524429 Sat May 31 15:12:03 -0700 2008 9 29 Not About Food 0 3737838 I've had such a hard time finding ume plums lately that I wonder if it's worth it to buy an ume sapling. Problem is, I've haven't been able to find any sources in the US. I bought three blueberry bushes from White Flower Farm (in CT) recently, and they were sold out soon after; I know you can sometimes get more unusual citrus trees from them (beyond the usual kaffir limes and meyer lemons), but I've never seen anything as unusual as ume plum trees for sale there or anywhere else in the Northeast. Has anyone successfully tracked down harder-to-find plants/fruit trees like this? I'd love to know about any and all US sources! Sat May 31 15:12:04 -0700 2008 183643 sfumato 1 3737930 Logee's, in CT, is often mentioned on Martha Stewart's program. They have a website and print catalog. Sat May 31 16:01:19 -0700 2008 3737838 159317 greygarious 1 3740824 Seeds of Change has heirloom and hard to find varieties. www.seedsofchange.com/ Mon Jun 02 05:40:56 -0700 2008 3737838 169792 lgss 1 3740910 What you want to look for are the rootstalks of Japanese plum trees hardy to our horticultural zone... in Melrose I'm in zone 6A. All Japanese plums are called ume, and there are many varieties. Cummins Nursery in up state NY grows and sells fruit trees but unfortunately all their stock for this season in sold out. You could phone them and see what info they can give you. Here's a link to their Plum tree listings: http://www.cumminsnursery.com/plum.htm Lexington Gardens is a fabulous source ... http://www.lexingtongardencenter.com/ Then there's the Mass. Hort. Society for reference: Phone their Master Gardener's Hot Line for additional help: http://www.masshort.org/ HelpLine: 617-933-4929; TTY: 781-235-5655 Monday, Wednesday & Friday Hours: 10 am – 2pm Or e-mail: mghelpline@masshort.org FWIW: I personally do not like White Flower Farm. I find they're over priced and their plants, although looking great in the catalogue, are chancey. Mon Jun 02 06:22:53 -0700 2008 3737838 75332 Gio 2 3740926 Thank you to everyone! you've all given me a really good start to my search. Gio, we're in zone 6A too. I agree on White Flower Farm, but have to say that the blueberry bushes we got were cheap and very healthy compared to what we've been seeing around here. Glad we lucked out! Mon Jun 02 06:29:45 -0700 2008 3740910 183643 sfumato 3 3740960 Oh good for you! I'm glad your BB bushes are doing well. When I was attending the Master Gardening course at Elm Bank, Mass. Hort. planted a row of gorgeous J. plum trees at the front of the trial gardens. I remember hearing they require some care becuse they are prone to various diseases...but I think it's well worth the effort to "grow your own." Good Luck with everything..... I was going to mention Weston Nurseries out in Hopkinton, but I don't think they grow fruit trees....you could ask, tho. They are The nursery for just about anything. Mon Jun 02 06:50:10 -0700 2008 3740926 75332 Gio 4 3741107 Ooooh, good to know. I've been gardening the usual stuff for a while, but I'm new to fruit trees. Did they say that about all plum trees, or specifically the Japanese plums? The blueberries have worked out really well so far- the plants took readily and everything. It's the blueberry trio, so I'm excited to see the difference between them. Mon Jun 02 07:42:00 -0700 2008 3740960 183643 sfumato 5 3741191 There is a fungal disease called Black Knot and another called Black Rot that can attack all plum varieties. Both can be dealt with using horticultural sprays... do a Google search. We had some Italian plum trees that we finally got rid of because of the BK problem. UMass. Amherst has a wonderful extension service. I should have remembered that sooner! Here's a link: http://www.umass.edu/agland/ Mon Jun 02 08:15:32 -0700 2008 3741107 75332 Gio 1 3756511 I'm also in the Boston area but have had good luck buying plants on-line from Oikos Tree Crops in Michigan (http://www.oikostreecrops.com). I don't see ume on their Web site but they do have some interesting and unusual fruit trees (jujube, anyone?) Fri Jun 06 11:39:44 -0700 2008 3737838 14386 BobB 2 3810590 Thank you, everyone! This has not only given me great sources for myself, but I've found future gifts for at least two other people so far. I am so excited! BobB, I think I found ume at your source! Check this out: "Japanese Apricot — Prunus mume Apricot Plum-Pickled Ornamental Edible Popular landscape plant in the south and western US known for its fragrant white, pink or red flowers. Our seedling trees have done well here in Michigan growing 2-3 ft. per year and are free of borers. In Japan, it is grown for the fruit that is pickled in salt to make umeboshi-popular in macrobiotic diets. Chinese plum sauce is also made with this species. Super durable Prunus species with hard wood. Easy to prune up to make a single trunk that forms a round headed tree to 20 ft. tall. Listed in most horticultural books as Zone 6 hardiness. Probably as hardy as most peaches. Hardiness -20 °F. " http://www.oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?numRecordPosition=5&P_ID=556&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=119 Tue Jun 24 16:55:19 -0700 2008 3756511 183643 sfumato