Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory, 4th edition: An Inventory of Nursery Catalogs and Websites Listing Fruit, Berry and Nut Varieties by Mail Order in the United States

by John Torgrimson, John Torgrimson, Kent Whealy (Editor)

Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory is a must-have reference for all backyard fruit growers and commercial orchardists who care about the rich diversity of fruit, berry, and nut varieties offered by mail order nurseries in the United States. This comprehensive “catalog of catalogs” is now available in its newly updated fourth edition, which lists 280 nurseries offering nearly 6,000 varieties of fruits, berries, and nuts—everything from apples and bananas to tangerines and buartnuts. The information presented in this book is so unique and invaluable that fruit growers everywhere will turn to it again and again, looking for sources that offer rare nineteenth-century apples, or for descriptions of newly bred grapes, or even for unusual varieties of tropical fruits. Where else could you find sources for Maiden Blush apple (1817), African Rhino Horn banana, Leningrad Giant currant, Adriatic fig, Pineapple grape, Dr. Beaumont macadamia, Choctaw pecan, or Yellow Egg plum? Backyard and commercial growers concerned with the loss of biodiversity will deeply appreciate Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory . Fruit breeders, plant collectors, and amateur growers can tell quickly which varieties are being offered by only one or two companies and need to be purchased while sources still exist and permanently maintained to prevent being lost forever. Everything commercially available can be scanned to find varieties perfect for specific climates or resistant to local diseases and pests. Northern and high-altitude growers can use the book to find exceptionally hardy, short-season varieties that will survive and mature in their locations. Orchards, nurseries, and botanical gardens can use it to find sources for unique plant material. The fruits, berries, and nuts available today are the result of centuries of collection and amateur development, further refined by the world’s finest breeding programs. Growers and breeders have developed regionally adapted varieties with superior taste, disease resistance, and countless other virtues. Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory opens the orchard’s gate and invites us to discover them.

Genres: Gardening

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Anna]

At a recent grafting workshop, I had dozens of apple varieties to choose from and only 10 rootstock. Which should I pick? Luckily, the hosts had copies of several books, including this one, on hand as selection aids. While other books had pretty pictures and nice formatting, Fruit, Berry, and Nut Inventory came through with more descriptions than anyone else and I immediately ordered a copy of my own when I got home.

Keep in mind that this is a dry, list-type book. If you're obsessed with rare fruit varieties, you'll spend hours poring over the descriptions. But if you're looking for pretty pictures (or *any* pictures), look elsewhere.

I try not to write in books if there's any chance of them finding new homes (which means I almost never write in books). But this is a book I know will grace my shelves for decade, so I'm feeling free to treat it as a workbook and note down all my successes and failures to update their descriptions.