From The Ground Up: A Horticultural Guide For Northern Gardeners
Barb’s previous book, the reference manual “From the Ground Up: A Horticultural Guide for Northern Gardeners” is available from Books and Company in Prince George, or through through this website. Popularly referred to as “The Hort Guide”, this has become a necessary addition to the libraries of gardeners and landscapers throughout northern B.C.
The Hort Guide is an extremely useful reference to plants of all types that will grow in challenging cold-climate, short-season areas, from zones 2-5. It covers annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, fruits and berries, herbs and vegetables. The Hort Guide presents information at the genus, species and variety level, as well as a lot of useful tips and hints gleaned from the personal experience of many northern gardeners. If you want to know which apple trees to buy, which roses are going to survive the winter or what vegetables can be grown, this is the book you need.
This completely revised 2nd edition of the Hort Guide was published in 2008 through Trafford Publishing. The original 2000 version, published by The David Douglas Botanical Garden Society, of Prince George, is now out of print. The original version was made possible by a grant from the British Columbia Investment Agriculture Foundation Program, funding for which is provided through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Safety Net Program and Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund.
This information-packed 400 page volume sells for $34.95, plus shipping and handling where applicable. Plesae see below for rates within Canada and to the U.S.A. Outside of these countries please enquire. (Icelandic gardeners and those in Scandinavia and other colder parts of the globe may find this book useful because of the focus on those specific plants which will – or will not – actually grow in harsh northern conditions.)
For larger quantities (by the case, which is 18 books) for classroom or garden club use, or garden centre re-sale, please enquire.
Purchase Here.
sanjeev virk
I plan to buy 50 acres of rural land in prince george and would like to plant apples tree that start bearing fruit in the 2nd year, where can i buy trees to fulfill such a demand?
Thank you,
Sanj
6045126871
Barb
Most fruit trees that are available at the retail level are of bearing age and in bloom at the garden centers in the spring when they are offered for sale. They tend to lose that first year’s fruit crop due to transplant shock, but should begin bearing the next year. For a list of varieties and some notes on hardy root stocks, you will want to consult my first book, “From the Ground Up: A Horticultural Guide for Northern Gardeners.” See The Bookstore
If you are planning on developing a commercial orchard and planting lots of trees, you probably want to buy wholesale, and in that case my choice would be Bron and Sons, in Grand Forks, B.C. There is a minimum size order plus minimum quantity per variety, of course, so this isn’t possible unless you are planting maybe 50 or more trees. (And then be prepared for freight costs that are 20-25% of the cost of the trees. Order in the late summer or fall for spring delivery, to get the best selection – they are usually sold out of many items by spring.)
Either way, think about how you are going to protect the trees from moose and bears – the moose rip the trees apart browsing on the branches in the winter, and the bears rip them apart getting the apples off in the fall. Strong fencing and a good dog or two (inside the fence, not running loose, please!) are essential to protect your investment.
Thanks, and good luck!
Barb