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labruscagrape - Re: [OFEX] Blackcurrant Wine, Berries and other Stuff

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Subject: Ontario Fruit Explorers

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  • From: "Biz Storms" <biz.storms@sympatico.ca>
  • To: "Labruscagrape@Lists. Ibiblio. Org" <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [OFEX] Blackcurrant Wine, Berries and other Stuff
  • Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 14:45:45 +0000 GMT

Hi to everyone

Just came back into town to find wonderful emails about blackcurrants. I am
picking like mad. We are at the end of the Crandals - ours ripened earlier
this year and the birds have been dive bombing. Those robins are fearless.
The last batch of picking will likely be by Tuesday. Their tast this year is
rather more mellow than the ones on Consort. The Consort currants have that
muskier taste here - but not that cat pee taste being mentioned on nafex.
Tom, when you say port style wine, is that different from Cassis? Any idea of
the difference?

Also for Tom, our Court Pendu Plat was ravaged last year so I hard pruned
back to about twelve inches above the graft. I also grafted three tiny buds
onto to spare rootstock and they all took. All are growing nicely without any
indication of powdery mildew, etc. Is the variety known for powdery mildew
weaknes? Could you be dealing with a virus of some kind from the rootstock or
the scionwood? I seem to remember that you have been fighting this for two
years.

And now a question for Joe about espalier. Do you ever prune the leader when
following the modified Lorette system? I have begun the first round of real
training and pruning. Tons of leaders are anywhere from twelve to eighteen
inches of new growth. Do you prune the leader or do you prefer to notch the
buds you want that are in the right place for wire training?

I also have an elderberry question. We have one elderberry - York. Since we
need to get another for pollination does anyone have any suggestions. It
actually came packaged with an Adams but it was too weak and barely lasted a
few weeks. It was one of the McConnell or McFayden packages. The umbrella of
flowers was gorgeous and Tom's mention of wine reminded me to get another
variety.

Our bees have been very busy. The good hive is now working on their fourth
honey super. We extracted one super yesterday and will do another one today.
Wow. That queen was strong last year, but it looks like they'll get to six
plus supers this summer if they keep up the pace. We had to replace our
second hive. I was connected with a fellow who set me up with a new queen and
seven frames of bees. They have yet to give any honey since they have lots of
repair work to do for the main hive. Hey Bert - if I find some jars in time,
I will drop you off a few when I head back to the city on Monday or Tuesday.

That is all for now - blackberries are not great for typing long messages.

Cheers to all.
Bizmark


Sent via BlackBerry on the Bell Mobility network

-----Original Message-----
From: "Thomas Olenio" <tolenio@sentex.net>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 15:13:52
To:"Ontario Fruit Explorers" <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [OFEX] Scotch Block Winery


Hi Bert,

I bought a bottle of their Obsession black currant, port style wine. It
had much more black currant flavor than the Regal.

Tasted so many of their wines, it was easy to loose perspective.

We bought;

Black currant port style wine

Elderberry wine

Raspberry wine

Be wary though... Their little tasting cups dribbled down my shirt, and
you can imagine how dark purple, currant wine looks dribbled down your
shirt.

They did have a saskatoon berry wine, but it was blended with other fruit
wines. I did not care for it enough to buy a bottle. As I recall there
were raspberry overtones in the saskatoon wine. It was a blend, and
raspberry is a strong flavored berry.

Tom

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 14:22:59 -0400, bert dunn <helbert@idirect.com> wrote:

> Several years ago, Bert Andrews won "best in show" with his Titania
> Currant
> wine.
> This April I asked for another bottle and Bert instead said they now
> called
> "Regal Black Currant". Perhaps this is what you had Tom--not quite as
> intentce as the straight Titania Cheers Bert
> Bert Dunn Box 352 Schomberg LOG1T0 1-905-880-4453
>
>
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 1:05 PM
> Subject: [OFEX] Scotch Block Winery
> Hello All,
>
> I had a nice surprize yesterday. We went to the Scotch Block winery in
> Milton, and their black currant wine tastes like mine. I was happy my
> meager skills could produce similar results.
>
> We have picked all our red currants and black currants, except Crandsll.
> Crandall is only begining to ripen.
>
> I was also able to taste Saskatoon berries at Andrew's Scenic Acres (same
> location on Scotch Block) and the flavor was meager at best (much like
> over ripe gooseberries [flat]). Since I have planted Northline and Honey
> Wood saskatoons, I am hoping for more flavor from my own.
>
> My Court Pendu Plat apple again suffers from what I think is Powdery
> Mildew inspite of using Bordo (copper spray 5 tsp - gallon) spray. I
> have
> attached an image. If anybody has any suggestions I would appreciate
> them. No other apple in my backyard has this problem. The leaves curl
> lenghtwise, and over time (by season end) will be brittle. Vigor is also
> reduced. Last season I used "organic" controls and they were not
> effective either. help!
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
>
>
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