Some of the many unusual fruits that Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano grow in their arboretum in the Hudson Valley of New York, like goji berries or maybe Schisandra, are ones you’re more likely to see on ingredient labels of health food store products than for sale in nurseries or growing in gardens. But grow them you can. 

Allyson and Scott have a passion for fruit, which was the topic of their 2022 book, “Cold-Hardy Fruits And Nuts: 50 Easy-to-Grow Plants for the Organic Home Garden or Landscape,” including selections from around the world that they’ve had success with. They whetted my appetite for some delicious favorites of theirs.

The nonprofit Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Stone Ridge was once Allyson and Scott’s much smaller backyard, but now it’s 21 acres, with about 11 of those under cultivation. It’s also open to the public from 10-4 on weekends, from spring through mid-November. 

They returned to the program to talk about one of their favorite topics, unusual fruit. 

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