Plant An Organic Fruit Tree During “National Arbor Month” From Nature Hills Nursery

Here’s a trick question: when is Arbor Day?

(HIT) - Arbor Day is the day that we are encouraged to plant trees. In the United States, National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. (This year it’s on April 29.) But each state celebrates its own Arbor Day according to the best planting time for its climate. So Arbor Day kicks off in Florida on the third Friday in January and finally ends in Maine during the third full week in May.
But by far, the most popular Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. (A total of 25 states go with the “official” national date.) So if there was a National Arbor Month, it would be April.
Nature Hills Nursery, the largest online seller of trees in the country (www.naturehills.com), has unofficially proclaimed April to be National Arbor Month.

So that makes it OK to plant a tree anytime during April, not just on your state’s official Arbor Day. “This year, we are encouraging everyone to plant a fruit tree,” said Jeffrey Dinslage, president of Nature Hills Nursery. “Fruit trees provide shade and landscape beauty just like other trees, with the added benefit of giving a delicious, edible harvest.” In honor of National Arbor Month, www.naturehills.com is offering an exclusive line of Organic Heirloom Apple Trees. Twenty-three different heirloom varieties of apple trees are offered, and each of these trees is Certified CCOG Organic and grown using no conventional fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

According to Dinslage, the organic heirloom trees available at naturehills.com are unusual varieties that won’t be found in the produce department of the typical supermarket. “The only way to enjoy the taste, texture and colors of these heirloom apples is to grow them yourself,” he says.

One of the most unusual varieties is called Pink Pearl Organic Heirloom (Malus domestica 'Pink Pearl'). Pink Pearl has a translucent, yellow-green skin, and a crisp, juicy flesh with tart to sweet-tart taste, depending on the time of harvest. This apple has a hidden secret: its flesh is a startling bright pink. This pink apple makes pink applesauce and attractive fruit tarts. The fruit is crisp and tastes of raspberries and lemon custard. Pink Pearl apples ripen in late August to mid-September. Suggested pollinators are any other apple tree or crabapple tree. The tree provides lovely blooms in the spring and grows only 15-20 feet in height. A semi-dwarf tree sells for $49.95.

Another favorite is Cox Orange Pippin Organic Heirloom (Malus domestica 'Cox Orange Pippin'), which is considered the finest “dessert” apple in the world. Cox Orange Pippin makes a fine home orchard apple that ripens September to October and keeps until January. Superlatives abound when describing the full flavor: spicy, honeyed, nutty and pear-like. Cox Orange Pippin has a striking and attractive orange-red coloring and is definitely a superb looking and extremely tasty apple. This variety is a great choice for colder states because the tree is cold hardy to USDA Zone 4. This semi-dwarf tree grows to a mature size of 15 to 20 feet tall, and sells for $49.95.

To see the complete list of Organic Heirloom Apple Trees, visit http://www.naturehills.com .
So celebrate National Arbor Month by planting an organic heirloom apple tree that would make Johnny Appleseed proud! Fun Fact: Check out when your state observes Arbor Day by visiting http://www.arborday.org/arborday/datesText.cfm
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center