Glib, are chestnut weevils not a problem in northern Ohio? I know there are cultural controls that can help a lot but chestnuts from just a random yard tree are mostly no good in my area of North Carolina. My vote would be for a hardy kiwi (actinidia arguta), very simply because they're so delicious. They're also very ornamental and could probably tolerate some shade if need be. They're virtually pest and disease free, but they require substantial work with trellising and pruning (but that's the kind of work I enjoy.) They seem to be reliable producers in some locations but very unreliable (if not reliably unproductive) in others (due presumably to frost damage, poor pollination, and/or difficult pruning), and I think that would be the greatest strike against them, although I'd still bet on hardy kiwis before I'd bet on something like no-spray peaches in northern Ohio. I don't know if blueberries would be as easy to grow there as they are here, but if so blueberries would about be a tie. A northern highbush blueberry might be as easy as a rabbiteye is here, but North Carolina soils are probably more broadly suitable for blueberries than Ohio soils. Here blueberries are one of the easiest fruits to source from other good local sources, though. The best thing about blueberries here is just the combination of fruit quality and trouble-free productivity. As has already been said, the versatility of apples (fresh eating, pies, applesauce, sweet cider, hard cider, cider vinegar...) and the potential to enjoy them over most of the year (with early and late and good storage varieties) makes a great argument for apples, although pest and disease difficulties (which may be a little lighter in northern Ohio than here) definitely detracts from their case, especially if you'd like a no-spray option. I could also be happy (insofar as I could be happy with any one fruit) with a persimmon, either a native or an Asian hybrid like Rosseyanka. A persimmon is a very ornamental option, especially comparing it to other trees (as opposed to vines and bushes), and to me it's such a visually appealing fruit (even when others might think it looks half rotten as the ripe native fruits kind of do), and that visual appeal really adds to the enjoyment. I think it would be the easiest to grow and most adaptable fruit of the four I've mentioned. If you had asked about my location, I might choose figs over all the others.

At first glance, I scoffed at the whole idea. On closer inspection, the solar greenhouse may warrant some consideration--keeping in mind a few of the limitations of solar. For one, solar panels are only about 15% efficient at converting the sun's energy to electricity. And that only gets it to DC power, which then has to be converted (with losses) to AC power to use in the home. So you wouldn't want the panels to shade your plants during the winter. That being said, the UK is so far north (and thus the sun's winter angle so low), that this may work. You will have to look long and hard at how the finances work out however. Solar panels are not extremely efficient (as stated earlier), and the UK with its overcast weather and northern latitude has some pretty depressing numbers for solar potential! However, if the utility costs are are high, it might price out to be an advantage to you. If you want help with any of the analysis, I am willing. I took a course in photovoltaic systems design last semester, and am pretty quick with numbers.

We built our small commercial greenhouse 2 years ago... I wish I knew about self-sufficient greenhouse - accumulating greenhouse heat through the day and use it through the night. Initial investment a bit costly, but it would pay off in couple a years. I would definitely do it second time around. I wish I knew better to install solid concrete floor. Fine rock or gravel is paradise for greenhouse pest like aphids, thrips to overwinter. I wish I installed overhead watering hoses (not sprinkler, actual hoses). Them "snakes" on the ground are frustrating... Stuck on something, kinked, tangled, knocked plants on the floor, not mentioning tripping in loops. I wish I had my benches narrower and shorter that would give me more flexibility to play around and create nice displays. I wish we installed overhead propane heater in different spot then above a bench. When heater runs it blows hot air to my bench creating "dead zone". Hot air burns all seedlings in its way. I have 10' X 3' unusable bench space due to that. I hope it was helpful! Enjoy!

I apologize for not replying sooner and thank you for your responses. EJF: Not sure why the unit was spec'd with a 5-ton when originally built. The condo is about 2200SF with 10ft floor to ceiling windows and is facing the west. The corner units, although a little smaller have two 4-ton units instead. Perhaps the windows and sunlight are a big factor? Also, unfortunately I am the first one in the building that is looking to upgrade the HVAC units to one with variable speed fan and compressor etc. As far as I know, HVAC units with variable speed fans and dual or variable stage compressors will ONLY have full communicating functionality (with the unit’s variable fan/compressor working in harmony) when the unit is matched up with that manufacturers specific communicating thermostat for the units as well. Yes, most any thermostat will turn the Heating/AC on and off, however, it will not be able to control the variable fan speed or compressor and subsequently will not benefit from the energy savings and comfort features that these systems are specifically designed to provide. I had a variable speed fan with dual stage compressor along with fully communicating thermostat at my last condo, so I’m very familiar with how much energy it saved me, but more importantly for me, the added comfort from that system, which I feel is worth every penny. It seems that a lot of HVAC dealers don’t even know that their flagship systems need to be mated with their proprietary thermostats so I’ve seen a lot of people with variable speed units paired with a standard color touchscreen wifi or Nest thermostats. The system works fine but couldn’t compare to my fully communicating system. fsq: Thank you for the advice for contacting WF and asking for their qualified dealers. As far as price, I was just curious to know what the retail price of a 5-ton WF series 7 is. Actually, I don’t need to know the series 5 price nor do I need to compare them, because I agree with you – get the best! But since ur in Canada, I guess pricing is different. Also just wanted to note for others who might not know, the word “communicating” in the HVAC world may sound like it has to do with an internet connected and/or wifi capable thermostat, but it doesn’t at all. It only means that the variable furnace/air handler/blower fan (also called ECM Fans/Motors) and AC/Heat pump/Compressor, “talk” to each other along with the communicating thermostat. For example, if the AC is set to 74 degrees but it’s 75 in at the thermostat, the “brain” of the system will tell the compressor to turn on to “low” and the blower fan speed will also adjust to only blow enough air to match the low compressor output. If it needs to cool faster, it will increase the amount of cooling from the compressor and ramp up fan speeds in order to reach and/or maintain the set temperature, etc. (I’m no expert but just trying to explain it as I understand it, so please correct me if I’m wrong). Similarly for heating with a variable gas furnace, the amount of gas will vary accordingly. These systems will NOT use this advanced functionality with standard thermostats.