I remember a story about a guy who … I think planted hundreds of seeds every year, maybe lemon or orange? In some cold place in the US. And after some years finally got some tat survived and he could finally grow them and get fruit in the end. Does anyone remember this, and know who it was and what species?
Thanks!
There’s the “Oranges in the snow” guy, but that was about greenhouses, not adaptation.
Kenny Asmus at https://oikostreecrops.com/ has done some stuff like that but I think he’s probably not the subject of the story you’re thinking of.
Russia did that, also planted in trenches:
The method consists of planting a seed of a highly valued tree a bit further north of its original location, and then waiting for it to give seeds. Those seeds are then planted a bit further north, and with the process repeated further, slowly but steadily pushing the citrus variety towards less hospitable climates. Using this method, apricot trees from Rostov could eventually be grown in Mitchurinsk, 650 km further up north, where they developed apricot seeds that were adapted to the local climate.
Article
Fruit Trenches: Cultivating Subtropical Plants in Freezing Temperatures | LOW←TECH MAGAZINE.
Also your description sounds alot like Mark Shepherd’s S.T.U.N. It means Sheer, Total, Utter Neglect.
He was/is working with nut trees.
Tom
David the Good talked about that in his Push the Zone book. To his great disappointment, he never met the guy and lost the seedling lemon that had been gifted to him by another person who knew that guy.
Thanks everyone for sharing! And this link is interesting, thanks!
Hmm, maybe that is the story I had heard! Do you know the name of that person? And, did that project fade away then? Or still someone of it around?
Sadly, David never learned the name of that person or was able to get in contact with them. I’m sure he’s more bummed out about that than anyone else. The only clue he had as to the person’s identity was that they lived in the same general area he did. I’m trying to remember which state he was in at the time – Tennessee? If you read the book (which is definitely well-worth reading), you’ll see the story in a later chapter.
I seriously do recommend reading it. Even if you can’t buy a copy, you can always give your local library a poke and ask if they’d be willing to buy it (or interlibrary loan it) so you can read it.
I have no clue but that sounds extremely interesting. do you remember where you heard this and when?
Sounds like Mark Shepard’s story about growing Asian pears in Wisconsin.
You’re right, that is Mark Shepard’s MO! His STUN method is very intriguing.