Entries by Venture Out Team

Apples for Whidbey Island 2023

** Apples require another apple or crabapple variety in order to produce fruit. All of our apple trees are grown on semi-dwarf rootstock in order to accommodate most home orchards, unless otherwise noted. Ashmead’s Kernel (Dwarf) An old English heritage apple with a very distinct, sweet-tart flavor. The greenish brown russetted fruit is not pretty, […]

Pears & Quince for Whidbey Island 2023

*All of these fruit trees are grown on semi-dwarf rootstock in order to accommodate most home orchards.* European Pears Bartlett Perhaps the most widely grown European pear tree in history and cultivated in America since the early 1800s. Classic bell shaped golden yellow fruit sometimes flushed red. Thin skinned, with creamy white flesh that is […]

Peaches, Apricot, Nectarines & Combo 2023

*All of these fruit trees are grown on semi-dwarf rootstock in order to accommodate most home orchards, unless otherwise noted.* Frost Peach The best peach for Northwest gardens. Red blushed over yellow peaches are great fresh or for canning. A freestone variety that produces very heavily. The tree is very productive and vigorous. Thinning the […]

Fruiting Plums for Whidbey Island 2023

*All of these plum trees are grown on semi-dwarf rootstock in order to accommodate most home orchards.* European Plums: Green Gage This is a historic plum variety dating back to France in the 1600s.  In France, this plum is called “Reine Claude”.   The small rounded yellow-green fruits are not pretty, but many say they have […]

Fruiting Cherries for Whidbey Island

**All our fruiting cherries are grown on dwarf rootstock to make them easier for bird netting and access to the fruit. Sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) are said to be self-fertile, but sweet cherries (Prunus avium) need a second sweet variety as a pollinator. Since sour and sweet are different species they do not pollinate each […]

How Can You Help Your Plants Thrive During the Winter?

Landscaping in the Pacific Northwest comes with plenty of challenges: from deer and rabbits decimating garden beds, to clay soil rotting roots, and summers without natural irrigation. Another challenge often not considered in our NW climate are the freezing temperatures in the winter. While we do have milder temperatures than much of the US, the […]