Last updated on May 14th, 2013
IN THE SPRING OF 2002, I planted five heirloom apple trees on the south-facing hill behind my house. Can you guess what happened? The trees were promptly devoured by every pest and disease known to botanists. Too bad I didn’t have fruit-expert Lee Reich to help me out. His latest book, Grow Fruit Naturally, is the subject of this month’s giveaway:
Grow Fruit Naturally tells us just about everything we need to know about raising fruit in the home garden. Like how to select varieties that will perform well in our own, special regions. And how to prune fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines for maximum productivity. And how to control common pests and diseases without the aid of nasty chemicals.
No garden? No problem. Lee Reich tells us which fruit-bearing plants can be grown in containers. According to Lee, even if you live in the cold Northeast (as I do), you can grow certain citrus trees and even figs in pots.
To Enter
To enter this giveaway, just answer one of the following questions in the comments section of this post:
What’s your favorite fruit-based dessert?
Which fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, or vines are you currently growing?
Wanna answer both questions? Be my guest!
The Rules
No submissions after 11:59PM on Monday, May 13, 2013
One entry per person, please
Optional, but Appreciated: Click the Facebook “Like” button below
As always, I’ll use the nifty number gadget at Random.org to select 3 winners. Winners’ names will be announced on Tuesday, May 14. So be sure to check back!
I look forward to reading your fruit-filled fantasies.
The Winners!
Barb, comment #89: We are trying to grow many fruit trees…
Louise B., comment #6: I’m a cherry pie girl through and through…
Joan S., comment #107: While Apple Crisp has always been a favorite…Congratulations, Barb, Louise, and Joan! To collect your loot, just contact me at this address.
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly email updates.
Related Posts:
Chive Pesto
Downton Abbey Quiz
Glazed Apple Tart
Tracy Gonzales says
Yum – I’m a sucker for blackberry cobblers! Or a really good cherry pie. Or peach pie. Apparently I have simple tastes – do I really have to choose just one? 🙂
Melissa Caprio says
I love homemade blackberry pie with real vanilla ice cream!
Marjean says
Just one? Okay, blueberry pie made from just picked blueberries. We have the best U-Pick organic blueberry farms here in Oregon. Summer here is heavenly!
Linda P. Strangio says
Well Kevin, that would be blackberry cobbler.
Julia Vitale says
TRIPLE BERRY TART YUMMY
Louise Brouillette says
I’m a cherry pie girl through and through!
Ms Eddie J. says
That would have to be an oldie but goodie…..Apple pie.
Lisa Gilbertsen says
My apple crisp!!
Darlene Russo says
Pear cream cheese tart for sure! Wanting to plant apple, peach and damson plum trees.
Doris T says
Strawberry Shortcake 😀
Heather M says
Sour cherry crisp
Oreet says
Cobbler – made with pretty much any berry or stone fruit – topped with whipped cream 🙂
Maggie says
Carmel apple pie with toasted walnuts and a crumb topping…. although I think I need to google pear cream cheese tart thanks to Darlene. I used to have 2 pear trees on my old property. That was before I gained an appreciation for pears. Planted apple trees, but never got fruit… thanks deer.
Carolyn Politis says
I have to say rhubarb and apple pie. I had to look up to check that rhubarb is considered a fruit and Wikipedia says that yes, even though technically a vegetable, it has been given fruit status since 1947. So there you go!
John H says
Every Texan has grown up on peach cobbler made with fresh Fredericksburg peaches.
Nancy H. says
Apple crisp always sounds great, with some ice cream on the side!
This sounds like a great resource!
Cathy McCarter says
Rhubarb, Strawberry, Ginger and Orange Zest Crumble, so zingy and flavorsome …
Julie Dacus says
Cherry grunt for me. We use frozen home-grown cherries. A quick stove-top dessert that cooks while you’re eating dinner. Yum!
Rosemeri says
Crisps…..apple, peach, apricot, berries. I love them all.
badger gardener says
Strawberry honey pie is my favorite, likely because I am in anticipation of it knowing strawberry season is around the corner.
We just put in a small apple orchard last year on our school campus and would like to stay organic. Sounds like this book is just the ticket.
Linda says
My grandma’s strawberry pie is like no other, but anything raspberry ranks right up there.
Heidi says
We are growing apples and grapes. Planning for blueberries in the future.
Robin says
Crisps of any kind are my favorite. Right now I’ve got a lemon tree in a pot and I’ve just planted some elderberries. I hope they grow.
Vicki says
Berry tarts or peach tarts. At the bakery where I work, I make peach, peach/raspberry, blueberry, mixed berry, etc. They are all delicious.
Mermaid Deb says
We have 4 peach trees, 1 pear tree, 2 apple trees and 2 cherry trees. All are doing well with organics for the past 6 yrs but can always learn more:-)
Kelly M says
I love love love love love lemon meringue pie !!
I am currently growing a peach tree (fingers crossed). If that succeeds then the sky’s the limit.
Kate says
I just planted about 20 fruit trees last spring- apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots. I am waiting the arrival of my quinces, once of my most cherished fruits. This book sounds like a must for my gardening book collection! I get so much great information from you, Kevin. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Diana C says
In the fall I planted a pomegranate tree/bush! I was excited to see all the beautiful red poppy-like blooms on the ends of the fruit… then they all started dropping to the ground. I read that this is normal during the first year. I at least get to enjoy the blooms while they last!
Allison K says
Anything lime (or lemon)…the more tart the better! A lime meringue pie is heavenly. As for fruited flora, currently I only have tomatoes and strawberries….someday soon I hope to get into dwarf fruit trees–apples (including crabapples!), cherries and plums.
Tammy says
My favorite fruit-based dessert would be apple cobbler, with ice cream, of course.
We just planted two North Star cherry trees and I would love to win a copy of the book. I pretty much know nothing about growing a cherry tree, so let’s hope we don’t kill the poor things. Sadly, our cherry tree last year, named Cherry Sunday, quickly died, but I’ll just blame that on the freakishly hot and dry weather we had.
We hope to add blueberries and grapes soon, too.
Thanks for the give-away Kevin! Good luck to all!
Tammy
Nicole says
My favorite fruit dessert–fresh fruit from our garden! We have 22 fruit trees, shrubs or vines. Apples, citrus, grapes, nectarines, cherries, apricot, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, black raspberries, kiwi, persimmon, pomegranate. And of course the veggies…
Val says
Last spring we planted an Asian Pear and Northern Kiwi which, so far, are coming along quite nicely…..can’t say the same for the two paw paw trees (an experiment worth repeating). This years trial will be two dwarf peach trees, chums, and yet again, paw paws.
Theres nothing like cooking with produce from your own gardens!
Thanks for all the info, pics and tips.
Maureen says
I love anything with peaches and or blueberries.
Amanda Wiersma says
We currently have two very large mystery apples, 6 new little apples we put in, one sour cherry, and a peach, and 3 pears. Few years before those are doing much, but boat loads of wild grapes and, a mystery berry (cant wait to see what they are!) and black raspberries. Oh, and wild strawberries! I am a jam maker, so I am in heaven. Fave fruit desert, vanilla berry pie, or apple blueberry pie, crisp anything.;)
Mary says
We have apples, pears, peaches, apricots, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, plums and grapes–the trees/bushes/vines, that is. Not always so reliable on the fruit front! Which is why this book could be a BIG help!
Tiffany says
Whateverberry cobbler… it stays in season the longest 🙂
We grow blackberries and blueberries, and hope to add plums and some kind of apple that can handle the South this fall. And although it’s not a vine, tree, or shrub, I’m a big fan of the ground cherry/ cape gooseberry. Easy to grow, extremely prolific, and my kids eat them all summer long, right in the garden. They look like teeny tiny tomatillos, and taste like citrusy tomatoey blueberries. They make a mean jam!
Karen G says
Just planted 2 dwarf, thornless raspberry plants in containers and am so excited to bake some raspberry cobbler (next year…)!
Kathy adams says
Fresh fruit salad with blueberries, strawberries, and perfectly ripened peaches -wish I had sme now!
We have a pear tree and an apple tree and a small rhubarb patch. We are starting a berry patch with Natchez blackberries and 1 unknown variety of red raspberry. I love blueberries, but am a failure with those (so far, anyway)
Nancy Vonheeder says
I absolutely love any fruit cobbler. My favorite is Blackberry and Peach. We currently have raspberries, strawberries and apricots growing in our yard. I LOVE FRUIT!!!!!
I also love your site. You helped me get rid of some mold spots that kept coming through the paint and wallpaper with your idea a while back for using bleach on the spots. Thank you so much!!! Love your house and plants. Good luck as you continue to refinish everything.
LisaF says
Kevin, I’d have to say a trifle made with berries; strawberry, raspberry and blueberry is a favorite combo.
As for what we’retrying to grow (The drought in CO is making it tough for my young plants to get going), we’ve planted apple, cherry, and plum trees, alpine strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, honeyberries, currents, gooseberries, and rhubarb. The kiwi’s croaked last summer, sadly. Hopefully this summer we’ll get more than a handful of raspberries!
Barbara says
I made a similar “mistake” with Cherry Trees. Actually, 4 Cherry Trees and 2 Apricot trees, all of which developed a horrible yellow ooze around the crotches. Apples, Plums, they were all fine and are growing and thriving to this day. But the Cherry and Apricot trees have long since been removed, figs planted in their place. Knock wood, the figs seem very happy.
Katreader says
I could sure use this book! I currently have an apple, pear, sweet cherry, and sour cherry trees. I also planted an apricot tree-but I don’t think it survived the winter (and bunnies). I also have raspberries and black raspberries.
Nancy says
It’s a toss up between raspberry cobbler and strawberry shortcake! They are both our family favorites.
Suzan says
Lemon meringue pie, or maybe strawberry shortcake, of course there’s always glazed pears, oh and let me not forget apple cobbler.
Blueberry bushes for now. Looking to try sour cherry bushes. Small yard? Yep
Meg says
Strawberry Fool in a pretty goblet! I’ve tried growing several fruits without much to show for it. Trying wonderberry bush this year.This looks like an interesting read.
Susan says
Apple Dumplings, Sour Cherry pie and anything with berries! Can’t decide. Also have a thing for lemon.
Bethe says
Must be peach cobbler with thick chewy crispy-edged crust and homemade vanilla ice cream. Oh, the dreams of childhood!
Michele says
I’m trying to grow kiwi vines this year. They are supposed to be hardy in the PNW, I’m crossing my fingers!
Cary says
Boysenberry pie and I’m growing Walter Knott’s boysenberries in my CT garden. Vines planted a couple years ago and am hoping for a bumper crop. Wish me luck :)!
Julie says
Apple and pear trees in a little orchard area. Blueberries (and we even managed to beat the other critters to the harvest last year). Concord grapes. And do hazelnuts count – or would they if the squirrels would me any?
Shannon Ashworth says
I am growing 2 peach trees, 3 plum trees, 3 apple trees and 2 mystery trees. I also have 6 blueberry bushes. The apple and plum trees have 3 to 4 different varieties grafted onto them. My daughters and I won all these trees and bushes over the last 2 years at a fireman’s awards banquet. All the trees and bushes are doing great here in Washington State
Sarah Roberts says
I can’t grow anything in the strict neighborhood I currently live but that is changing! My hubby and I are scoping out land to build our dream house with plenty of space for gardens and fruit trees!!! And NO rules!!! I would love any help I can get in starting this new life and growing our own food! Thanks!! Fingers crossed!
Louise McPhillips says
I am growing strawberries, blueberries and peaches in Alabama…
Janice says
We have apple trees, blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes and small grape vines that have not produced yet.
It’s hard to pick “a” fruit based dish that I like, there are so many good ones but, I am partial to cherries and love when they come in season locally!
Leticia Balnius says
I currently have peaches, raspberries , and strawberries. We also I a couple of unsuccessful blueberry bushes that I would live to help. Also my favorite dessert is a mixed berry tart.
Vaiva says
I love peach cobbler, and plum tarts. Currently I’m growing a few blueberry bushes but would love to expand to other fruits. I love the fig in a pot idea… Thanks for the chance!
Aly says
Hi Kevin,
Apple pie would be my favorite.
And I’m planning to plant a plum tree this year.
I tumbled across your blog a few months ago while searching for winter sow, and have been logging on every week.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Laura says
Raspberry cheesecake brownie.
Red Raspberries!
Nancy says
We LOVE black raspberries.
Angela Willis says
Since I could never answer a question about which fruit based desert was my favorite (I like too many!) I will tell you that we are growing strawberries,, blue berries and red raspberries, and fingers crossed for my new peach tree to put on fruit this year (maybe this book could help)! 🙂 ummm… can’t wait!
Samantha says
Though I’m not generally a fan of cooked fruit desserts, I loooved my grandmother’s apple pie. Even though I follow her recipe and there’s really nothing special in it, it still never tastes nearly as good as hers did…:)
I’m trying blueberry bushes (again) this year, raspberries (again, also!) as hope to plant several fruit trees (peach, apple, and apricot) after I get some land cleared…I need all the help I can get!!
P Miranda says
I’m growing a peach tree for the first time here in my zone 5B central Ohio garden. Thanks for the giveaway offer! I love reading our blog!
Karen K says
I’m growing various apples, 3 pear trees, 2 apricots, 2 peaches, 1 sick nectarine, Kiwi vine but I think it’s male, elderberry, currant, three plums that have sent up root suckers everywhere, black-raspberries, blackberries, invasive wine-berries (they just appeared), nanking cherries, and I’ve planted a sweet cherry and a mulberry but no fruit yet. I don’t spray and could use the latest from Lee.
Denise in NJ says
I think I’d have to say peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream is my favorite dessert.
I’ve been growing strawberries and raspberries for years. The strawberries bear well, but the raspberries are few and far between. Oh, I get enough to make a smoothie every now and then, but I apparently need to learn more about how to make them more productive. I have 2 figs in pots and got a couple dozen figs last year. Two years ago I planted 3 blueberry bushes and 3 columnar apple trees. Lost the blueberries to the derecho and the apples to fire blight. I’ve got a bush cherry that produced 2 cherries last year that turned black and shriveled up. The same thing happened to my grapes. So I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a whole lot more knowledge to be successful with fruit.
Angel Vales says
Currently, I’m not growing any fruit. I just added an asparagus bed this year and always try a few new crops each year. I’d like to grow strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for sure– they’re not too tough to raise, but I just relocated within the same town this year. I’d love to grow kumquats and lemons too though I suspect I’d have to winter them indoors in Zone 6. Espaliered trees are so lovely; it’s ambitious, but I’d like to learn what I need to in order to successfully add them to my garden– peaches in particular.
Karen Ramsay says
Right now I’m growing thorn-less blackberries and blueberries. In the future I plan on growing some more strawberries. This bed currently has some tomatoes right now.
When my niece and nephew were much younger they always wanted to come to Aunt Karen’s and explore. And would let you know how disappointed they were when the fruits were out of season, so I had to buy some strawberries and put them in a bowl. They caught onto this trick real quick! For them it was all about going outside and gathering the berries; good times.
I have some pictures with them both holding blackberries that were as big as the palm of their hands. They have their own plants at home now, and still love their berries.
christina says
Strawberry/rhubarb pie is our favorite.
Trina says
French Apple Tart by Martha Stewart. My friend makes it and it is fantastic!
I am growing apple, peach, nectarine, plum and persimmon trees. They are all young so every day is an experiment!
Izabela says
witam,deser to zdecydowanie szarlotka,ale ciasto z galaretką i wiśniami też jest doskonałe
pozdrawiam
Amy says
I don’t know if this necessarily counts as “dessert,” but elderberry mead is probably my favorite thing on the planet. (It goes great with a bowl of vanilla ice cream) We get our honey from local, organic sources and a friend of ours has elderberry shrubs on her property for fruit. We aren’t currently growing any fruit (I’m more into growing flowers apparently), but we just planted a ton of forsythia shrubs, and we’re building a garden arbor.
susan westfall says
In the last year I have planted 29 fruit trees/bushes. I have 3 citrus, 2 peach, 1 fig, 3 apple (2 Golden Dorsett and 1 Anna, because I live in North Florida) 12 blueberry bushes, and 8 thornless blackberries. I am attempting to live my lifelong dream of growing and canning my own home grown, delicious fruit. I would also like to do this organically.
Marcia Hicks says
When we moved into our 1941 Cape Cod home 7 years ago there were raspberries already planted in the garden. Since then we’ve put in espalier apples, grapes, blueberries and strawberries. Since we have a small urban lot, it would be nice to know what varieties would work well in small spaces. Our favorite desserts are strawberry shortcake and blueberry cobbler.
Mary Rybarczyk says
Cherry pie. Growing apples, peaches, sweet and tart cherries.
prairiecactus says
Fruit cobblers…any kind but especially peach and blackberry.
We will be giving a variety of blueberries a try this year. We lost a cherry tree to winter ice and one small apple tree. Hope to plant a pear tree in place of one of them.
Beth says
Tarte Tatin aux poires! And I’m growing figs. Do tomatoes count? They are fruit, botanically speaking.
Cosette says
Too many to tell all the names, but I’m growing apples, plums, apricots, honeyberries, raspberries, cherries, pears, and soon grapes! I tried to push my zone (4) and grow nectarines and peaches, but they didn’t make it through the winter. The poor dears. Also I tried hardy kiwi, but they don’t seem to have made it either. It’s okay I have my hands full keeping the others alive and happy.
I wish you success with your fruit in the future!
Diane says
Blueberry cobbler wiith vanlla ice cream! I am currently growing blueberries and raspberries.
KaeleyAnne says
Apple pie!
I’m not growing any fruits (aside from vegetable imposters) – we live in an apartment and will moving sometime within the next year. So the container growing information would be particularly pertinent for me.
Michelle A. says
My favorite fruit dessert is a tie between cherry pie and rhubarb cobbler.
Currently, I have a small apple tree and some everbearing strawberries. I am working in some blackberries, raspberries, and cape gooseberries this year. Good times!
Patti says
I have a pretty corner lot in the suburbs of Chicago – I call it my little farm in the city. I was told that a master gardener once owned it. I have peach, pear, apple & cherry trees plus concord grapes & raspberries. I have only lived here 6 years & feel like such a failure. I never get the pears ripened to put up. The peaches were beautiful the first 2 years but have struggled ever since. Cherries – I never get them before the birds do. I do get beautiful raspberries & the jam is tasty and the grapes make excellent jam & jelly. I need help to keep everything bearing fruit and feel I should be able to do it. I am hoping one of these books will help me!!
Erin says
I love Bumbleberry Pie and Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream. On my little .15 acre lot I have 4 apple trees, 2 figs, a cherry, a plum, strawberries, red and gold raspberries, blueberries, red and black currants, rhubarb, cranberry, grapes, a lime and lemon in the greenhouse for the winter and on the deck in the summer. Zone 9a.
Heidi Haas says
I love your site! As a beginner I have no plans to grow any fruit at the moment, so please dont consider this an entry…but I had to put a word in for apple walnut cake! Oh, yum!
anita says
Dessert: peach trifle
Trees/vines: apples, pears, peaches, strawberries and grapes.
We attended one winemaking class, but ran out of steam, so we just eat them and/or juice the grapes.
The peaches have been small and stunted and disappointing. Maybe the book will help!
ruth says
Best pudding has to be rhubarb crumble with ( to quote Enid Blyton) lashings of custard and the rhubarb is lovely at the moment.
Along with the rhubarb, we are growing raspberries, blackcurrants, 2 types of pears (but no idea which), 2 types of apple (again no idea a new present plants), a cherry, a plum and last but not least a fig on the patio which looks as if we are going to have 4 fruit to eat this year and numerous new baby fruit.
It might sound as if we don’t need the book but we are compulsive buy & plant people who lack knowledge and often have disasters!!!
Marilyn says
Many favorites, but I am extremely fond of raspberry apple crisp (and really any dessert with raspberries in it…my grandmother made amazing raspberry pies). I planted honeyberries (haskaps) and a Saskatoon bush this year…would love more knowledge about fruit growing.
Susan in MI says
Your apricot glazed apple tart, apple pie the way my mother made it, fresh blueberries and cream…do love desert.
Grow pears, apples, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and paw paws here. It’s almost impossible to harvest the apples and pears that bugs haven’t destroyed but still refuse to use the poisons.
Caroline says
Strawberry-rhubard pie topped offer dinner tonight. The rhubarb is from our garden and we plan to start a new strawberry patch.
We are growing red and black raspberries, blueberries, high bush cranberries, plums and experimenting with a peach tree here in zone 4.
Patsy says
I love homemade strawberry shortcake made with wild strawberries.
Barb says
We are trying to grow many fruit trees…..apples,cherries,pears,plumb,peaches. Put them in 9 years ago and had fruit from them three years ago that was fantastic. But haven’t done so well the last few years!!! Here’s hoping
Teresa says
I have raspberry canes, rhubarb, a plum tree (that flowers, but never produces fruit) and a grape vine
Opal says
My favorite fruit based dessert is banana splits, with strawberries, and pineapple, bananas, pecans or walnuts and of course caramel topping and ice cream. What we are raising now are blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb and pecans. And we are hoping to add heirloom apple trees and blackberries this year. Thank you so much for your blog. I absolutely love it. I just discovered you recently and I have already learned so much. (Your vinegar weed killer works great!)
Bob says
I love blueberry / apple pies.
I currently grow a Cherry tree.
Kaat says
I love peach cobbler and I grow raspberries, elderberries, jostaberries, currants, blueberiries, lingonberries, gooseberries, sour cherries, grapes, hardy kiwis (though no fruit as yet). Will add pear, peach and apricot trees in the fall. Thank you!
Kimmer says
grew up in an apple orchard, so I’m biased toward apple trees and apple pie, nothing like looking at an orchard in full bloom, my little crab apple is beautiful too.
Pam says
Love Peach Melbas! Ice cream, raspberry preserves and fresh peaches. Doesn’t get any better in the summer time. In winter, its Bananas Foster- and no one dies that better than my wonderful father-in-law!
Lori G. says
Oh boy! I just started fruit-growing at our new place this year. I’ve put in strawberries, raspberries and ‘State Fair’ apple tree. And let’s not forget the blueberry bushes.
I sure could use a book like that.
Lois says
Concord grape pie with a crumb topping, and vanilla ice cream, of course!
Nikki Fiske says
We have a lemon tree and an avocado tree and our daughter has a huge avocado tree that gives amazing fruit and a pomegranate tree. Favorite fruit dessert: home made blueberry ice cream. Thanks so much for all the gorgeous pictures and the helpful info.
Paula k says
Trying to grow Donut Peaches, Saturn type. Have failed miserably, they shrivel up and fall off.
Have better success with full size peaches but then the squirrels run off with them….
so i go to the farmers market and buy them for Peach cobbler and Freezer Peach Jam
Victoria says
Any fruit pie, cherry or apricot are the best! And lilikoi (passion fruit) anything, yum! I’m growing lilikoi vines right now and poha berry bushes (like gooseberry). Potato beetles love the poha and I would love to know how to get rid of them.
Sarah says
Pie, cobbler, shortcake, Betty, grunt, crisp….you name it, I love it. Wild huckleberry pie is hard to beat though. This last year was Armageddon for Michigan fruit. Only the grapes and blueberries made it. Economically devastating, the super early spring had everything blooming in March, to be frozen then in April when the temps plunged to ‘normal’ again. Makes you REALLY appreciate what you have. Thank goodness we are back to a long, slow spring. Apples are just starting to break.
I have cherries, sweet and tart, wonderful raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, grapes, blackberries and 5 ‘named’ apples plus perhaps 10 wild, or heirlooms surrounding my home. But within a mile, I have every other fruit that grows here. I am truly blessed….especially in the spring, when it is like walking through Eden when it’s all in bloom.
And the morels are out!
Phyllis C. says
Lemon chiffon pie- melts in your mouth, homemade peach ice cream- unbelievable!
We have two older apple trees that are having “issues” and would love to learn what I keep doing wrong with trying to grow figs!
Lois Gibson says
My favorite spring time dessert is rhubarb custard pie made with my all red rhubarb.
Shawna says
Peach cobbler is my number one fav dessert, followed closely by apple pie 🙂 I have a small yard, but wanted fruit trees so I planted a dwarf peach, nectarine, and apricot tree. I had lots of peaches on my tree last year, but the other two have yet to produce. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. Looks like a great one!
Terri says
It’s hard to pick which fruit dessert I like the best, since I love them all, but I have been on a strawberry short cake/ angel food cake kick lately, so I will go with that today!. Unfortunately I’m not growing any fruit in the frigid weather in Northern Minnesota… yet. We do have plans though to give apple trees a try along with raspberries next year when we permanently move to our hobby farm and keep check on the deer! Thanks for all the great information on your blog. It is so entertaining and well written in addition to being informative.
Terri says
My favorite fruit-based dessert is Mom’s Apple Goody, which is kind of like apple crisp, with vanilla ice cream on top.
I have no fruits growing right now at all! 🙁 unless you count my beautiful crabapple tree, but only the birds and squirrels like its fruit. I’m glad for it though. The winter before last, we had snow on the ground for many weeks in a row, and the squirrels made a path between the nearest telephone pole and my crabapple tree. 🙂
Joan Sullivan says
While Apple Crisp has always been a favorite, two years ago I bought an ice cream maker and a Ben & Jerry’s recipe book. I followed their vanilla ice cream recipe but in the last “mix-in” stage, I mashed up my leftover apple crisp and swirled it in. What an awesome dessert!
Growing up in MA, my grandfather had apple, pear and peach trees. Last year, at our own home in NH, my husband and I planted a small orchard of 2 cherry trees, 2 pear trees and 2 apple and 3 crabapple dwarf trees – and as a wedding gift to ourselves, we added two Shiro plum trees and a Pluott tree. Last year, all our new trees were devastated by Japanese beetles. I spend much time picking them off into soapy water, but would love a book with advice on how to help them survive and thrive.
As for my 3 blueberry bushes – well, they hate me and look like tumbleweeds. 🙁
Karen says
I am growing apples, pears, grapes, kiwi, currents, plums. Hope I win!
Kristina says
My favorite fruit based dessert would be anything with raspberries, blueberries or cherries. Currently, we have apple trees on our land which have grown here since the early 1800’s. We also have an abundance of blackberries, a few raspberries and rhubarb. I cant wait to try your recipe for rustic rhubarb tart you just shared! Thanks for your great blog!
Ouida Lampert says
Cherry clafoutis. Or banana pudding. Oh – or anything with blueberries. Or just cold watermelon (with salt, please).
Don Beaver says
I love Blueberry Yum Yum!! I currently grow types of grapes and have a number of blueberry bushes and want to add peach and apple trees. Winning this book would be a great help to me.
Amy says
We have a crab apple tree. We have used the crab apples to make wine and jelly. Yum! We also have a grape vine that is completely out of control and we don’t know what to do with it.
Karen says
I love peaches. Then comes blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Mix them together in a pie or cobbler and I am a happy person. Other than that? If is fruit, I like it. I love to go to the Asian market and get things you don’t see everywhere like Jujubees, lychee (oh yum), dragon fruit and what ever is in season.
I moved to a new place 4 yrs ago and so far I have a small strawberry patch, two figs, two elderberries, grapes, and 4 blueberries. Next year I am hoping to be able to buy a cherry and peach tree. Maybe an apple too.
Joani says
It would be rhubarb/strawberry crumb top pie-rhubard is fresh from my garden-delicious! We have apples, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, & a very sad cherry tree that isn’t long for this world. Would love having organic frut-the book sounds great.
Mary Lou Mayfield says
Peach cobbler or as my husband calls it, deep dish peach pie!
Currently have peach and green apple.
LB says
Rhubarb Custard pie! I am growing rhubarb and have recently planted a sour cherry tree and 3 apple trees. We want to grow organically so all the help we can get to deter pests is appreciated.
Joni Davis says
Apple Pie Squares – absolutely my favorite!
Rhonda Strahler says
I have 4 5 apple trees, 2 peach trees and one pear tree (sans partridge). Best EVER – FRESH peach pie!!
linda says
We just planted 3 apple trees. Apple pie!
Steve says
I currently grow apples, plums, peaches, raspberries and grapes. Could really use this book to help with pest control.
Elle says
Love the topic…sweets, my teeth ache just thinking about natures candy. My 4 year old and I adore picking raspberries from our small kitchen garden. But the real gems are growing a few miles away at our family’s farm. My parents have a toddlers dream of rows of strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Between the kids and some crazy canning ladies, we never let a fruit go to waste.
Ann says
Apple Brown Betty, until I have to have something else…
My hubby planted apricot trees, raspberry bushes, I planted a fig bush (lovingly transplanted from my Great Aunt Bea’s garden), and we have two blueberry bushes. Yeah!
Diana says
Blackberry Pie
Ava says
I have planted 6 Pawpaws (one produced fruit last year by hand pollination…yum, and the others are not old enough to bloom yet), 1 Fuji Apple, and a Green Gage Plum. The plum is my problem tree. I need help with what to do to prevent the fruit from rotting on the tree before it’s ready. Would love to find a natural remedy for it.
Stan says
Presently I have three pear trees, two lemon trees, two persimmon trees, two fig trees, one peach tree, one grapefruit tree, six grape vines, two blackberry bushes, two blueberry bushes, 16 large pecan trees (I know they are not fruit but the sure taste good with the fruit) and at the farm a mile away, dewberry vines growing wild that are really loaded with large, juicy dewberries right now. My favorite fruit desert is peach cobbler. I have plans to add another fig tree, another grapefruit tree and a couple orange trees – and who know what else? I do a lot of home canning and make a lot of jellies and preserves and – just freeze fruit (and dehydrate) for later use.
Kim R says
We grow blackberries, cherries, apricots, apples and elderberries 🙂
Nancy VanDyke says
I have some apple trees that I grafted antique varieties on and some pears that I started from seed that I got many years ago. I also grow raspberries. I want to have fruit that tastes good, not necessarily look beautiful.
Raven says
This past week I made mango saffron jam and mango clove jam. Those aren’t my favorites but my first try at saffron jam. Pretty good and a bit savory. So, I decided to use it and make cookies for my co-workers. They NEVER mind being my guinea pigs for all my different recipes. They turned out delicious. But my all time favorite recipe is one passed down from my grandmother to my Mom to me. Rhubarb cobbler. Your recipe has inspired me to make this cobbler.
As for the second question, we have a french pear, 2 peach, plum, and prune tree. My plum isn’t doing too well. I think this book would be very helpful. As always thanks you for everything. The recipes and your blog. Yours is the only one I read consistently.
Donna McCommon says
We like mixed berry and black cherry cobbler. It is so delicious.
Sandra says
I love apple pie, cobbler, any thing apple. Yum!
Pat says
Favorite fruit dish now is rhubarb crisp. We have raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries and currants that are both one year residents, and the following 2-4 year planted trees: sour cherry that the birds usually get more than we; apricot and nectarine that bloomed last year, but didn’t produce fruit-it warmed early in WI then more than half of April had nights’ that were below 32 degrees; two pear trees, one of which bloomed last year, but we had no fruit as the other didn’t bloom, and this year they both are blooming, but one earlier than the other; and an apricot that is once again in bloom and hopefully will produce its first fruit this year. Currently they are all covered in canvas/blankets with a frost/freeze warning last night and tonight. The covers will come off tomorrow when temperatures are due to warm again.
Suzanne Gravelle says
Old hat? I don’t think so!! apple pie and ice cream! Pie made from my own crisp fall apples and a soupcon of butter and don’t forget the mace-my secret ingredient. I have 3 trees that are now just coming into flower here at 2500 ft. in south central BC Canada. We have had a week of record breaking temperatures and now some rain so I am hoping for a bumper crop. A lady down the road has honey bees that come for their dinners in my garden but I would like to have this book to make my orchard bigger than it is.
Paula Yates says
ANY fruit cobbler or dumpling! Growing organic apples [4 kinds], blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb – and starting blueberries this year. Did have peaches but they passed on; so sad – they were delicious. Also tried growing currants and pear trees with no success yet. Restarting my grapes this year, orgainic again. Have 2 cherry trees that have bloomed last year and this year and so far, no fruit. No fruit on my apricot tree either and it’s several years old. Have 3 crab apple trees and elder berries that I usually leave for the critters so they will leave most of my other fruits alone. Planning to grow watermelon and cantaloupe in the garden. All organic, of course! Working to keep the critters from getting my fruits before I do; they don’t like to share very well! Lee Reich’s book on Grow Fruit Naturally would be such a blessing since all my efforts have been of the trial and error type!
kate says
I am growing 10 types of heirloom apples, sour and sweet cherries, apricot, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberry!
Jonna says
Currently growing gooseberries, currants, quince, plums, apples, strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, and cherries. Next up, pears, figs, kiwi, and granadilla.
Cherie says
I have mature mango, loquat, avocado, and star fruit trees which bear fruit that I grew from a seed. I also have a lemon and guava which are growing nicely must I am most proud of my tiny pear tree which I started from seed and hope will grow big and strong and produce fruit one day
Ginny Otto says
I think peaches and blackberries are my favorite fruits. I like the peache pie for dessert and the blackberries for a fresh addition to cereal, ice cream. I have raspberries and they are for fresh eating with grandkids.
Bonnie Shileny says
We love strawberry, blueberry and banana truffle. And my blueberry bushes are the easiest and tastiest of all our fruit trees.
Richard says
Apple and pear trees.
cindy says
2 apple trees in my front yard
CC says
Peach cobbler is my fave.
lauren says
We love blueberries! We grow them at home and pick them in the mountains close by…nothing like blueberry pie!
Sherry Houser says
I live in Washington state and have two Italian prune trees. I love to make Plum tarts. I freeze them and then slide them into a Foodsaver bag, seal them and bring them out in the winter months. People are always asking where do you find plums this time of the year:)
Vickie says
Wow do I need that book right now. We just planted apple, peach, pear, plum and cherry trees and we don’t want to use chemicals.
I love peach pie or peach pound cake in peach season; strawberry pie in strawberry season, apple pie and fresh apple cake in apple season…you get the point.
Annie says
Cherry pie with Montmorency cherries. Growing those along with sweet cherries, apples, pears, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, lots and lots of blueberries, and rhubarb. Rhubarb isn’t a fruit, but it is my second favorite pie. I hope to plant a peach tree one day soon.
Joanne Halter says
In SK the Haskap berry is the earliest fruit producing shrub. The robins love it just as the humans do.
Linda says
We have strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and plums in our backyard garden. Planning on putting in another fruit tree soon and looking for an area for more black and blue berries 🙂
Frances Thompson says
Blueberry cheesecake!
I have a Oregon Prolific fig, President Prune, blueberries, grapes and apples. These do pretty well without much help in Oregon. I’ll be relocating to San Diego, this NW girl does not have a clue what will grow!
Mary says
My favorite fruit-based dessert is blackberry cobbler–my mother used to make the best ones in the world! I grow blueberries in pots and strawberries. I’m planning on planting a fig tree also.
Beth Emhoff says
Nothing beats apple pie a la mode! I’m currently not growing any fruit trees. I think the deer would love them though!
Martha says
we could certainly use this book. we have set out cherry, apple, apricot, peach and a nectarine trees. we also have blackberries, raspberries and a couple of grape vines that we are trying to protect for the elements. and I also have to admit that all we are hoping for fruit from all these trees and plants as we love fruit salads and desserts.
Enedina says
We love apple pie.
Chris Widlund says
Blackberry & peach cobbler. Can’t wait to try your rhubarb tart.
Maureen says
i love raspberry pie. I also like to make raspberry jelly and put a dollop of the jelly in cupcakes and on sugar cookies. We have blueberry , currant and goose berry bushes as well as sour cherry , pear and apple trees. The is year we added 2 pear trees-we love spiced pears as dessert ,too. All fruits are good…
Rachel says
blueberry pie! and cherry crisp and peach cobbler and apple pie and lemon pie and…. but blueberry pie is my absolute #1 primo favorite! YUM!!!
Michele Layne says
Well Kevin, currently at my home in Sierra Vista, Arizona we are growing a Dwarf Fuji apple tree and a Dwarf plum tree that at one time was a plum tree in which a nectarine and peach had been grafted onto. The nectarine and peach tree died but I still have the plum tree. Both my Fuji and Plum tree have struggled due to the fact that we don’t live there full time yet, we’ve had to try to build up the soil because it is naturally alkaline in the high desert and the fierce winds we get every spring that literarily blow off all the blossoms. This year my husband was down at the house the beginning of April and the plum tree was loaded with literally hundreds of fruit! I’m hoping that this year we will actually get some plums. We are retiring this year finally and we will be able to better care for our beautiful little trees. I actually have 2 favorite fruit filled deserts one is a good apple crisp with a dollop of French vanilla bean ice cream, and the other is vanilla bean ice cream with fresh raspberries and a shot of Grand Marnier Liquer. I would love to win the book Kevin!:)
Sharon Coleman says
Cherries, cherries, cherries! Cherry pie or Cherry Cobbler for me
Beverly, zone 6 eastern PA says
My favorite fruit based dessert is Baked Figs with Honey and Chevre.
I grow Rhubarb, Black Raspberries and now have two fig trees. One is a Chicago Hardy Fig, brown, ordered from Edible Landscaping in Afton Virginia……….and the other is an unknown white fig tree, given to me by an older Italian gentleman who as a teenager in Italy used to be a tailor for the Mafia – no lie! Both figs overwintered in my attached but unheated garage. Now they are both installed in the garden beds, no pots, but will be potted up in late November to come back inside for safety. I feel certain I will need bigger pots this second time around.
If I had more space, I would like to try dwarf apple trees and blueberries.
Robert Meehan says
As a kid my mom would make some amazing applesauce from Crabapples from our yard. We also had rhubarb and Concord Grapes. But my all time favorite is still a well made Apple Pie.
Morgan says
Champagne mangos sliced and mixed with the meat and water of a young coconut, well chilled. Heavenly! We drink fresh squeezed mixed citrus juices every morning though, and would love to grow our own lemon tree in a container. Thanks as always, Kevin!
scott says
I have started 13 currant bushes, 10 honey berry bushes, 7 gooseberry bushes and 10 dwarf north star cherry trees. I hope to have everything at full production in 4 more years.
Helen says
I live in Oak Park, IL (first suburb west of Chicago) in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District and while there are strict guidelines as to what we can do do our home, there are no rules about the yard so I have put in as many edible plants as I can. Bartlett and Kieffer Pear trees, North Star cherry, an apricot tree (I forget the name), 9 rhubarb plants (I keep dividing, for some reason they are ridiculously happy here), four varieties of strawberries, black, red and yellow raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, red currants, black currants, a serviceberry tree and alpine strawberries. My neighbors think I am crazy but we eat well!
Carol Dobbins says
I love to make and eat my grandmother’s recipe for blueberry cobbler! It calls for 3 handsful of flour and butter the size of an egg. I never pull out the measuring cups and enjoy it every time! In our yards we have 5 varieties of apples, 3 varieties of blueberries, and an arbor of concord grapes. I would like to start a strawberry pyramid sometime soon. I may build it this year and plant it next year.
gina says
My favorite dessert is fresh peach pie. Kevin I seriously need this book, I grow 30+ varieties of apples, 12 cherries, 5 pears, 13 plums and mirabelles, 3 peaches (difficult in my maritime garden!) 2 paw paws, 3 figs, 2 persimmons, 2 quince, 2 mulberries, 2 filberts, a dozen assorted blackberries, 6 logan berries, 2 dozen assorted blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, 4 grapes, 5 guavas, 6 assorted citrus, 2 autumn olive, 2 goji berries,2 haskaps, 6 rhubarb, 10 artichoke, 2 passion fruits and all my herbs and a generous vegetable garden. organically. The chickens are my only pest control, and my finger nails never seem to get properly clean this time of year! I thoroughly enjoy my Sunday morning ‘visits’ with you.
Linda Stone says
I have four Meyer lemon trees, in pots, on the backyard patio. Favorite desserts are anything filled with fruit and not too sweet. Especially love peach-blueberry crisps.
Velvet Ring says
I love making peach cobbler.Currently am growing a fig.Would really love to grow peaches.
cindy jones says
Peach cobbler is my very favorite, me being a proper southern lady and all
D. Roberts says
Fresh strawberries sprinkled with Stevia is my fave dessert. I am growing strawberries, too!
George Paynter says
We crrently have strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, aspple, cherry, and plum.
Cathy Haynes says
my favorite fruit dessert is Apple crisp, or Swedish Apple pie, or pumpkin anything!
Having just moved to an apartment, I don’t have any fruit growing, but i may grow some pumpkins this year!!
Solducky says
Oh gosh, either cherry pie a la mode, or peach cobbler. Mmmm, now I am hungry!
Rachel says
Hi there! My TWO favorite desserts– a really well made deep dish apple pie, and just picked strawberry shortcake with homemade shortcake. MMMmmmmm.
Second question- we have rasberries, blackberries, strawberries, and grapes. We share our neighbors apples. Is rhubarb a fruit? We have that too!
H Pinson says
Cherries, blueberries, raspberries, quince, strawberries, currants, sea plum, gooseberries.
Mary says
Currently, we are growing: trees: liberty apple, italian plum, Van cherries… Vines: rasberries (golden and summit), blueberries, strawberries….
Elsie says
Hi Kevin, Currently, I have a satsuma plum and two mulberry trees. Picked mulberries yesterday and had them with breakfast this morning.
Fruit is my dessert most of the time.
Eliza J says
My favorite fruit based dessert is apple crisp. What we are currently growing is strawberries, blueberries (which are not doing that well at 3 years old), raspberries, rhubarb, apples and peaches (which hopefully will produce this year), and we just planted 10 grape vines ~ not for wine, but eating and for preserves. I checked on the trees today and the peaches look fine, but a beautiful bud on one of the Nonesuch apple trees showed signs of something eating it. Our entire garden is organic, as are the berries, but we found out last year how difficult that is to do with fruit trees. This book looks wonderful and I am hopeful it will offer me some sound advice ~ which I truly need at this point. Thanks for yet another awesome giveaway Kevin. Happy Spring!
vickie says
I love fall and apple pie is my favorite dessert – so good!
Ian Craven says
In our garden we have a Victoria plum tree, gooseberry, redcurrant, blackcurrant, blackberry, a black grape vine (I almost killed it but it looks to be recovering!!) and have just planted a goji berry plant – not sure what it will do!!
Antje Thumm says
fresh juicy strawberries with cream and peppermint.
We just planted one peach, pear and apple tree and lots of blueberries.
I try to grow strawberries in a flower box.
Growing fruit trees organic seems to be quite difficult. Common horsetail makes a good slurry to strengthen plants.
Pam says
Quince. It makes great jelly, a mixture of tart and sweet.
Madfortulips says
We moved to NH after living in Seattle with a gorgeous Italian prune (plum) tree and I made a lovely tart with them, buttery thick crust with sliced plums a little bit of sugar sprinkled on top, bake and serve with thick whipped cream…always got rave reviews! Anyway…miss that tree so much! Hard to find them to buy at farmers markets or stores. We have apple, peach,plum( not Italian prune)blueberries,strawberries and raspberries..golden and red. We have had horrible luck getting fruit off our dwarf trees( never had that problem in Seattle)so we need Lee’s book!
We have black bears so keeping a hive is pretty tough, very few neighbors have luck,too easy targets for the bears sweet tooth!
Libby O says
I have a lemon and a satsuma tree in pots, 26 blueberries bushes that the deer trim for me, new thornless blackberries and some thorned blackberries, a new little raspberry bush, a new persimmon (seedless), a new apple tree, an old apple tree that has never produced anything.
My favorite dessert is cherry pie or lemon bars.
Kendra says
kumquats dipped in white chocolate 😀
Maura Buchignani says
In my back yard we have 2 plum trees a cherry tree , raspberry and blackberry bushes. Poor crop last year we are hoping for a better yield this summer. Absolutely love your site for the gardening advice, ideas and recipes!
Jeanetta says
So far I have a peach tree and a nectarine tree, a few ever bearing red raspberry bushes, one thornless blackberry start and two small beds of ever bearing strawberries. I love to go ‘grazing’ in the early morning summer from the peas, mini tomatoes to the raspberries and strawberries! I also enjoy reading your blog on Sunday afternoons…..
Sage says
I am currently growing blueberries, apples, crab apple, gooseberries, huckleberries and strawberries. Would like to add lots more apple trees and some peaches, and plum and…….
Pheona says
Saskatoon pie – if we can get to the berries before the robins. If they beat us out we go pick the wild ones in the nearby coulees.
Stacey says
I have three kinds if apple trees, a Saturn peach tree that hates me, thornless blackberries, grapes, strawberries, a most generous fig tree, and squirrels and chipmunks who gleefully devour all of it before it has a chance to get ripe. Sighhhhh………….
Hermann says
‘My’ deer loves my fruit trees last year so much they ate all the leaves and more 😉
but they are coming back – the deer and my cherry, apple, peach, pear and plum tree.
This year I may add a persimmon…
Patricia Miller says
Baked apples!!!
steph says
I have date palms, orange, lemon,pear,fig, loquat and grapefruit trees 🙂
I just received a Gardenia plant today for mothers day but that doesn’t count :)…It’s wonderful anyway… 🙂
hmmm dessert is a hard one…key lim on the tart side.
TY TY
Nathalie says
I grow blackberry and raspberry but I would love to add other fruit bearing trees to my garden
Sherri says
Apple Crisp. My grandfather used to grow wonderfully tart apples. Yum!
Rebecca says
I love strawberry shortcake. We go picking locally with friends, make jam together, then later that night feast on shortcake as dinner. It’s a tradition and the kids love it just as much as the grandparents!
We planted 3 apple trees (2 honeycrisp and a Macintosh) last year. Also a cherry and a plum. We have 2 year old raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and rhubarb and are looking forward to currants and gooseberries this year.
Would love a copy of the book! Thanks for all your inspiration …
Kelly B says
I would love to learn all about growing fruit without all those nasty chemicals!
Marjorie says
I grow red raspberries and have a black current bush. Combined they make a lovely jam which when paired with a good vanilla ice cream is really special. Enjoy your blog and its non- chemical approach to life.
Kris says
Cherry Pie is my very favorite! We have some old apple trees, grapes, wild, black raspberries, a couple pear trees and some new peach trees that, with luck will give us our first peaches this year. I also have a couple pawpaw trees that I have great hopes will produce fruit one of these years…soon!!!
Judy Henderson says
I planted blue berries, thornless blackberries, grape vines, and very, VERY happy strawberries in the little garden at our library for the children to enjoy! The strawberries are so thick and full of berries folks come by for a handful or two when they pick up new books. We have been able to share strawberry plants with families who want to start their own patch! A dozen plants per family and we still have 2 big beds full! Happy berries – my secret – I planted them, mulched them in and then ignored them completely.
Diana says
1. My late great aunt’s apple pie: tart Bramley apples under a shortcrust pastry that melted and crumbled on the tongue.
2. Seville orange, Tahitian lime, lemon, ruby grapefruit trees and a passion fruit vine.
Pat McLain says
hard to choose one single fruit dessert! this time of year it’s strawberry-rhubarb pie….
we have a pear tree, couple of plums, raspberries, black raspberries, grapes (new), blueberries, red currants, rhubarb, strawberries, oh, and blackberries too! most have been planted either last year or this year
alice says
I have a total of 15 different fruit trees and am adding a few each year till I run out of room ,which will be soon.
Mary Fallin says
I am a newbie to gardening and learning so much on your website. We just planted two blueberry plants, 3 peach trees, one Mayhaw and 1 fig tree. This is in addition to my first square foot garden. There is so much to learn but I am determined and with your help (as the song goes) “I will survive.”
Liz says
I make a beautiful pear tart made with a layer of almond paste as well as a sprinkling of pine nuts and cranberries. It’s so gorgeous you could die. Fresh ginger sends it over the moon!
Lisa Horner says
We have apple trees, pear trees, peach trees, cherry trees, plum trees, mulberry trees, grape vines, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.
Sheri Rice says
Hi Kevin! Such good timing on this. Last year we planted two honeycrisp apple trees in our backyard and the year before, we planted two Asian pear trees. All four seem to have survived the drought of 2012 but oddly, one of the pear trees has flowers on ONE HALF of it. Also, with two small terriers who are in the grass constantly, I hate using any kind of chemicals. We also have a rhubarb plan started and plan to put in grapes at some point! I’d love the book, but I my odds appear to be at least one in 201 🙂 I’m glad you shared this with us so at least if I don’t win I can get it at the library.
Toni says
I love apple pies.But my 1 apple tree grows lopsided and weird fruit. I don,t want to put bad stuff on my tree. So I have to live with it. Thanks any suggestions would be great
Carol says
Apple Crisp I love but just standing and picking Cherries of the tree and blueberries off the ‘
bush as well as raspberries yellow egg plums purple plums figs off my neighbours tree is a desert in itself.
Thanks for the tip about newspaper and I have a question. We ;have a lane way in the
back and my neighbour is having trouble with weeds I got for her thick material from
the mill that they use for making paper and when it gets scratched they can’t use it anymore, then my engineer friend brought me thick black material they use in the mountains then my next door neighbour went out and bought heavy black plastic all the material can be used in various places such as
beside their new cottage but if you were going to have guess parking behind cottage
would you use tree mulch which I had delivered for the gardens. What would you do in
a case like that.
Thank You
Patrice says
I guess that peach cobbler is my favorite fruit based dessert, but there are a lot of others that I like too.
I have a peach tree, a serviceberry tree, several blueberry plants and alpine strawberries growing in my yard.
Abby says
We grow raspberries and, for the first time, strawberries.
kathy kam says
Blue berries forever!!!
May try Goji berries this year.
Jeneta says
Apple pie! We have orange, mandarin, peach, nectarine, fig, pear, lemon, lime, guava, olive, mango and an Australian native finger lime!
Joyce Hice says
My favorite is fresh peach pie or peach cobbler. Yum!
Linda B says
Mom’s Apple Pie with vanilla ice cream!
Devon says
Favorite fruit dessert: A really fine, homemade flaky-crusted and barely-cooled cherry pie made with Montmorency cherries, topped with a really good vanilla ice cream – oh my that’s so good.
I’m growing: Niagara and Concord grapes (two vines each), blueberries and wild strawberries. I have key lime seeds in the freezer to be planted as well, so hopefully a key lime plant in a container soon. Have to plant more blueberries, as the rabbits got to them this winter and “pruned” them for me a bit too much. Then the rabbits had the nerve to make a bunny nest under my marjoram in the middle of my (fenced!) garden. I discovered the nest the other day and the six 4″ long baby bunnies that jumped out, all sleepy-eyed and warm from Mom’s nest lining of her own fur. I got to hold one – such adorable little garden wreckers. They all ran off and haven’t seen them or Mom since – not sure if I’m happy or sad about that!
Jane says
What’s your favorite fruit-based dessert?
Fresh picked Strawberry pie, warmed, with whipping cream.
Which fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, or vines are you currently growing? I have exactly 1 plant: a single strawberry plant, “all star” it is called. and it is producing at least 1 small basketful of sweet tartness.
Julie Ann Hanks says
Rhubarb Butter Crunch from the Bridges of Madison County Cookbook.
We have focused on fruit the last several years; we have: strawberries, blueberries (but the bunnies usually chew them down over the winters), blackberries, raspberries, apple trees, a peach, and a couple different grapes. We have not gotten many apples due to the squirrels who get to them before we do.
Adrianna S says
Strawberry rhubarb pie and sour cherry pie are my favorites. I don’t have fruit hearing tress but my mom has a lot and I would like to win this for her. Someday when we stopping moving around I would love all sorts of fruit trees.
Amy C says
Apple crisp. And we are trying to grow apple trees. Not much luck so need this!
Evelyn says
Fresh strawberry pie or ice cream atop any fresh hot pie!
Planted in fall at new house apple, sour & sweet cherries, apricot, peach and plum trees plus large variety of not available at the store berry bushes and trees for syrups and jams.
deb says
Strawberries with sabayon sauce & a dollop of whipped cream.
I sm growing 3 apples-jonsfree, Gala & Fuji. 2 Redskin peaches, lots of blueberries and blackberries .
Cate says
Red-wine glazed baked pears. So I just purchased a seckel pear tree! We also have black, red and gold raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. Going to try growing cantaloupes and watermelon this year.
Sonia Shapiro says
Favourite fruit dessert: Gooseberry Fool
Just planted several Ribes varieties and elderberries. Also a couple of plum trees.
Nora says
Eh…..that would have to be fresh rhubarb strawberry pie with vanilla ice-cream…..and the rhubarb in my garden is just about ready to be picked!
Sylvia Piche says
I have apple trees, Saskatoon berries, red currents, cherries, raspberries, strawberry and plum trees.
Sally Cataldo says
I love pies. Berry, apple, peach, or mixed fruit. I love making pies. Love the dough. rolling it. I have peach, plum, apple, and strawberry quava trees. I also have, Blackberries, grapes, and pomograntes.
Marcia Leitschuh says
I love picking very ripe tart cherries (they get pretty sweet) and making not too sweet cherry pie.
I currently have a wild or black cherry tree that I transplanted from the woods. The cherries are very rich flavored, not tart or sweet. Sweetened they have the classic wild cherry lifesaver flavor.
I also grow raspberries.
Diane says
Fresh raspberries over ice cream with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
I grow raspberries, strawberries, black raspberries, blackberries, and apples.
Mary Lou says
Hi Kevin..Love strawberry shortcake! So far only have grown strawberries..
Ann Marie B. says
Let’s see… We have a fig tree, 2 plum trees, 2 apricot trees (but one of them is suspect since I don’t think the leaves match and there have been no fruit on either trees), a pear tree (we really need to get another one) and a grapevine (which we thought died, but actually came back a couple of years later so I’ve been trying to take care of it).
Deena says
We have spent the last 3 years attempting to become self sufficient in fruit production. So far only the berries are rewarding us. We have several different blueberry, strawberry and blackberry plants. Have plans for arctic kiwi, raspberries and grapes. For fruit trees we have several different apples, plums, apricots, cherries, a few peaches and a persimmon tree. I plan to add pears and a tart cherry variety. We just reached the 3 year anniversary for the planting of our orchard.
Beverly says
I have a very old apple tree, and alot of young trees; 2 sweet cherries, and a Ranier cherry, 2 plums, 3 pears, 2 peaches, 1 apricot, 3 grapes, blackberries, and raspberries and 5 blueberries. I will be planting strawberries and I want to get a sour cherry. I love fruit. I used to can peaches and put blueberries and strawberries in the freezer. I can’t wait till they all start producing well. My little kiefer pear was loaded 2 years ago with the best pears I ever tasted. My favorite desserts are peach, blueberry, and cherry pies.
Lanie says
I have blueberries, blackberries, Nanking cherries and 2 apple trees.
gabrielle says
Favorite – Peach Pie! Sadly, I’ve never grown these beauties.
Michelle says
I am currently growing two cherry, two apple and one pear tree. Unfortunately, I too am learning the hard way with fruit trees – I think our pear tree is being ate from the roots up by gophers, which sounds like I need this book. Thank you for a great giveaway.
Blessings,
Michelle
Lindsay says
blueberry anything!
we’re growing: peach, pomegranate, plum, lemon, cherry guava, olives, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, passionfruit, cape gooseberry, and banana! going to plant many more soon!!!
Debby says
Blackberry lime jam thumbprint cookies or berry jam tart. Since I make a lot of jam, I love the chance to use it up in a dessert.
We grow cherry and apple trees and blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry bushes.
Georgette says
My favortie fruit dessert is blueberry and peach pie. I remember several years ago picking blueberries for my aunt to make pies. When she was done she had only enough left for 3/4 of a pie so she went to her canning cupboard and brought out a pint of peaches and added them to the berries and made another pie.Yummy!!!!!
Lisa b says
Just planted patio peaches. One is looking a little sad, so definitely could use the book!
Donna Hathaway says
I have several fruits growing in my back yard. Apple tree, American Cranberry, Peach Tree, Cherry Tree, Blueberries and Blackberries, and a Concord Grape Vine. Also have Rhubarb.
Love pie, Peach Pie, and Cherry Pie are on my list of high priorities. Would love to have that book. I don’t have a Kindle ( or anything to down load a book so I hope it is a real book. Must be getting old) Could really use some advise on the trees, don’t like using anything that harms the birds or bees
norma brooks says
we have 3 apple trees that we planted about 3 yrs ago and hoping to get some apples this yr,. and we have 4 peach trees that have a lot of peaches, but they are about as small as a golf ball. and you just get about 2 bites from one. and we have a grape vine.
Jackie O says
So far, my husband and I have a Dancy Tangerine and a Barbados Cherry, but I plan on adding more this year, including Orange, Banana, Lemon and Blueberries, and possibly Peach and Apples!
Bev says
I’ve got figs, persimmon and one peach tree. Hope to have more soon!
Dennis R says
I have a white fig tree from Palena, Abruzzi Italy. My tree is many scions
removed from the original shoot that was brought over on a boat
by my wife’s uncle in the 1930’s. Last year it yielded 16 figs.
Jan Herperger says
Growing and producing in my garden are – apples, blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, brambleberries, blood plums, nectarines, apricots, Planted but not yet producing are – peach, pear, cherry, lime, orange, mandarin, lemon, pineapple guava, strawberry guava, avocado, pomegranate and kiwi fruit. Phew!
Genny Mayer says
I am raising red currants and raspberries. I would love fruit trees, but due to renting It has to be in containers. I love making apple tarts or almost any kind of pie!
Jan Herperger says
Oh, and grapes!
Anne says
rhubarb or apple crisp and anything with lemon
we have blueberries, elderberries, nectarine, reliance peach, 2 pear, 1 sweet cherry, quite a few apple trees and lots of rhubarb!
Thanks again for your newsletter. I look forward to it weekly.
Martha says
Hmmm, so many deliciouses….
Red currant pie with vanilla ice cream
rhubarb crisp
peach raspberry cake, peach raspberry pie
fresh berries and cream
grilled peaches and vanilla ice cream
I’m growing raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. This year I am planting red currants, black raspberries and blackberries. I have a couple of fig trees in pots that go in and out of the house.
Henrietta says
We have cherrry trees sweet and sour apple trees and peach trees grapes black berries red raspberries black raspberries currant gooseberry jospeberry bushes
Diana says
My favorite dessert is ANYTHING with berries!
We grow pomegranates, dragon fruit, oranges, grapes, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, apples, figs, nectarines, peaches and cherries.
elizabeth says
I think a apple tart with a crispy crust and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side is heaven!
Laura Redmond says
Wow, Kevin,
You are so popular!
I love old fashioned strawberry shortcake.
Thanks.
JamieK says
I love recipes made with fresh peaches.
Enid Albat says
My favorite fruit dessert is Dump Cake. You can use almost any fruit, then a cake mix , nuts and butter. Easy to make, delicious, can be served warm or cold.
Currently growing peach, pear, plum and grapes which have not been grown organically, but anticipating a move and could really use the book either way to better care for fruit trees now that they are my responsibility.
marla boettcher says
I do love ALL pie/cobbler desserts—to– to hard to pick just one for heaven’s sake! must have vanilla ice cream or cheddar cheese AND ice cream with dessert!!! It’s ALL good!!
Barb Polski says
I love any kind of fruit pie, but I guess my favorite is blueberry. I am growning Blackberries and raspberries and blueberries. I also have tomatoes, zucchini and lettuce in my garden.
I want to start growing rhubarb as well.
Tom Dobrucky says
I love Blueberry pie with Vanilla ice cream and cool whip on it. I currently have Peach, plum, apple, and pear trees. I also grow Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries.
Pam Forrest says
I’m a berry fanatic! growing blackberries, blueberries, high and lowbush, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and currants.
Cherisse says
Apple or strawberry rhubarb pie!
Kay says
I’m a fan of pretty much any sort of crisp. I’m saving up $ to be able to take down the 3 huge maple trees in my front yard & replace them with fruit trees & berry bushes. Thanks Kevin!
Karen says
I love peach or apple cobbler for dessert and blueberry and strawberry smoothies on a hot summer day to cool off. We have an apple tree and a peach tree that could be doing better, but they are both producing fruit. And we are trying blueberries again this year and trying them in a different spot for better results. I would like to add lots more of everything to have an Edible Landscape.
Mark says
Rhubarb crumble! And surprise surprise: rhubarb is my main “fruit” crop right now. I hope I’m not disqualified by growing leaf stalks not fruit!
Edie says
I have strawberries, gooseberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and raspberries. Oh, yeah, rhubarb, which will very shortly become your Rustic Rhubarb Tart!
Paula says
Hawaiian Pie is my absolute favorite.
Lindsay says
Oh my goodness, I think it’s a tie between lemon squares and good old-fashioned dump cake (but with fresh cherries and pineapple….to die for)!
Deanna says
Homemade Apple Pie with buttery crust. Any apple or combination of apples will work will work, but I grew up making them with Golden and Red Delicious or other film but not too tart apple. But, Granny Smith’s are great too. I prefer a regular top crust over a dutch. But will never turn away what I have at hand to work with.
I have just planted Meyer lemon seedlings that I have sprouted from the amazing mature tree I have hanging over my fence. I am also trying to root cuttings from the tree. I am new at this, so as soon as I find the organic patio-sized Improved dwarf or semi-dwarf Meyer Lemon tree/bush for my balcony I will have fruit much sooner. Love those Meyer Lemons!
I already like and follow you on FB and Twitter 🙂
Julie B says
I’m not currently growing any fruits (a situation I hope to change soon). However, my dad has both apple trees and fig trees growing successfully in containers.
Jeanne says
Favorite fruit dessert is a “restaurant recipe” of Peach Cobbler. I live in Garrett Co, MD, altitude 2700+ which in the east puts me in Zone 5a, last frost date is June 5. I am growing a peach Contender and an Elberta. My two apples are Fuji and Pixie Crisp. Thanks for your great blog.
Pat Torgrimson says
We planted a Connel Red apple tree and had fruit the first year! It kind of looked like a Charlie Brown kind of a tree as it was quite small, but we did get 8 apples!
Donnella Bryce says
1. My favourite fruity desert is by far and away is a loaded fresh fruit Pavlova dripping down the sides with passionfruit pulp. Oh I’m drooling just writing about it.
2. In our garden here we are establishing a small orchard, predominantly citrus but are also trying to see whether we can establish some more exotic and some older heritage fruit types such as tamirillo and guava.Recently we have planted a lemonade tree and true to its name it is a lemon variety that is sweet and very, very juicy and makes gorgeous drinks without any sugar!! However my mostest, favourite fruit tree is our mulberry tree.
Marie says
My favorite fruit dessert has always been strawberry shortcake. I’d ask for it for my birthday instead of cake.
I have a gooseberry bush (produced enough for 1 small tart), 2 elderberry bushes, 1 Carmine Jewel cherry, a quince and a 4-in-1 heirloom apple tree, both planted last spring. I also have a potted Eureka lemon tree, which has produced exactly one lemon to date.
Michelle says
My most favorite fruit is cherry – anything cherry! Blackberries come in second and I like blackberry cobbler or blackberry roll.
Currently, I have blueberry bushes, but they haven’t started producing much fruit yet (been in the ground about a year) – and I have two pear trees that produce very well (only one of them bears fruit).
Trish says
My favorite fruit dessert is the German Obsttorte, which is probably the basis for the strawberry shortcake. The base is a sponge cake, made in a special pan that gives the cake a lip. Then spread fruit — could be berries, peaches, sliced kiwi, or other soft fruit — to cover the top, could be in some pretty layered arrangement. Then spread glaze over the top and let it set. Served with whipped cream. My mom discovered a substitute for the gelatin-based glaze. She melts currant jelly in a saucepan until liquid, then brushes over fruit.
Christine says
My absolute favorite fruit based dessert is a Swedish apple cake! I had two apple trees years ago and am looking for a dwarf variety to grow in a container. 🙂
Patty Komara Bertolino says
My favorite fruit dessert is apple pie! I currently grow a golden delicious apple tree, planted last year, along with a crabapple tree. The apple tree produced several beautiful apples after only a few months in our back yard. Also, I have a top hat blueberry bush which provides a quick treat! All plants and trees are raised in organic conditions…Thank you for all the wonderful information you share with all of us.
Marinel says
I love anything made with peaches! Here in Oklahoma I can grow strawberries real well.
Jason says
I’m a sucker for any dessert with strawberries and rhubarb. I have both growing in my yard now along with cherries, apples, peaches, apricots, asparagus, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and various herbs.
Betty G says
Apple Strudel plain, sometimes with walnuts and chocolate, or walnuts and golden raisens.
Macs, red delicious. blueberries & strawberries.
Nancy Morgan says
Apple crisp or peach crisp…oh, now I’m HUNGRY.
Jessie says
I love anything with apples or peaches. I am trying to grow raspberries and blueberries and fruit trees are my next venture!
Krystal says
I love cherry pie. We just moved into our house and are currently awaiting trees from the arborday foundation. Apple cherry and peach.
Patricia Gaston says
My favorite dessert is Strawberry Rubarb pie with home made ice cream. Delish! I’m growing blackberries,blueberries, raspberries. I have a peach tree, pineapple and grape vines. Can not wait till they are all producing abundantly! Hope I win ….
Melinda S says
Peach Pie with vanilla ice cream! My neighborhood deer devastate most anything in my yard, so I haven’t even attempted fruit trees!
kathy M says
I currently have 2 apple trees, 2 pear trees, a cherry tree and 2 cherry shrubs, a peach and apricot tree, 2 plum trees, a pecan tree, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. I recently planted a gooseberry bush. I also have a quince tree. I love them all and love any fruit based dessert but really like blackberry or cherry cobbler.
Jackie Isler says
Nothing can beat strawberry shortcake…..yum…..
Jackie
Lynn Rector says
apple crisp
Martey C. says
Well, we grow blueberries, so we love blueberry buckle!
Ray says
We have an orchard with apples, pears, cherries and an olive tree I just planted this year. We also have pecans and black walnuts growing on the property.
Riversana says
Apple Pie is probably one of my favorite desserts. But sometimes just a refreshing mojito with fresh lime hits the spot! Or fresh berry parfait. So simple, so decadent, but you don’t feel guilty afterwards! Thanks for the chance to win!
Deborah says
Favorite dessert is a hard choice, as I love ALL desserts, but if I had to pick one that I would eat regardless of how full I am it would have to be blackberry cobbler.
We presently have a couple of apple trees, 2 peach trees we planted and one that was on the property when we moved here, 2 plums, 2 tiny fig bushes and a blueberry. We also planted 8 blackberry and 1 raspberry vines. Have hope to be able to plant a strawberry bed this year, but maybe too late to start one. All of garden, herb beds and food items are being grown as organically as we know how, so to win the book would be a BIG asset to learn what would help us grow a bigger and better crops.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway, somebody is going to be real excited about winning.
Tiffany Sizemore says
The favorite fruit dessert I make is strawberry short cake. I add a little pepper and cinnamon to the strawberries and scoop them over a warm sugar biscuit and top with a dollop of whipped cream…mmmmm
In the yard right now we have figs,blueberries,blackberries,pomegranate.Planning to do much more soon…Apples, peaches, strawberries,pineapple guava, papaya, mango…more more more 🙂 I NEED this book 🙂
Vera says
I live in Wyoming and have two Apricot trees, two cherry trees in our front yard along with several bunches of rhubarb plants and a couple of gooseberry bushes. In the back yard along with a raised bed garden, which my wonderful husband built for me, we have two different kinds of pear trees, an apple tree, peach tree, more rhubarb, blueberry bush, raspberry and strawberries. We have a very small yard, but I love all the flowers in the spring and all the fruit in the fall.
Tawna says
I love a fresh peach pie!! YUM!
Judy says
I love a baked pear, so simple and so yummy.
Currently I’m growing a pear tree and a Haralson apple in the ground and 2 miniature peaches in 20″ pots as we’re too far north to keep them in the ground. This year one peach tree has exploded with blossoms and the second is also having its best year so far. They’re still in the garage as it’s way too cold to put them outside yet, so everyday I go out there with an artist paint brush and my bee costume, hum a little bit, and hand pollinate. If I’m lucky and all the stars are in the right order I’ll have a wonderful harvest of peaches this year. And if I can keep the bears away from them.
Helen says
The old standby Strawberry Shortcake – but with blueberries and raspberries added!!!!!
Carolyn says
Oops my first comment went awry. I have espaliered apple and pear trees. Since I am fairly new to the Northwest, wish me luck!
Margret says
Thanks for getting back to me. Your site rocks!
Right now I have blueberries, blackberries, grapes, figs, and a pomegranate.
I also have pecans and a black walnut.
Shelly Duggan says
Strawberry Shortcake, love a hot, fresh biscuit and real whipped cream!
Love your emails!
I have a MacIntosh apple tree, some everbearing raspberries, 3 blueberry bushes (not good producers yet), and two grape vines
Peggy Wyman says
One of my very favorite desserts is Rhubarb Crisp….it is delicious alone and even better with a scoop of ice cream, or my favorite, a splash of cream!
Second question: I grow the following although the trees are not bearing yet as we only planted them two summers ago: 2 pears, 1 apricot, 2 peaches, 3 apples, 2 plums and 2 cherry trees. I also have strawberries, raspberries and rhubarb. I’d like to add some gooseberries and currents, maybe some blackberries and would like to try some blueberries.
Peggy Wyman says
I guess you meant a different time zone! I submitted mine at 10:56 Mountain Time!
Nelson Wight says
My friend, there’s no better than our family ‘banana dumpling’ – a buttery shell like your beautiful rhubarb creation – filled with sliced nearly-ripe bananas, dusted with dark-brown sugar, and, when removed from the oven, topped with a brandy hard-sauce and served immediately.
We have Chinese kiwis, 6 varieties of grapes, red haven peaches, oriental pears, plums, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, rhubarb, two varieties of pears & several nut trees
Chuck Rasmussen says
Peach Cobbler
Ann Knott says
I love cobblers made with anything. Peach or cherry would be my favorite.
ขายบุหรี่ไฟฟ้า says
Marvelous, what a blog it is! This weblog gives valuable data to us, keep it up.