Food Plant List
(Revised July 2009)
This is a planned planting list, which will be implemented as time and resources permit and revised as appropriate. Many varieties are experimental, so some may fail in this climate.
Fruits
|
Species
|
Latin Name
|
Variety
|
Priority
|
Ht.(ft)
|
Guild
|
Comments
|
Harvest Season
|
| Apple | Malus pumila | Anna, others TBD | Planted | 25 | A | two apple trees have been planted, one seedling undetermined | July-Oct |
| Aronia | Aronia melanocarpa | TBD | planted | 5-6 | ? | very productive berry bush. Birds love the fruit. | Autumn |
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca | unknown | Planted | 15-20 | A | Two varieties thriving, small crop from 1 in summer 2005 | Aug |
| Blackberry | Rubus spp. | Generic | Planted (3) | 3-5 | A | 3 plants Feb 2006--more drought resistant than raspberry. Did not survive | Jul-Aug |
| Sour Orange | Standard | Med | 20 | C | Obtained seeds from similar tree in Tucson, will try to sprout. Flavor is tangerine/grapefruit but very sour. Juice makes excellent sweet-tart smoothie with banana or other sweet fruit | Most of year | |
| Cherry | Prunus capuli | Mexican | 2009 | A | Tartarine and Bing cherry trees failed. We have now planted a Mexican cherry for trial. Because it is adapted to this region, we are hopeful it will succeed. is not yet thriving but still alive. | Jul-Aug | |
| Currant | Ribes spp | Minaj Smyriou | 2008 | W | failed. | June-Jul | |
| Elderberry | Sambucus caerulea | Blue Elder | 2006 | 6-10 | W | Powder blue berries. Guild companion for walnut. self-fertile. Non-viable bare-root, will have to try again | Aug |
| Fig | Ficus carica | Brown Turkey, Black Mission | Planted | 10-15 | ? | Mission fig will probably thrive better than the Brown Turkey, as it is more cold-hardy. Both need winter protection during colder years. Both varieties failed in winter 2005-2006 | Summer-Fall |
| Goumi | Eleagnus multiflora | Sweet Scarlet, Seedling | Planted (2) | 10 | A,W | 6 ft tart berry bush. Nitrogen fixing plant. High in vitamin C. Seedling survived, Sweet Scarlet failed. | ? |
| Grape | Vitis spp. | Thompson Seedles, Red Flame Seedless, Concord, Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfindel | Planted (5) | 3-10 | ? | Thriving Additional varieties purchased and soon to be planted: Merlot, Cabernet, Zinfandel. Planted near apples and on south side of motor home, eventually a patio trellis will be constructed. Zinfindel failed in late summer. | Sept-Nov |
| Gooseberry | Ribes hirtellum | American | Planted (1) | 5? | A | 1 planted Feb 2006. Failed | Summer? |
| Guava | Myrtus ugni molinae | Chilean | Low | 15 | ? | on-inch oval fruit flavor similar to strawberry | TBD |
| Huckleberry | ? | Evergreen | 2010 | ? | ? | will plant as understory to larger trees, possibly under Cherry | Aug-Sep |
| Jujube | Zizyphus jujube | Chinese | 2006 (2) | ? | A | "chinese date". A seedling required to accompany hybrid for best fruit setting. Both were non-viable, we will have to re-try. | Aug? |
| Kiwi | ? | TBD | 2008 | ? | ? | vine, best in partial shade in this climate | TBD |
| Medlar | ? | TBD | Low | ? | ? | one-inch apple-like fruit | Nov |
| Mulberry | Morus Alba | Pakistan | Planted | ? | W | Nice companion plant for Walnut. Monitoring to see if it survived the winter | Jul-sep |
| Nectarine | Prunus persica? | Planted | ? | A | Failed | TBD | |
| Olive | ? | Mission | 2010 | ? | ? | Needs protection below 15F, a rare occurrence . Low priority due to need to process the fruit, and marginal climate adaptability. There are viable specimens in Douglas. | July? |
| Orange | ? | Mandarin | Low | ? | C | This is a high-risk plant because of the danger of killing due to low temperature. Mandarines are more cold-hardy but still may need protection. | Dec-Mar |
| Passion Flower | Passiflora Incarnata | Maypop | 2010 | ? | ? | Multi-use vine with edible fruits. Initial planting failed, Michael will attempt another. | |
| Paw Paw | Asimina triloba | TBD | 2010 | ? | ? | can be used as an understory plant. Will be planted after we have some mature overstory trees. Successful specimens growing near Sedona. | Sep-Oct |
| Peach | Prunus persica | Early Elberta, Desert Gold | Planted (2) | 25 | A | One failed, the other is thriving as of 2009. | June-Aug |
| Pear | Pyrus communis | TBD | Planted (3) | ? | A | An initial planting failed in 2007. We have 3 more saplings thriving. We may graft fruitwood in spring of 2010. | Sep |
| Persimmon | Diosporyos spp | Hygea, Fuyu | Planted(2) | 25? | A | One of each variety planted Jan 2006. Failed in 2007, probably because of lack of adequate water and lack of root system (were bare-root). | Oct-Jan |
| Plum | Prunus spp. | Santa Rosa, Mariposa | Planted (2) | 20 | A | The Santa Rosa is doing well and a few plums were produced this year. A second plum, a Satsuma, failed. Replanted with Mariposa in spring of 2006. Replanted another Santa Rosa in spring of 2008. | Jul-Oct |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia | Smokey | Low | 12 | O | Summer | |
| Strawberry | Frageria spp. | Ever-bear | Planted | .5 | O | cold-frames may extend season into December. Plants did marginally in 2005. May need partial shading during months of intense sun and dry heat. All plants failed in 2008. Will require row-covers or greenhouse. | May-Nov |
| Wolfberry | Lycium Barbarum | Ninxia | Reserved 6 plants for May 2006 | 10 | A,W | .Found several inexpensive sources and will order immediately. Extremely valuable for human vitality and longevity, many healing properties. Antioxidants are sky-high compared to other fruits and vegetables. Lots of phytochemicals for healthy eyesight. Berries can be dehydrated and used all year round or juiced and mixed with other fruit juices. As of 2009 three plants are surviving but not thriving. Growth seems stunted. | Summer |
* To be determined. Research will be done to find the most disease-resistant and drought-resistant varieties
Guild codes: A=apple/pear, stone fruit, C=citrus, N=Pinyon, O=Oak/Hazelnut,P=Pecan, W=Walnut
Nuts
| Species | Latin Name | Variety | Priority | Guild | Comments |
| Almond | Prunus Dulcis | Nonpareil | Planted 2 | S | This variety has thin shells for easy cracking. Trees are thriving and putting out new growth in 2009. |
| Pecan | TBD | 2010 | P | Needs good topsoil, will be planted on lowest slope near valley where soil is richest | |
| Pinyon | Pinus cembroides | planted | N | edible pine "nuts". Drought tolerant. May need partial shade to get started. | |
| Walnut | Juglans spp. | TBD | 2010 | W | Walnuts must be planted away from most fruit trees. Mulberries are an exception. Elderberry, Hackberry, Wolfberry, tomatoes and peppers can be successfully planted near or under walnut trees. One walnut guild planned to accept runoff from the community shower. |
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