space tart cherries 20 to 25 feet apart. Cherry trees generally begin producing fruit within three to five years after being transplanted in the garden.
Evan's Bali: zone 3-8, Sour cherry, grows 15-20' feet tall, Self-pollinating, Deep dark red fruit 1" in diameter excellent for baking and fresh eating. sweeter than other sour cherries. Blooms early May. Ripens early July.
Mesabi: zone 4-8, Sour Cherry, grows 10-14' tall, Self-pollinating, Long stemmed, red fleshed fruit with sugar content halfway between pie cherries and Bing cherries The fruits have a tart taste and a juicy texture, Good for Cooking - Baking - Preserves - Juice-Making - Wine-Making, Blooms early may, ripens early July.
Meteor - zone 3, Meteor Cherry Tree is genetically dwarf and only grows to about 10 feet in height. Meteor Cherry fruit is large, bright red with a clear yellowish fresh. It is a tart cherry and mainly used as a pie cherry, great for juice. Bearing Age: 2 – 3 years after planting
North star: zone 4-8, Sour Cherry, grows 8-10' tall, Self-pollinating, Pie cherry, blooms earl May, Ripens late June
Sweet Cherry Pie: zone 4-7, Sour Cherry, grows 15' tall, Self-pollinating, new sour pie cherry has a sweeter cherry but not quite sweet enough for fresh eating. perfect for jams, jellies, and pies. Blooms early May, ripens mid-July
Pear Trees:
Planting Pear Trees
Pears require full sun. Dig your hole wide and deep, mixing mix plenty of compost into the soil. Remove the tree from its container, including the burlap, and set it in the hole to the same depth it was in its container. Refill the hole with the amended soil. Water well and continue to water regularly — once or twice a week — until the roots are well established. Unless your soil is extremely poor, fertilizing once a year should be enough for your pear tree. Care, in fact, must be taken to avoid over fertilization which produces a lovely tree, but no fruit. Pears typically produce the first fruits three years after planting, although they will not produce a full crop for five to seven years.
Early Gold Pear : NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 3-6. Crisp, light and sweet – makes the ultimate home-cooked applesauce. Heavy producer. Pick before maturity for better storage. Best used for cooking. Scab resistant. zone 3, Early Gold Pear is a medium-sized tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces chartreuse oblong pears with hints of gold and white flesh which are usually ready for picking in early fall. The pears have a sweet taste and a crisp texture, self-pollinating and very resistant to fireblight
Golden Spice: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 3-7, Golden Spice is a very hardy pear, with 1.75" fruit that are medium yellow and lightly blushed with dull red. This small, firm fruit is best for canning and spicing, fair for eating. Blooms early May. Ripens in late August and can be messy if fruit is allowed to fall to the ground. Very resistant to fireblight. Use Ure Pear as a Pollinator.
Juicy Jewel Asian: zone 4-8, This Asian pear has a crisp texture , disease resistance, and early harvest date. The attractive fruit is sweet with mild tropical overtones. Can be eaten fresh or stored for two to three months. Plant with another pear variety to ensure cross pollination. Blooms early season, ripens early to mid August.
Lucious: zone 4, European-type pear tree, delicious flavor that has fresh-off-the-tree sweetness. The fruit is similar in taste to the famous Bartlett pear, but Luscious Pears are even more flavorful, and the trees are more disease-resistant.
Parker: zone 3-8, It produces Indian red oblong pears with white flesh which are usually ready for picking from late summer to early fall. The pears have a sweet taste and a crisp texture. Blooms early May. Ripens in August. Use ure pear or Summercrisp as Pollinator.
Patten: zone 4-8, It produces yellow oblong pears with a red blush and white flesh which are usually ready for picking in early fall. The pears have a sweet taste and a juicy texture. Blooms early May. Ripens mid- September, Use Golden Spice, Summercrisp or Ure as a Pollinator.
Summercrisp: zone 3-8, In addition to being extremely cold hardy, Summercrisp is also one of the earliest pears to ripen every year! This pear tree easily withstands brutally cold winters and blooms in late spring to avoid frost damage. The amount of time it takes between the flowers blooming to producing ripe fruit is the shortest of all pear trees. These rounded pears take on a mostly crimson blush when ripe, with a pale-yellow tinge remaining on the shaded side of the fruit. Blooms Early May. Ripens Mid-August. Use Parker, Patten or Ure as a pollinator.
Tawara Asian Pear: zone 4-7. White flowers in spring give way to light brown fruit tasting like a cross between apple and pear, with a crispy texture. Seckel is a good pollinator. Excellent for fresh eating and canning. Blooms early May, ripens August-September.
Ure: zone 3-7, Fruit is green-yellow, very juicy and approximately 2" in diameter. Good for eating and canning. A very cold hardy, disease resistant ornamental and fruit bearing tree. Blooms early May, Ripens Mid-August. Use Golden Spice as a pollinator.
Peach Trees:
Limited Quantities
Planting Peach Trees
For the best fruit production, the tree should be planted in an area that receives full sun all day long. Morning sun is especially crucial because it helps to dry morning dew off the fruit. Choose a site with well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Peach trees won’t do well in areas where soil is compacted or remains consistently wet. Soil pH should be on the slightly-acidic side, between 6 and 6.5. Be sure to avoid planting in low areas, as cold air and frost can more easily settle there and affect the quality of your peaches. Expect your peach tree to produce fruit for about 12 years. The tree should start bearing large crops by the third or fourth year after planting and reach peak production from eight years until it begins its decline around year 12.
Contender: zone 4-8, Grows 12-15' tall, Self-pollinating, Cold hardy and tolerant to a late-spring frost, the Contender Peach is well suited for the north. Flush with pink spring blossoms which attract bees. Peaches have velvety orange and red skin with sweet extra juicy yellow flesh, the firm peaches are extremely tasty eating out of hand fresh from the tree. Blooms early May Ripens mid-August
Reliance: - zone 4-8. Self-pollinating Perfect for northern fruit gardens! Fruit is medium-to-large with a sweet, peachy flavor. Features a flush of pink flowers in spring. Cold-hardy. Freestone. Blooms early May. Ripens in July.
Plum Trees:
Planting Plum Trees
Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. plums need a planting hole the depth of the tree's roots and two times as wide as the hole is deep. Any soil amendments are mixed into the soil while you dig. The trees generally begin bearing fruit four to six years after planting. Plums also need winter chill, pruning and the right climate to produce a good yield.
Blackice: zone 4-8, grows 8-12' tall, Blackice is a cross between a cherry plum and a conventional Japanese dessert plum resulting in large fruit with superior winter hardiness and an early ripening date. Blooms early April ripens Early August. Use Waneta as a pollinator
Mount Royal: zone 4-8, grows 8-12' tall, Self-pollinating, Mount Royal is a very hardy European blue plum that is good eaten right off the tree or excellent for dessert or drying. Trees produce freestone, sweet, tender plums. Excellent for dessert, jam and preserves. Blooms early May ripens Late August.
Superior: zone 4, a Japanese and American hybrid the produces a late mid-season crop of firm, sweet plums. Their bold red skin gives way to a sweet yellow flesh that is rich and flavorful. uase Waneta or Toka for cross pollinating.
Toka: zone 3-8, grows 15-20' tall, produces medium sized, very sweet, and juicy reddish bronze colored plums with a yellow flesh. One of the best pollinators. Blooms late April, Ripens Mid-August. Use Waneta or Blackice as pollinators.
Waneta: zone 3-8, grows 10-15" tall, Early and super juicy! Large red-skinned plums, sweet and juicy yellow flesh. Enjoy delicious plums sooner in the summer with Waneta. Trees are prolific producers, so you will have plenty of plums for snacks, desserts and canning. Blooms late April Ripens late August through September. Use Blackice or Toka as pollinators.
Mulberry:
Trader White Mulberry: NOT AVAILABLE 2026 zone 3-7, Cold hardy and wonderfully ornamental, Trader White Mulberry is an everbearing fruit tree that produces sweet purple fruit that ripens over an extended period of time from early July to early September. Maturing to roughly 35 feet tall and 30 feet wide, Trader White Mulberry can be grown as a single- or multi-stem tree with beautiful heart-shaped green leaves that age to lemon-yellow in fall. The original tree, planted over 125 years ago, still produces fruit and remains unplagued by spotted-winged drosophila fly, which plagues many fruits.
Blackberries & Raspberries
Chester Thornless Blackberry: zone 5-8, Semi-erect, medium to large, round, deep black, very sweet berries. High quality and high yields. Excellent eaten fresh or made into preserves and wine. Ripens in July. 3-4’, full sun.
Darrow Blackberry: zone 5-8, Large, firm and juicy berry with honey sweet flavor. Tob quality fruit, hardy and disease resistant. Ripens in July for 2-3 weeks. 3-4’, full sun.
Anne Raspberry: zones 4-9, It bears high yields of plump, golden berries that have a super-sweet flavor and are packed with nutrition. They'll add color and sweet flavor to fruit salads and other recipes. They're also oh-so-yummy picked fresh from the plants. Ripens late August through October. Raspberries grow best when planted in sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Self-pollinating.
Boyne Raspberry: zone 3-8, Attractive with delicious sweet fruit, excellent for eating fresh, canning, freezing and desserts. Very hardy and disease resistant. Produces a large crop of huge juicy berries in early July. 4-6’, full sun.
Bristol Black Raspberry: zone 4-8, Fruit is black and large with attractive, glossy skin and firm flesh. Berries have excellent quality and good flavor, hardy and vigorous, good for canning, freezing and fresh eating. Ripens mid-July. 3-4’, full sun.
Caroline Raspberry: zone 4-7, One of the most productive varieties and is considered to be the new standard for fall bearing raspberries. Large, vigorous plants with flavorful fruit. 3-4’, full sun.
Fallgold Raspberry: zone 4-8, Golden-yellow, extra large berries are produced in large clusters. Fruit is sweet, juicy and firm, excellent for all purposes. Hardy, vigorous, every-bearing variety that produces an early crop in spring, then again in July-August. 3-4’, full sun.
Heritage Raspberry: zone 4-8, Medium-sized red berries have good flavor and quality. Exceptional for fresh eating or for making pies and jams. An outstanding ever-bearing variety that produces a crop in mid-July and then again in early September. 3-4’, full sun.
Killarney Raspberry: zone 3-7, Attractive red berry with great aroma and flavor. Excellent for freezing, canning and pies. One of the most disease resistant varieties, making it easy to maintain. Extremely winter hardy. 3-4’, full sun.
Latham Raspberry: zone 3-7, Popular red raspberry produces large crops of big juicy berries. Delicious as jam or a dessert as well as for fresh eating. Starts to ripen in July and continues over a long period of time. 3-4’, full sun.
Blueberries
Blueberries thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. A sunny spot will encourage fruit production and improve overall plant health. Blueberries prefer acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Conduct a soil test before planting to determine your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. If your soil is too alkaline, you can amend it by adding elemental sulfur or pine needles. Good drainage is essential for blueberry plants as they do not tolerate “wet feet.” Choose a site with well-draining soil or consider planting in raised beds if your soil is clay-heavy or prone to waterlogging. The best time to plant blueberries in Vermont is in early spring after the last frost or in late fall before the ground freezes. Spring planting allows plants to establish before summer heat, while fall planting enables them to develop roots over winter. Space blueberry plants about 4-6 feet apart to allow for adequate air circulation and sunlight penetration. Blueberries require consistent moisture, especially during dry spells. Aim to provide about 1-2 inches of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering, which can encourage fungal diseases; instead, use drip irrigation if possible. Blueberries have specific nutritional needs, preferring fertilizers formulated for acid-loving plants. In early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer designed for blueberries following package instructions based on your plant’s age. For newly planted bushes, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer. For established bushes (3 years or older), a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content can be beneficial during the growing season. Pruning is vital for maintaining plant health and maximizing yield. Prune late winter or early spring before new growth begins is ideal. Remove dead or diseased wood, thin out crowded branches, and cut back stems that produced fruit last year, encouraging new growth and more fruiting wood.
Bluecrop Blueberry: zone 4-7, Medium-sized, light blue firm fruit ripens in early August. Considered the best for consistent yields, disease resistance and high quality. Fiery red fall foliage. Best results when two varieties are planted together. Prefers an acidic soil. 4-6’, full sun.
Blueray Blueberry: zone 4-7, Heavy producer of large, high quality, powder-blue berries with outstanding dessert flavor. A mid-season berry that ripens in early August. Burgundy colored fall foliage. Best results when two varieties are planted together. Prefers acidic soil. 5’, full sun.
Jersey Blueberry: zone 4-8, Dark blue fruit is small to medium in size and very sweet in flavor. Excellent for baking. This reliable producer gives best results when planted together with another variety. Ripens mid-August. Prefers acidic soil. 5-6’, full sun.
Northblue Blueberry: zone 3-8, Large, dark blue fruit with excellent blueberry flavor and great for fresh eating. Ripens in late July followed by bright red foliage in the fall. More than one cultivar should be planted for best pollination. Prefers acidic soil. 24-36”, full sun.
Patriot Blueberry: zone 4-8, Large blue fruit with excellent blueberry flavor, borne in tight clusters, ripening in late July. This vigorous, upright and open shrub is an excellent landscape plant with its spring flowers and orange fall color. Prefers acidic soil. 4-6’, full sun.
Currants
Consort Black Currant: zone 3-7, Extremely productive, self-fruitful variety produces black fruits with a strong flavor. Black currants prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0 to 6.5) and should be planted in a sunny location for best growth. Fruits are medium in size and borne in clusters that ripen from July to August. Immune to rust, moderately susceptible to mildew. 4-6’, full sun.
Red Lake Currant: zone 3-7, Semi-erect vigorous grower produces clusters of large bright red berries borne on 2-3 year old wood. Red Lake are popular for their high yields and disease resistance. Fruits are used for jams and jellies. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. These varieties thrive in well-drained soil. Ripens in mid-July. 3-6’, full sun.
Grapes
Start with soil testing to determine pH levels and nutrient content. Grapes prefer well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Amend your soil based on test results, adding lime or sulfur as needed to adjust pH levels. Grapes do not tolerate waterlogged soil well, so ensure your site has good drainage. Raised beds or mounded rows can help facilitate drainage and promote healthy root growth. Grapes require full sun for optimal growth—aim for at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. The best time to plant grapes in Vermont is in late spring after the last frost date, typically around mid-May. This allows young plants to establish roots before the heat of summer sets in. When planting grapevines, space them approximately 6 to 8 feet apart in rows that are about 8 feet apart. This spacing allows ample air circulation, which helps prevent disease. Water newly planted vines thoroughly but avoid overwatering. Gradually reduce watering as roots establish themselves, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Grapes are typically ready for harvest around late summer to early fall (September to October), depending on variety and growing conditions.
Bluebell Grape: zone 4-8, Medium to large blue-black berry with tender skin. Good for fresh eating. Excellent hardiness and a substitute for ‘Concord’. Ripens early to mid-September. Self-fruitful, full sun.
Canadice Grape: zone 5-8, Red seedless variety has compact fruit clusters of large berries that produce a sweet flavor. Excellent for fresh eating. Ripens in early September. Self-fruitful, full sun.
Edelweiss Grape: zone 4-8, Medium-sized fruit that is sweet and pleasantly flavored. Its green-white color and high sugar content make it an excellent dessert or white wine grape. Disease resistant. Ripens late August. Self-fruitful, full sun.
Gooseberry
Hinnomaki Red Gooseberry: zone 4-6, Adaptable and productive with dark red medium sized fruits on a vigorous, upright plant. Ready to eat in first year in July-August. Good mildew resistance. 3-5’, full sun, self-fruitful. Gooseberries prefer full sun to partial shade. Aim for a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Gooseberries thrive in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Ideally, aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH level (between 6.0 and 7.0). Plant gooseberry bushes about 4-5 feet apart to allow adequate air circulation between them. This spacing helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Gooseberries require consistent moisture; however, they do not like soggy soil. Water deeply once a week during dry spells or as needed based on rainfall. Be careful not to overwater; this can lead to root rot.
Honeyberry
Consider planting multiple varieties to ensure cross-pollination, which will lead to larger harvests. Honeyberries thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Aim for at least six hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth and berry production. Honeyberries prefer well-drained, loamy soil that is slightly acidic (pH between 6.0 and 6.5). While honeyberries are relatively drought-tolerant once established, regular watering during dry spells will promote healthy growth and fruit development. Aim for about an inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. To encourage robust growth and abundant fruiting, consider fertilizing your plants in early spring using an organic fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium—elements essential for flowering and fruit development. Pruning is crucial for maintaining healthy honeyberry bushes. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, remove dead or damaged branches. Thin out crowded areas within the bush to increase airflow and sunlight penetration.
Berry Blue Honeyberry: zone 3-8, Large blueberry-like tasting fruits are great for fresh eating, making jams and jellies, or baked in to pies. Ripens early summer. This vigorous variety is perfect for backyard gardeners or for a full orchard. Can be used as a pollinator for other varieties. 4’, full sun, requires pollinator.
Borealis Honeyberry: zone 3-8, This variety is particularly frost-resistant and is noted for its productivity. Excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C. Use Berry Blue as a pollinator. Early summer fruit. 4’, full sun.
Jostaberry
Jostaberry: zone 3-8, Glossy round berries are firm, plump, and loaded with vitamin C. The taste is a blend of black currant and gooseberry flavor, sweet and satisfying. Fruits heavily starting early July, usually the second year. Easy to Grow. Jostaberries are relatively low-maintenance and adaptable to various growing conditions. Disease Resistance: They are generally resistant to common fruit diseases, making them a reliable choice for gardeners. Resistant to white pine blister rust. 4-6’, full sun, self-fruitful. Jostaberries thrive in full sun to partial shade, receiving at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is ideal. Avoid heavy clay soils that can retain too much moisture. Jostaberries are relatively compact, with mature plants reaching a height of 3-5 feet and a spread of 3-4 feet. Allow ample space for air circulation and easy access for maintenance. Protection: Choose a location that is sheltered from strong winds, which can damage delicate branches and foliage.
Strawberries
Plant strawberry plants just deep enough into the soil to cover the roots with about ¼ inch (6mm), leaving the crowns exposed. The base of the crown should be at soil level. As soon as your plants are in the ground, water and apply an all-purpose fertilizer to get them off to a good start.
The best time to plant strawberries is in late summer to early fall, enabling them to become established and produce a generous crop the following year. However, they also do well planted on a cloudy day in March or April, as soon as the ground is workable. This gives the plants time to settle into their plot before warm weather arrives.
Strawberry plants need full sun so choose a bright spot where they’ll have six or more hours of full sun exposure. The amount of sun your plants get will determine the size of the crop and the size of the berries. Additionally, many varieties produce blossoms in early spring that can be killed by a late frost unless there’s plenty of sun on your plants.
Ideally strawberry plants should be spaced 1.5 to 2 feet apart (40 to 60cm) to allow plenty of room for them to grow and spread. However, where space is tight, you can go as close as 1 foot (31cm) if you keep on top of watering and fertilizing. If planting strawberries in rows, leave 3 to 4 feet (about 1m) between rows.
All Star Strawberry: zone 3-8, A top-performing variety. This easy-care plant is very vigorous, giving you crops of large, glossy, firm berries with an exceptionally sweet taste and that perfect strawberry shape. You’ll want to plant plenty of extras for freezing or making preserves. Disease-resistant to verticillium wilt, leaf scorch, powdery mildew, red stele, and tolerates botrytis rot. Cold hardy. Ripens in June. Self-pollinating.
Fort Laramie Strawberry: zone 3-7, Super-sturdy strain thrives in all parts of the country; withstands the worst winters without mulch. Produces a fair amount of runners and huge crops of bright red berries bursting with juice. Honey-sweet flavor is excellent fresh and for processing. Everbearing. Self-pollinating.
Honeoye Strawberry: zone 3-8, Expect high yields of early-season berries from June-bearer Honeoye. This hybrid has been a top producer in the field for over 30 years. They are easy to grow and great for both large-scale producers and backyard gardeners. Large, firm berries are easy to pick over an extended fruiting period, and the plant is particularly winter hardy.
Ozark Beauty Strawberry: zone 3-8, Pleasing to both your taste buds and your eyes, our Ozark Beauty Strawberries will be the highlight of your garden! As an everbearing variety, it will provide you with a never ending supply of strawberries for years to come! These starts will yield abundant crops from the springtime until the snow starts to fly. The Ozark strawberries are deep red & firm, and their taste is considered by many as "just right" in sweetness.
Quinalt Strawberry: zone 4-8, They produce one large crop in late spring or early summer and a second, slightly smaller crop in fall. Under ideal conditions, your plants can even produce a third crop. Unlike most everbearing varieties, they produce vigorous runners. Some have noted that their Quinault strawberry plants are producing runners but not fruit. Normally its recommended to trim the runners to encourage berry production. Don’t trim the runners off of this variety though! The unrooted runners will produce loads of large, sweet berries if left to their own devices. Everbearing varieties like Quinault are ideal for growing in pots. They are average in size, growing 8-10 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide and drape pleasingly over planter edges.
Wendy Strawberry: zone 3-8, Hardy, productive mid June-bearing strawberry. Large, glossy red, wedge-shaped to conic berries are firm with bright red flesh and excellent flavor. Resistant to powdery mildew and red stele. 8-12”, self-fruitful.