I live near Everett, Washington, and your heat units are considerably less in the summer so you probably don't want to plant anything that ripens later than mid September in our area. Forget the late apples, pears and plums. Chehalis and Alkmene (Alkemene) apples would be good for you, and they are also scab resistant. The early season scab immune apples are good, too. You are best off with the scab resistant varieties, I imagine you would have even more trouble with scab than we do, and we have plenty. Go ahead and put in a cherry tree or two, and see how they do. Some years you won't get any fruit and others you will. Get self fertile crack resistant varieties like Vandalay, which is from the Ontario research station so I know you can get it in Canada. The self fertile ones have better set in poor spring weather. Don't get any late pears unless you find someone in the area who has them and says they do OK. There are some good pears that ripen in the summer here, like Ubileen And Bella Di Guigno. Look in the Raintree catalog and anything that they say ripens by early September in pears and plums for them should be worth trying where you are. I don't know if you can order from Raintree, but it will give you some ideas to go on. I think Beauty asian plum would be worth trying for you even though it might not have as good of flavor as if it had more heat units. It does well here. I agree that berries are a good idea. I don't think humidity is your main problem, I think lack of heat units is a bigger concern. Humidity is more of a problem in very hot weather. You might have problems with some fungus though, like scab. Try to find out what other people in the area grow.

Hi, I found this plant near my walmart last month and it had striking red berries. I saw these yesterday and they had turned a nice dark purple colour. Am thinking these are huckleberries, but would appreciate some positive id. The pics are pretty bad, but I was feeling awkward taking pica in walmart parking lot. So is it vaccinium parvifolium? http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/archoo16/huckleberry2.jpg http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/archoo16/huckleberry3.jpg http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/archoo16/huckleberry1.jpg Here is a link that might be useful: Huckleberry???

It is difficult to identify your 'blueberry' without seeing it. Suggest that you place a call to one of the Carolina's native plant and plant hunter experts, Bob McCartney at Woodlander's Nursery in Aiken, SC. He should be able to help you and may even be interested in your discovery. Nursery phone number is 803-648-7522.

I have several tuliptree and black walnut seedlings to trade. I am interested in trading for serviceberries, blueberries and huckleberries, bur oaks and sourwoods. I realize we will have to wait until the trees go dormant. Shane