Ontario Fruit Explorers

["Joe Boles" <jo.bo@rogers.com>]

Biz:

 

Yes, I prune the leader. Only in the spring after new growth is about 2" to 2½", I'll cut back taking about ¼ of last years wood. I never hesitate to notch a bud I want to grow out

 

   Joe

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Biz Storms

To: Labruscagrape@Lists. Ibiblio. Org

Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:45 AM

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

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


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