Perennial Fruit
What is perennial fruit?
Perennial fruits provide a steady source of fresh food year after year, strengthen local ecosystems, and support long-term food sovereignty. This includes apples, cherries, peaches, pears, elderberries, raspberries, strawberries, and more!
Keep Growing Detroit supports farms and gardens in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park in planting and caring for perennial fruit through the Little Orchard program as well as offering an annual fruit sale to increase access to fruit trees and small perennial fruit plants.
Resources
Guide for Planting Perennial Fruit Trees & Plants
Giving Grove - Backyard Orchard Resources
Giving Grove - Holistic Spray Guide for Fruit Tree Maintenance
MSU Extension - Backyard Fruit 101 - In-Person + Self Pace Course
Virtual Classes
These short garden education videos are a great way to see what your next steps may be in your garden. There’s plenty more shorts to check out on our KGD Quick Classes YouTube Playlist
SMALL FRUIT CULTIVATION & CARE - Small fruits that grow well in our region include classic favorites such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and grapes and less known types such as saskatoons and josta berries. Join seasoned fruit enthusiast Patrick Crouch for a dive into best practices for growing these fruit including planting tips, managing fertility, pruning and ongoing care.
PERENNIAL TREE FRUIT CULTIVATION AND CARE - Apples, cherries, peaches, pears, elderberries.... there are so many varieties of fruit we can grow in Detroit. Join us to get the lowdown on cultivating these crops including: how and where to plant, soil considerations, varieties that perform the best, ongoing care and MORE!
PRUNING FRUIT TREES - Apple, peach, pear, plum pruning trees is super fun! Fruit trees require annual pruning to keep them in shape and maximize future harvests. At this session learn the right tools, timing and techniques to get your trees in shape.
ANNUAL PERENNIAL FRUIT TREE SALE
It’s never too late to add perennial fruit trees and berries to your farm or garden. These plants will add interest and many seasons of fruitful harvests to any landscape. Below is an example of fruit varieties that would be available through the store. Only current Garden Resource Program Members will be able to place an order,
HOW IT WORKS
Submit your Garden Resource Program application before the sale goes live! Only current GRP members will be able to place an order.
In late February, check out the sale on the Online Farm Store. Credit & CashApp accepted.
In mid-April, pick up your order at KGD Farm, 3100 Orleans. Planting and assembly instructions provided at pick up.
FRUIT TREES
Apple, ‘Kudos’
Apple ‘Gala’
Asian Pear, ‘Atago’
Asian Pear, ‘Shinsui’
Pear, ‘Harrow Sweet’
Pear, ‘Potomac’
Peach, ‘Summer Serenade’
Cherry, ‘Skeena’
Paw Paw Potted Seedlings (sold as a pair)
Bush Cherry, ‘Romeo’ & ‘Juliet’ (sold as a pair)
SMALL FRUIT/PLANTS
Honeyberry, ‘Indigo Gem’ & ‘Tundra’ (sold as a pair)
Seedless Grape, ‘Himrod’
Thornless Blackberries, ‘Triple Crown’
Black Raspberries, ‘Jewell’
Raspberries, ‘Fall Gold’
Strawberries, ‘Fort Laramie’ (sold in bunches of 20)
Hardy Kiwi, ‘Prolific’
Wine Cap Mushroom Kits
Little Orchards
Are you interested in planting an orchard in your neighborhood—or looking to refresh an existing one? Our Little Orchard Project supports Detroit-based community, school, and market gardens with the resources needed to establish and sustain thriving orchards.
In addition to launching new orchards, applicants may also request fruit trees and small fruit to replace plants lost in existing orchards. Selected sites will receive fruit trees and perennial plants, custom orchard designs, mulch, signage, tree guards, and labor for orchard installation. Eligible applicants include Community, School, and Market Gardens with a current Garden Resource Program application.
Little Orchard packages include set quantities and varieties of trees and brambles, thoughtfully designed to meet City of Detroit setback guidelines. Applicants may request specific varieties within each package, as outlined in the application. New Little Orchard sites are generally eligible for up to 6 fruit trees (one type) and 18 small fruit plants per vacant lot (30' × 100') of open growing space.
TIMELINE
January - Applications are available to current Garden Resource Program members
February - Applications are due in February
April - Orchard plantings are tentatively scheduled
Please note
This is a competitive program and not all applicants will be awarded
Applicants must have a soil test on file for the site to be eligible
Applicants must attend Perennial Fruit Cultivation and Care Class on January to be eligible
