Polar Vortex, Protecting Trees, & New Inventory!

Montana Fruit Tree sent this email to their subscribers on January 12, 2024.

“Polar Vortex? Bring it on.” - Our trees

Hello fruit tree friends and fanatics!

We write this as it is currently -12 F in Missoula (mid-day). This has thus far been the coldest we’ve seen this winter, and it is expected to hit below -20 F in Missoula early tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, our trees are prepared for this. Mid-winter colds like this are normal for all the trees that we are growing.
If you are in areas where it is likely to hit below -30, and if the trees are planted in an area where the frost settles (no drainage), and the trees in question are stone fruits, then you may want to wrap burlap or a frost blanket around the tree. A tarp could theoretically work as well (and secure it!). This said, many of our stone fruits can tolerate the -30’s F mid-winter, but it’s hard to predict what those individual frost molecules will do on your site sometimes (hence why drainage/frost pocket avoidance is key).
Check out our site and all the new inventory we have! Lots of new and even more cold hardy varieties than we’ve grown in the past. This includes the most cold hardy peaches and cherries known (Siberian -50 F and Gold -38 F), as well as some of the most cold hardy apricots (Westcot -48F), extremely hardy apples, tart cherries, pears (-50’s F), honeyberries, gooseberries, white nanking cherries (-50’s F), and most of our native fruit bearing, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, (-50 F’s) and more. Lastly, check out the nuts section of our site the produce cold climate adapted protein and oil rich nuts! We’ve been breeding some and are ready to share them with you.
Lastly, check out what our trees look like. Cool stuff!

One of our Bartlett Pears covered in Hoar Frost. These Bartlett’s can tolerate into the -40’s F, and perhaps even close to -50 F (something you generally don’t find in books but confirmed via Bob Purvis). This is wild and quite strange, considering its temperate climate UK origins.

Have a great weekend!

Montana Fruit Tree Co.

Text-only version of this email

? MONTANA FRUIT TREE COMPANY “POLAR VORTEX? BRING IT ON.” - OUR TREES Hello fruit tree friends and fanatics! * We write this as it is currently -12 F in Missoula (mid-day). This has thus far been the coldest we’ve seen this winter, and it is expected to hit below -20 F in Missoula early tomorrow morning. * Meanwhile, our trees are prepared for this. Mid-winter colds like this are normal for all the trees that we are growing. * If you are in areas where it is likely to hit below -30, and if the trees are planted in an area where the frost settles (no drainage), and the trees in question are stone fruits, then you may want to wrap burlap or a frost blanket around the tree. A tarp could theoretically work as well (and secure it!). This said, many of our stone fruits can tolerate the -30’s F mid-winter, but it’s hard to predict what those individual frost molecules will do on your site sometimes (hence why drainage/frost pocket avoidance is key). * Check out our site and all the new inventory we have! Lots of new and even more cold hardy varieties than we’ve grown in the past. This includes the most cold hardy peaches and cherries known (Siberian -50 F and Gold -38 F), as well as some of the most cold hardy apricots (Westcot -48F), extremely hardy apples, tart cherries, pears (-50’s F), honeyberries, gooseberries, white nanking cherries (-50’s F), and most of our native fruit bearing, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, (-50 F’s) and more. Lastly, check out the nuts section of our site the produce cold climate adapted protein and oil rich nuts! We’ve been breeding some and are ready to share them with you. * Lastly, check out what our trees look like. Cool stuff! One of our Bartlett Pears covered in Hoar Frost. These Bartlett’s can tolerate into the -40’s F, and perhaps even close to -50 F (something you generally don’t find in books but confirmed via Bob Purvis). This is wild and quite strange, considering its temperate climate UK origins. Have a great weekend! Montana Fruit Tree Co. Montana Fruit Tree Company 3200 Clark St. Missoula, Montana USA

Show all