Growing Fruit in Cold Climates: Hardy Trees, Fruiting Hedges & Home Orchards with Véronique Alexandre

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Growing fruit in cold climates might seem daunting, especially if you have a small home garden. But with the right trees and a creative mindset, it’s surprisingly achievable. In this episode, we chat with Véronique Alexandre from Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery, a Canadian nursery specializing in fruit trees adapted to harsh northern winters. Want a hedge on your property? Forget the cedar hedge, Veronique will tell you about a flowering, fruiting hedge. She has many tips to help home gardeners succeed with fruit. We explore: Fruit trees, bushes, and cultivars for cold zones Growing a flowering and fruiting plum hedge How to fit fruit trees into small gardens and suburban yards What you need to know about ordering and planting bare-root fruit treesA tough-as-nails apple that grows in zone 2 and even colder A new cold-hardy, tasty, and bred-in-Quebec cold-hardy apple that stores very well

Whether you want a single apple tree, a productive backyard orchard, edible landscape, or a hedge that feeds your family, this episode will inspire you to start planting fruit—even in the coldest regions.

If you’re looking for more on edible hedges, check out this edible hedge guide.