Sunset and Ortho each put out a handy and general guide on fruits,
nuts and berries, and other related subjects. Rosalind Creasy also
wrote a comprehensive encylopedia. There are many cookbooks about everything, including
cooking with fruits (Schneider's work concentrates on uncommon fruits).
Common fruits, such as the apple, citrus, grape, peach, have many books
dedicated just to them.
Most of the information in the database that I can imagine anybody
wanting to research further comes from the following sources. References
that apply only to one entry in the database are given in that entry.
- Atkins, P.W. Molecules. New York: Scientific American
Library,
1987. An interesting, popular guidebook to molecules , with good coverage
of edible and fragrant ones.
- Ayto, John. Dictionary of Word Origins. New York: Arcade,
1990. Most of the etymological information in this database comes from this book.
- Bryan, John E. and Coralie Castle. The Edible Ornamental Garden. San Francisco: 101 Productions, 1974. A well done book,
covering herbs, vegetables, and fruits, and oddities like birch and douglas fir; a few
recipes for every plant.
- Creasy, Rosalind. Edible Landscaping. San
Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1982. The closest thing to this database in
a book, but also includes annuals. Contains some recipes.
- Friedlander, Barbara. The secrets of the seed--vegetables, fruits, and nuts. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1974. An entertaining compendium of
lore about edible plants
- Kourik, Robert. Designing And Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally. Santa Rosa: Metamorphic Press, 1986. This is a unique
guide to edible landscaping generally; it is not an encyclopedia, but a
guide to horticultural and landscaping principle & technique.
- Ortho Books. How to Attract Birds. San Ramon: Chevron Chemical
Co., 1983.
- Reich, Lee. Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden. Reading:
Addison-Wesley, 1991. If you want grow a plant discussed in this book,
get this book; also fun to read even if you intend to plant nothing. Info
on propagation is included for every plant.
- Root, Waverly. Food. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1980. A
dictionary full of lore and amusing anectdotes: a wonderful read.
- Schneider, Elizabeth. Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables : A Commonsense Guide. New York:
Harper & Row, 1986. Recipes for uncommon fruits and vegetables. You won't find
recipes for sauteed shrimp & feijoa with mint and ginger, or persimmon &
cream spice rolls, or pomegranate-persimmon-kiwi salad in many other places.
- Seymore, John. The New Self-Sufficient Gardener. Garden City:
Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1980. An energetic, no-holds-barred guide to organic gardening.
- Simmons, Alan E. Growing Unusual Fruit. New York: Walker &
Co., 1972. Aimed at British growers, also includes some species common in North
America such as the blueberry and nectarine; a bit out of date.
- Swenson, Allan A. Your Biblical Garden. Garden City:
Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1981.
- Sunset. Western Garden Book of Edibles: The Complete A-Z Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits. Rev. ed. Menlo Park: Sunset
Books, 1979. An encyclopedia and guide for growing plants west of the
Rockies.
- Willis, F. Roy. From Ancient Times Through the Seventeenth
Century 2nd ed. Vol. 1 of Western Civilization: An Urban
Perspective. Lexington: DC Heath & Co., 1977. An enjoyable history text, of no particular
horticultural value.
Some mail-order sources for hard-to-find species and
varieties... buy locally when possible. The following businesses supported
this project in some way, at no profit to themselves. I wish you to reward
them because they were nice to me.
- Raintree
Nursery (206)
496-6400
391 Butts RD
Morton, WA 98356
[many uncommon plants; one year warranty; useful catalog]
- St. Lawrence
Nurseries (315) 265-6739
Potsdam, NY
[located in USDA zone 3, plants guaranteed to withstand -40 F]
Other nurseries, probably just as good as the ones who were
nice to me.
- Art's Nursery (Canada: 604.882.1201)
8940 192nd Street
Surrey, B.C., Canada, V4N 3W8
[moderate selection; useful for Canadian growers; erratic Web site]
- Burnt Ridge Nursery & Orchards 206/985-2873
432 Burnt Ridge RD
Onalaska, WA 98570
[good for nuts; inexpensive]
- Edible Landscaping Nursery 804/361-9134
361 Spirit Ridge Lane7
Afton, VA 29920
- Hidden Springs Nursery (615) 268-9889
RT 14, Box 159
Cookeville, TN 38501
- One Green World 503/266-5432 (retail); 503/651-3737 (wholesale)
28696 S Oglesby RD
Canby, OR 97013
[some uncommon plants (they used to have more!); one year warranty]
- Oregon Exotics
541/846-7578
1065 Messenger RD
Grants Pass, OR 97527
[some hard-to-find stuff; good for hardy citrus]
- Southmeadow Fruit Gardens 269/422-2411
POB 211 - 10603 Cleveland AV
Baroda, Michigan 49101
[fairly mainstream, but good for heirloom varieties]
- Tripple Brook Farm
37 Middle Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Fruits, Nuts, Herbs, Plants, Trees, Gardens, Organic