Does anyone else have too much time right now to look at plant and seed catalogs? My wish list is expanding with fantasies about how organized and on top of my gardening projects I will be this year — when the snow melts!
Here’s my list of what I would grow with sunny windows and open (safe) spaces for indoor gardening.
Limes
After reading a blog post from “farmdener” Lee Reich (“more than a gardener, less than a farmer”) about growing lime trees indoors, my plant search took me to Logee’s Plants for Home and Garden, in eastern Connecticut (road trip?). I have long appreciated its Instagram posts of gorgeous, over-the-top tropical and rare plants. Beware: If you are an indoor gardener, its website has dozens of fruit and edible trees that can be grown in containers.
Reich recommends the finger lime (Citrus australica) as the best homegrown candidate for key lime pie. Topping out at 2 feet, it can be pruned for shape and size. It grows in potting soil and doesn’t have fussy needs. Since it can be moved outside during warm weather, be mindful of the pot’s size and weight.
I dare any gardener visiting the Logee’s site not to be tempted by the other dwarf fruit trees: avocado, banana, papaya, mulberry, bayberry. Be prepared to long for fresh, flavorful food again.
Herbs
I would also have pots of herbs in my indoor garden. Basil, parsley, oregano and chives make winter meals more interesting and add scents. A rosemary plant already has a prominent spot on a window bench.
Geraniums
Jasmine and scented geraniums would round out my garden space for their fragrance. Indoor growing has the same rules as outdoor gardens for appropriate lighting conditions. Note how many sunny hours a space has before jumping in.
My current indoor garden includes a papaya tree given to my daughter by a friend who grew it from seed. (Photo by P. Doan)
Orchards
As long as I’m planning fantasy projects, here’s what I would grow if I had an orchard. I don’t have fruit trees because my landscape isn’t ideal for them. The best siting would be too far from the house to access water, which is a non-starter, and proper fencing would be expensive.
The following options are considered easy to grow in the Hudson Valley. Note that even when a tree is labeled as self-fertile, a companion in bloom increases the harvest. Dwarf or shorter varieties make harvesting easier.
Diospyros virginiana
I’m mostly interested in persimmons because of their bountiful harvest and wildlife value. I eat some and have plenty to share. Persimmons typically bear fruit in October and November and need to be fully ripe to eat. Look for varieties suited to colder winters, such as Mohler, Suzuki and Dooley. Usually, they are hardy from Zones 5 to 9.
Asmina triloba
The pawpaw is a native fruit tree that was largely forgotten before returning to gardener consciousness. It isn’t fussy about soil; follow the guidelines for choosing a persimmon. Supplemental water is necessary during dry periods. Its flowers are dark purple or brownish and striking. Wildlife loves it, so be generous.
Cornus mas
The Cornelian cherry is in the dogwood family but native to Europe and western Asia. The Coral Blaze cultivar is known for its cold hardiness. It peaks at 10 feet and has a significant harvest. It can be eaten raw, cooked into jam, used in baking or made into brandy.
Prunus persica
Stone fruits can be dicey. We are getting warmer temperatures earlier in the spring, leading to earlier blooms that make fruit trees more vulnerable to a freeze. This can wipe out a season overnight. When a gardener shared Baby Crawford peaches with me last summer, I changed my mind and decided the risk was worth it. It’s a delicious heirloom fruit from an accessible tree that rarely grows taller than 10 feet.
Pyrus communis
To round out my orchard, there would be two pear trees, which are required for pollination. There aren’t any native pears, but there are great choices from Europe and Asia that are suitable for home gardens.
Have you seen these stories?
Roots and Shoots: Non-Resolutions for the Garden
Roots and Shoots: Winter Reading
Type: Opinion
Opinion: Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
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