Go to MidFEx's Home Page Go to MidFEx's Contact Page Membership Info. and Application
 
Fruits & Nuts for the Chicago Area - recommended varieties by B. Kurle
 
Pawpaw page - a terrific native Midwestern fruit
 
MidFEx's Grafting Workshops - information describing past and future Grafting Workshops
 
MidFEx's Harvest Festival - information describing past and future Harvest Festivals
 
Gene's Backyard Orchard - Learn the secrets of growing apple trees in very limited space. Both a "How To" guide and a virtual tour.
 
Internet Links - Descriptive and detailed links for backyard fruit growers and Chicagoland gardeners.
 
Q & A - Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
 
Apple Pest & Disease Identifier - Picture Flashcard Guide in PowerPoint™.
 
Why Fruit Trees are Grafted - a handout from the grafting workshop
 
Care of Newly Grafted Fruit Tree - a handout from the grafting workshop
 
Join MidFEx - Membership application  (MidFEx's membership is only $10 per year!)
 
Contact Us
 
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  MidFEx, short for Midwest Fruit Explorers, is a non-profit organization of amateur backyard fruit growing enthusiasts.  Most of our members live in the counties surrounding Chicago.

 

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  We are crazy about the best tasting, most flavorful fruits that grow well here.  We are also interested in growing special, superior and unusual fruits regardless of their appearance or commercial appeal.  This includes little known varieties of apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes and nuts; and more unusual fruits such as the pawpaw, mulberry, persimmon, fig, juneberry, Asian pear, and hardy kiwi.  Our members locate, graft, propagate, test, grow and swap these superior fruiting plants, and then get together and share their knowledge.

New:  MidFEx video tutorials and members' orchard tours- amazing!
  Apple Pest & Disease Identifier Guide - a downloadable file
   

Upcoming Events


  • MidFEx Summer Picnic - MidFEx members only!
    View A MidFex Member's Amazing Example of Incorporating Fruiting Plants Into His House's Landscape Design

    July 11, 2010 - Sunday at noon - Chicago Botanic Garden

    For MidFEx members only, at a member's Glencoe home. Our summer picnic is a yearly highlight. This years picnic is hosted at the suburban home of one of MidFEx. His home orchard shows the possibilities of incorporating fruit trees into his landscape. Highlight's include pears espaliered around his windows, mature pawpaw trees, 45 apple varieties and much more.
    Detailed directions are listed in the Grapevine (our newsletter).

     
  • October 16-17 MidFEx's Fall Harvest Festival Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL.


 

 Grafting is a surefire method of producing a tree whose fruit will be identical to its parents.  Join us at our grafting workshop and create your own apple, pear or plum tree. This is definitely a hands-on workshop.  You can buy rootstock at our workshop, follow along with the demonstration, and leave with one or more fruit trees ready to plant in the ground.
 Our afternoon sessions include a lecture-demonstration, followed by a practice session and individual help with grafting.  We will provide scion wood from at least 40 different varieties of apples, 20 varieties of pears, and 10 varieties of plums. Whip Graft

Costs:  Our workshop and guidance are free. However you will need to buy rootstock if you want to take home a tree. We will have dwarfing apple, pear and plum rootstock available. Cost is $4 each with free scion wood for MidFEx members.  Non-members pricing is $5 which includes two pieces of scion wood of their choice. Grafting requires a very sharp knife with a 2-3 inch blade. Grafting knives will be available for $18 for those that don't bring a knife or who find that their knife isn't up to the task.

Important:  Regretfully space is limited. Only the individuals actually grafting fruit trees will be allowed in the grafting classroom.  Friends, spouses, and children are welcome to explore the grounds during the sessions.

 

March 14, 2010 at the Cantigny Greenhouse, at the Cantigny Park and Museum, Wheaton, Illinois.  Enter at the Shaffner gate. Go to the Greenhouse!

  • Morning Session  9:00 am to 12 noon- for MidFEx members with grafting experience or can help out preparing rootstocks and sorting scion wood. No experience necessary to help out and much good fruit growing conversation to be had.
  • Afternoon Session  for the less experienced MidFEx members and their guests. Please arrive on time. Lecture begins at 1:00 sharp. Workshop will last until about 4:00 pm.
  • Parking-  Enter at the Shaffner gate on the west side of Shaffner Road about 300 yards south of Roosevelt Road (Illinois 38).  If you use any other entrance you'll have to pay a parking fee and have a long walk.
  • Maps and directions

 

March 21 , 2010 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois.  Go to the Linnaeus Room in the Regenstein Center building.

  • Morning Session  9:00 am to 12 noon- for MidFEx members only.
    If you've had any problems with your past grafts or grafting techniques, then let us help. We will have some of our most skilled members on hand from 11:00-12:00 to answer questions and assist you (for MidFEx members only).
  • Afternoon Session  for the public and the less experienced or novice grafter. Please arrive on time. Lecture begins at 1:00 sharp. Workshop will last until about 4:00 pm.
  • Parking- Parking is free for Chicago Botanic Garden members and members of gardens with reciprocal privileges. Visit Chicago Botanic Garden's web pages for details.
  • Maps and directions

 

Gene's Backyard Orchard

Click here to begin tour  Take a virtual tour of Gene Yale's Backyard Orchard.  You'll be amazed!  There were 97 dwarf apple trees (93 different varieties) and 6 blueberry bushes in 2500 square feet in his backyard when these web pages were created.   His backyard was featured in the June 15, 1997 Chicago Sun-Times and in the October 12, 1997 Chicago Tribune newspapers.
  Gene is one of MidFEx's more talented members and is pleased to share his knowledge.  On this tour you'll see his backyard and learn the secrets to its success.  Learn how to grow a 3 foot mini-dwarf apple tree, read about Gene's favorite apple varieties and more.

  Note: On September 17, 2007 WLS Channel 7 news had a feature segment about Gene's backyard orchard!

 

Exciting News
MidFEx members explain grafting in Chicagoland Gardening magazine.


   Interested in grafting? Be sure and check out the 'Chicagoland Gardening' magazine's March/April 2008 issue.
MidFEx members are interviewed and explain how to make a fruit tree by grafting. There is an excellent two page description of "Grafting Step by Step" with 9 photographs illustrating every stage of the process.



Past Articles
   On September 17, 2007, MidFEx member Gene Yale was interviewed by Chicago's ABC television station. He has 176 miniature apple trees growing in his small suburban backyard. View the video while it's still available.

     The January/February 2003 issue of National Arbor Day Foundation's printed magazine “Arbor Day” has a long paragraph describing MidFEx on page 7. There is a terrific picture of Gene Yale's backyard orchard and a link to our web site. They mention us in relationship to a question about growing fruit trees in a small city yard.

     Take a look at 'Midwest Living'  Oct. 1999 issue on page 14 for a one page article titled 'Learning About Exotic Fruit Trees'.  It describes several members' experiences growing and propagating fruit trees.

     Be sure to get your hands on 'Chicagoland Gardening' September-October 1999 issue!  There is a wonderful article on pages 15-17 about MidFEx's Harvest Festival;  lots of interesting comments from members including fruit tree recommendations with an emphasis on judging the taste and flavor.

 

 

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Last major update: July 2, 2010
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