Fedco Tree Sale - OMG - Pure Joy
Enchanted with the idea of planting an organic, heirloom orchard on our farm, my husband & I set out for the annual Fedco tree sale. We arrived at 9:15 AM with the sale already in full swing.
The big blue warehouse had a white sign out by the road that said “Fedco Tree Sale.” Gene from Fedco, wearing a huge yellow & green sombrero, waved folks up the driveway. This was just the start of the happy, carnival atmosphere.
We were directed to parking and ran excitedly to the large blue warehouse. One line was for the crowd picking up their tree orders. The other large opening was for customers looking for trees, shrubs, plants etc.
Inside we passed boxes of shrubs, including blueberry bushes. The Trees, planted in wood shavings, were neatly organized in rows, alphabetically. We had a list of the apple, peach & pear trees that we wanted. Two of those apples were in short supply. I knew that because I had called ahead. So, I headed for the rows of apples and my husband peeled off to find the pears and peaches.
A happy-looking crowd of adults and children dressed in jeans, jackets, and plaid shirts roamed the aisles, squinting up at the signs above each row of trees, trying to decide which bare root trees to pull from the sawdust. We were all looking for plants to grow our own healthy food.
It took me a while to find the apples on our list – there were so many fruit & flowering trees, shrubs, plants and vegetables to look at. Cherries, Kiwis, apricots, redbuds, and hazelnuts, to name just a few. People looked up in awe and pure joy and so did I.
All fruit trees were sold as bare root at $29 each. A bargain for the size and quality. A patient staff member had explained to me earlier that bare root trees can actually develop and fruit more quickly than larger, potted trees, since they do not go through as much shock when planted.
A plant hardiness zone was posted to help you find zones where your trees would be viable; staff members were dotted throughout answering questions and helping customers choose trees.
I finally located all the apples we had come for this time: one Gravenstein, two Northern Spys – both semi dwarf, and two Baldwins – one semi-dwarf and one standard. The semi-dwarfs are labeled as M111 stock. Northern Spy is a notoriously delicious, but slow-to-fruit apple, so we were thrilled to find this tree on M111; that means it will fruit earlier. (We are no spring chickens). We also bought Reliance peaches and Bosc and Seckel pears.
Inside the same room were tables of heirloom tomatoes and other plants and signs high on the walls over one door proclaimed Asparagus, Strawberries, Rhubarbs, Perennials, Bulbs, Medicinals.
The Fedco Tree Sale will continue on Friday & Saturday, May 6-7 from 9:00am-3:00pm.
Read the Part II of our Adventure - FEDCO TREES SALE - Packing Up Your Trees
Read the Part III of our Adventure – FEDCO TREES SALE – That Strawberry Room
Read the Part IV of our Adventure – Planting Your Trees [trx_emailer group="Subscribers" open="yes" align="center"]