{"title":"Unusual Fruit","description":"\u003cp\u003eUncommon cold-hardy fruit for growers who want something different.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chicago-hardy-fig-bundle-of-2","title":"Chicago Hardy Fig (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eIn Montana, Chicago Hardy figs will need to be:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBrought indoors for the winter (a basement works well)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOr protected through other means like burying\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eMost growers here simply store them inside for half the year, starting around September, and enjoy growing them during the warmer months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFruit Description\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eSize: Medium to large, about the size of a golf ball\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlesh: Thick, sweet, strawberry-pink pulp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eSkin: Very thin and fully edible\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eA tasty, rich fig that’s enjoyable fresh off the tree\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eHardy to Zone 6–7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eNot winter-hardy in Montana without protection (burying in the ground) or bringing in. In some mild parts of the state, there may even be winters where it doesn't die back, and if it does, it likely won't kill the roots, in which case if the root system is established, since Figs bear fruit on current season's wood, you'd still get fruit on the shoots that emerged after winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTree Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eSize at sale: Approximately 6–12 inches tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCompact and easy to manage in containers or small spaces\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42472434860098,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/chicago-hardy-fig-fruit-cut.webp?v=1789019775"},{"product_id":"ivans-beauty-aronia-x-mtn-ash","title":"Ivan's Beauty Aronia x Mtn. Ash","description":"\u003cp\u003eNote: Only the second year we've grown this so all this info is second hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIvan’s Beauty, one of our newer plants, is a hardy intergeneric hybrid between mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), often grouped under the hybrid name × Sorbaronia and sometimes associated with the name Likornaya. From the research we’ve done in creating this description, it traces back to breeding work attributed to Ivan Michurin and has been grown as a cold-climate edible ornamental.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom what we have read about the variety, the dark purple fruit is generally considered better for culinary use than straight fresh eating. The flavor can be astringent or mealy when eaten out of hand, but it performs very well when processed into juice, jelly, sauces, syrups, and wine (often blended with other fruits to round it out). It’s also valued for nutritional density (often noted as high in vitamin C) and for adding color and body to blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIvan’s Beauty grows as a small tree or large shrub, typically around 8–10 feet tall, with showy clusters of light flowers and attractive foliage. It’s commonly described as low-maintenance and useful as a border\/hedgerow edible ornamental. It is generally considered self-fertile, so one plant can produce fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the research we’ve done and what we have read about the variety, Ivan’s Beauty is consistently rated as hardy to at least USDA Zone 3, which corresponds to mid-winter minimums around −40°F. That makes it a solid choice for cold climates where both mountain ash and aronia are already proven performers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notable Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA major reason people grow Ivan’s Beauty is that it combines ornamental value with real utility: spring flowers, attractive foliage, and heavy clusters of dark fruit that can apparently be turned for high-quality preserves and beverages even when fresh eating is not the primary goal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImage has been enhanced for resolution. Original image courtesy of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/uncommonfruit.cias.wisc.edu\/\" title=\"Ivan's Beauty Montana Fruit Tree Company Dale Secher Carandale Farm University of Wisconsin\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDale Secher at Carandale Farm (U. of Wisconsin)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Tree Co.","offers":[{"title":"2-4 ft.","offer_id":42499281322050,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ivans-beauty-aronia-mountain-ash-fruit.jpg?v=1789020384"},{"product_id":"sea-buckthorn-bundle-of-5","title":"Sea Buckthorn (Bundle of 5)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese sea buckthorn seedlings (\u003cem\u003eHippophae rhamnoides\u003c\/em\u003e) are exceptionally hardy, nitrogen-fixing shrubs valued for their bright orange, nutrient-dense berries, wind tolerance, and ability to thrive in poor soils. This offering is a bundle of five seed-grown plants, from a super hardy seed source from North Dakota, ideal for establishing a productive planting with built-in pollination odds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSea buckthorn is native to a broad region spanning Europe and Asia, where it has long been used for food, medicine, land restoration, and erosion control. It has been widely planted in cold, dry, and marginal landscapes due to its extreme resilience, deep roots, and ability to improve soil through nitrogen fixation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFemale plants produce clusters of vivid orange berries that are extremely rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, and omega fatty acids. The berries are tart and acidic when fresh, and are most commonly used for juice, syrups, jams, sauces, oils, and fermented products. Can be eaten fresh but they're pretty tart for most. Male plants do not produce fruit but are essential for pollination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSea buckthorn forms a vigorous, multi-stemmed shrub, typically reaching 8–12 feet tall and wide, though size varies with site and pruning. Plants spread via suckers and are well suited to hedgerows, shelterbelts, and restoration plantings. Spacing of 6–10 feet between plants is common, depending on whether a dense hedge or more open planting is desired. Full sun and well-drained soils are preferred, but the plant tolerates drought, wind, cold, and low fertility extremely well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSea buckthorn is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female. Pollination is wind-driven, not insect-based, so having at least one male nearby is essential for fruit production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese plants are grown from seed, which means there is no fixed male-to-female ratio in any given bundle. However, in large populations, seed-grown sea buckthorn naturally averages about 50% male and 50% female.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the sex of seedlings cannot be determined until they flower, the ratio within a bundle of five is random. Statistically, each seedling has a 50% chance of being male and a 50% chance of being female.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo put the odds in practical terms:\u003cbr\u003eThe probability that all five seedlings are female is (0.5)⁵, or 3.125%.\u003cbr\u003eThat means the probability that a bundle of five contains at least one male is 96.875%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn real-world terms, almost every bundle of five will include a male, making this an effective and practical way to establish a fruiting planting from seedlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSummary:\u003cbr\u003eSeedling ratio: roughly 50\/50 male–female\u003cbr\u003eOdds your bundle of five includes at least one male: ~97%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSea buckthorn is extremely cold-hardy and can survive into the -40°F range once established. It is also highly tolerant of wind exposure and winter desiccation, making it one of the most reliable fruiting shrubs for harsh, continental climates. Great shelter belt as well. Zone 2. Will survive in the vast majority of Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are 3-5 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border:1px solid #cfcfcf;border-left:4px solid #8a1c1c;background:#faf7f6;padding:14px 18px;margin-top:28px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping restrictions — state invasive plant law\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003eSea buckthorn (\u003cem\u003eHippophae rhamnoides\u003c\/em\u003e) is named on Maine’s list of invasive plants prohibited from sale or import. We \u003cstrong\u003ecannot ship this plant to Maine\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003eSea buckthorn suckers freely and spreads by seed. Please check your own state and county noxious-weed list before planting, and site it where suckering can be managed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:0.9em;color:#555;\"\u003eOrders placed to a prohibited state will be cancelled and refunded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Tree Co.","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42535344308290,"sku":null,"price":119.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/sea-buckthorn-berries-on-branch.jpg?v=1789021038"},{"product_id":"rocky-mountain-medlar-bundle-of-2","title":"Rocky Mountain Medlar (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe are temporarily referring to this is Rocky Mountain Medlar. Our friend Abe Coley at Mountain Time Farm started these out from seed about 5 years ago. We got some from him and grew these out another year. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese have proven themselves in a colder spot of Missoula in the Orchard Homes part of town where the frost settles. Given that they have withstood several of our test winter events at -30F, these are fairly hardy seedlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore info Coming\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"2-4 ft.","offer_id":45178324058178,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4-5 ft","offer_id":45178324090946,"sku":null,"price":119.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/MontanaFruitTreeCoPhotoComingSoon_07d6ce88-785f-4726-9c5b-d8488cc9899d.png?v=1788908437"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/unusual-fruit.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}