Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention: A Gardener's Guide [Paperback]

Lee Reich (Author), Vicki Herzfeld Alein (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Reich's is indeed a "worthy" addition to the gardening reference shelf, packed with information not readily found elsewhere. The author, a contributor to Horticulture and The New York Times , writes gracefully and knowledgeably about more than 20 fruit species easily grown in North America's temperate climate. Gardeners tired of the same old apples and pears will relish the prospect of growing such exotic fruits as the maypop, a cold-hardy passionfruit, the enticingly fragrant clove currant and the diminutive but intensely flavorful alpine strawberry. Part of what makes these fruits worthy of attention is that they are surprisingly easy to grow; they require far less spraying and pruning than their more commonly cultivated cousins, and--best of all for Northern gardeners--they demand some degree of winter cold. Reich provides detailed information, leavened with anecdotes and quotes from sources ancient and modern, on each fruit's cultivation, propagation, harvest and use, plus a list of cultivars. Appendixes cover botanical nomenclature, how to plant, propagate and care for the fruits and, last but not least, where to purchase them. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This delightful book describes 19 fruits including maypops, pawpaws, medlars, jujubes, and Asian pears. Fruits were selected for being at home in a temperate climate, tasting good to eat out of hand, requiring minimal upkeep, and possessing ornamental beauty. For each, the compact, authoritative, and interesting text offers history, description, propagation, harvest, uses, and cultivars. A precise vocabulary--"frugiverous, frass, bletting"--sparkles in a clearly written text that is never overly technical. Appendixes list mail-order sources as well as more planting, pruning, and propagation advice. Both amateurs searching for the one tree right for their backyard and serious fruiterers interested in propagation will find this book useful and valuable. Highly recommended.
- Sharon Levin, Dana Medical Lib., Univ. of Vermont, Burlington
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Perseus Books (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201608200
• ISBN-13: 978-0201608205
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,063,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lee Reich, PhD started out pursuing an academic career, a trajectory that came to an abrupt halt during his second year in graduate school while studying quantum chemistry. He dropped out, moved to Vermont to ponder, and, after a year, immersed himself in the study and practice of agriculture: reading popular and academic works, entering graduate school, and gardening like a madman.

After three graduate degrees, work work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cornell University, and much dirt under his fingernails, he went off on his own as a freelance horticultural writer, consultant, and lecturer.

Out in the backyard, the garden developed and garnered awards ("Prettiest Vegetable Garden: from Organic Gardening magazine, "Best Vegetable Garden" from National Gardening magazine), and was featured in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living. The garden also grew: Lee now considers himself a farmdener (more than a gardener, less than a farmer), tending his farmden in a small river valley in New York's beautiful Hudson River Valley.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A taste teaser! I want to get these plants!, September 11, 2000

By 

Sarah Jumel (New Orleans, Louisiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention: A Gardener's Guide (Paperback)

This book is, first of all, a wonderful read. It is full of historical notes, very interesting to this nonbotonist, and is fully researched. Advances have been made since it was written, and perhaps some of the suppliers given in the back are no longer with us; but a good web search will remedy that. It describes the flavors, scents, and appearence of the fruits in succulent detail. Since I have read it, I have been buying and trying to get friends to buy the various fruits listed. It is torture not being able to go out and buy jujubes, gumis, hardy kiwi, pawpaws, and all the rest of the children of Pomona that are here delineated. A wonderful book, full of charming oddities and wit.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Discovery, December 11, 2006

By 

Jim Demetre "Artdish Editor" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention: A Gardener's Guide (Paperback)

I found this title in a used bookstore and purchased it immediately because of its chapter on the Black Mulberry, a mysterious fruiting tree growing in my backyard. I soon discovered that it had a chapter on the Asian Pear, another tree I had on my property. The book continued to fascinate me and soon I was looking for the current, elderberry, persimmon, strawberry, and wild blueberry species for my garden. So many of us urban dwellers garden, but fewer and fewer of us remember our society's original purpose in doing so: to enjoy the pleasures of eating. Most of the species are available from Raintree Nursery in Morton, WA.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really expanded my ideas of what to plant, June 17, 2005

By 

John M. "John" (Orem, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention: A Gardener's Guide (Hardcover)

I read about another book by Lee Reich on another website and through Amazon's links discovered this book. I have read parts of this book over and over and it really makes me want to try growing some of the varieties of plants that are found on its pages. I went and bought a Hardy Kiwi plant this spring and can't wait until it matures enough to produce fruit. I am also interested in the Mulberry and the Pawpaw because of this book. Some of the information seems to be a little outdated now (it said that Hardy Kiwi needed to be planted in Male/Female pairs but there are self-pollinating varieties now), but most of the information is timeless and still is applicable.