Persimmon trees are male and female, and it takes at least one of each to have persimmons. The fruit will grow only on the female tree. Unfortunately, it is not possible to tell whether the tree is male or female when they are this young. You won’t be able to tell until they are 3 to 5 years old.  We recommend that you purchase at least 2 trees unless you already have persimmons in the location. However, we cannot guarantee that they will be male and female, so if you have room, more is better.

Persimmons are native to this area, so they are a great native tree to plant. If you do get fortunate enough to end up with a male and a female, and thus one of the trees produces persimmons, they are a good food source for both humans and wildlife.

Did you know that another name for persimmons in “Sugar Plums”? No, it wasn’t a plum that the “Sugar Plum Fairy” was named after. It was a persimmon. Persimmons are incredibly sweet when ripe, but so sour they are inedible if underripe. And, strangely enough, persimmons are not ripe until they look like they are rotten. The skin will be wrinkled and the fruit mushy. If you attempt to eat a persimmon that is underripe, it isn’t toxic, but it will cause mouth and throat dryness and irritation due to a tannin that exits in the fruit before it ripens. Though, the fruit is so sour at that point that it is not likely most people would care to consume one.

Persimmon trees grow 10′ to 30′ tall and can bear fruit for up to 75 years. They begin to fruit at about 4 to 9 years. The persimmon fruits are about the size of a golf ball and will be bright orange.

Fun fact: Persimmon trees can only grow in higher elevations and, thus are well-suited to Garrett County and the surrounding area.

When ripe, Paw-Paws have the consistency of vanilla custard. It has the tropical tang of a mango and the sweetness of a melon.

There are some studies that indicate that Paw-Paw’s have actogenins that prevent the growth of cancer cells. However, as with all natural plant remedies, more studies need to be conducted before its effects are fully known. Regardless, the Paw-Paw contains high levels of Vitamin C, nonheme iron, magnesium and manganese. And it has some properties that block microbial growth. Please be advised that regardless of what you read on the internet, Paw-Paw seeds and skin are toxic. Only consume the custard inside the fruit and only when ripe. Paw-Paws will only ripen on the tree, so do not pick until ripe.

You will need to protect your Paw-Paw tree by placing it in a location that is sheltered from extreme wind. The first year that you have your plant it will need to be shaded. (It does need sunlight, but it should be defused sunlight.) But after that, it needs full sun. The reason is because Paw-Paw trees are so sensitive to sunlight in their first few years of growth that full sunlight will actually kill them. However, once they get past the first two to three years, they need full sun. This is one of the reasons Paw-Paw trees are not as abundant. You could use a shade cloth hung above the tree, place tall potted plants with big leaves that cover it around it or use some other form of shade.

The soil needs to be at 5.5 to 7 ph. The tree will not grow in waterlogged soil, so make sure you plant in an area with good drainage. The tree will grow to be about 25′.

Paw-Paw trees are native to the area, however, right here in Garrett County there can be an issue if we get an extremely cold winter. If temperatures drop below 10 below zero, you will want to give your tree some protection, particularly while it is young. Paw-Paw trees do not grow well in Garrett County in the wild due to the elevation, colder summers, deeply cold winters, and heavier clay soil. Though these are a northern Paw-Paw we cannot guarantee it will grow here, though they grow profusely in most of West Virginia. You should consider your purchase an experiment if you live in a higher elevation.

Please be aware that the Paw-Paw trees are only seedlings in one-gallon containers, whereas our other trees are 3′ to 7′ trees. This is the only way that we could make them available to you, as they are more difficult to grow and most nurseries don’t handle them.

Includes:

1. Patriot – Ripens Early July
2. Nelson – Ripens Mid July
3. Bonus – Ripens Early August
4. Elliot – Ripens Early September

All four varieties are high bush blueberries. They are all cold-hardy and are high-yielding. See individual bushes for a description of each.

Bonus is an attractive fresh market berry. It has a small picking scar but exceptional flavor. Fruit size is extra-large.

Bonus has good resistance to many blueberry fungal diseases.

One of the most attractive things about this elderberry for Garrett County, though, is the fact that it is claimed to have some resistance to Japanese Beetles.

Elderberries have four times the antioxidants of cherries.

Although most elderberry plants are self-fertile, they will have much better yields if they have a pollinator. Pollinate with Ranch elderberry. Bob Gordon will get about 8′ tall and 8′ wide.

Buyers should be aware that all parts of the elderberry plant are poisonous, including the berries when they are raw. Elderberries MUST be cooked to be eaten. DO NOT EAT THEM RAW! This goes for all elderberries. 

It is one of the shorter cultivars of elderberries, growing to be only 5′ to 6′ tall, so the berries will be easier to pick. And it makes a great shrub that hosts a show of white flowers in the spring.

Elderberries have a lot of nutritional value for humans, but they also provide a good food source for wildlife. So, it is a great shrub to plant around the edges of your property, edges of wooded areas, and on the sides of outbuildings. Just be aware if you have young children around that elderberry plants are poisonous to humans, and so are the berries before they are cooked.

This elderberry is self-pollinating, but it will have a better crop if it has a pollinator. Pollinate with Bob Gordon.

Buyers should be aware that all parts of the elderberry plant are poisonous, including the berries when they are raw. Elderberries MUST be cooked to be eaten. DO NOT EAT THEM RAW! This goes for all elderberries. 

We are unable to guarantee a specific variety this year, however, you will receive a high-quality, cold-hardy cultivar that we recommend for Garrett County based on its cold-hardiness, production level, and of course, taste. If possible, the order will be filled with Pequot Lakes.

The fruit size is large but has a tendency to get smaller as the season progresses. Berries are firm and have only a small picking scar.

Nelson has good flavor and is excellent for Fresh Market sales.  Like all of the cultivars we are offering, it is cold hardy.

Blueberries require acidic, well-drained soil.

A number of years ago, we tried a planting of 100 blueberry bushes on an area that wasn’t really recommended for blueberries. Of the many different varieties we planted, only the Chippewas survived. And they are still growing and producing profusely 20 years later.  The smaller bush size makes them easy to pick, and they have a fantastic taste.

The berries are medium-sized and easy to pick. They don’t have much of a picking scar, and they are firm when ripe. Chippewa ripens around mid July.

The Chippewa is self-fertile and will produce a full crop without a pollinator. They will make a great edible hedge if planted 2′ apart. Plant a few extra for the birds!

All commercial blueberries require acidic, well-drained soil. Many wild blueberries are swamp plants, but that trait has been bred out of the blueberry bushes folks buy today for home and commercial use.