Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Here are 19 so-called uncommon fruits--from pawpaws (a poor man's banana) to medlars (small russeted apples), from maypops (a species of passionflower) to jostaberries (a hybrid between the black currant and the gooseberry). Also included are such exotic fruits as Nanking cherries, three edible species of the genus elaeagnus (gumi, autumn olives, and Russian olives), black currants, raisin trees, actinidias, jujubes (a Chinese date), Asian pears, lowbush blueberries, and alpine and musk strawberries. Under each listing is information on the fruit's botanical name, type of plant (tree, shrub, vine, or bush), pollination, ripening season, detailed plant description, cultivation, propagation, harvest and use, and cultivars (varieties). Along with the practical information is some "gossip" about how to grow, pick, and eat these uncommon fruits. Plant nomenclature is discussed in an appendix. The subsequent four appendixes serve as primers on pollination, planting, pruning, and the propagation of the plants. A sixth appendix lists mail-order sources for plants or seeds. The finished book will include a number of line drawings. ~--George Cohen
Library Journal Review
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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
