North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <doreenh@ticon.net>]

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds!  Get rates
of 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Ongoing APR* and no annual fee!
Apply NOW!
http://click.egroups.com/1/7872/15/_/423498/_/967680987/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

I’m writing an article on how to cope with drought.  It’s the second part of
a 2-part series.  The first part was on how to prepare for drought.  I came
across the following statement by Scott Aker of the U.S. National Arboretum
in Washington D.C. while doing research.  Would the apple growers on this
list please comment on the correctness of the statement?  Also, anyone else
who grows any of the fruits mentioned in the statement, please comment.

“Apples are the most drought tolerant fruit, but plums and peaches easily
develop problems with borers and bacterial blight when drought stressed.
Strawberries need a modicum of water, bramble fruits can live well on the
thirsty side.”

My questions are:
Wouldn’t an apple tree that receives no water fail to set fruit buds for the
following year, or if they set buds, wouldn’t the fruit abort?  This is the
case with peaches, I know from experience.

Would a water-stressed apple tree drop its fruit before ripening?  Or does
the stress improve flavor of the apple?

I thought that berry canes (brambles) need a certain amount of water to
maintain and if they don’t get the water, the roots die.  Am I wrong?

Thanks in advance for answers.  If I quote you, I’ll make sure you get a
copy of the Gardener’s Companion in which this article will appear on June
12, 2001.
Doreen Howard