North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <ginda@concentric.net>]

Don, Thanks.  Richard sent me his picture, which is pretty indeed.  
In your yard, is Puget Gold sickly, or is it just smaller than Tomcot? 
This tree has to be elbowed into a city lot, so smaller might be good,
although my friend did say that a little shade would be nice.  Cambridge
is coastal, so the climate is similar to coastal Maine, but a bit warmer
(both summer and winter).  I suspect either will do, and I may chose
based on availability.  

Thanks again,
Ginda

Don Yellman wrote:
> 
> Ginda:  I was the instigator of the Tomcot discussion, for better or
> worse, and am located on the cusp of the 6/7 line in Northern Virginia.
> I think it would be ideal for the location you are describing.  I don't
> know what rootstock my trees are on (they came from Mellinger's in
> Ohio), but they are what I would call very vigorous growers, and
> precocious bearers.  I have subsequently planted a Puget Gold on St.
> Julian A that is growing much less vigorously.  You should see the Puget
> Golds that Richard Ossolinski is able to grow up in coastal Maine; he
> once sent me a photo of them --- suitable for framing.  For a number of
> years I had only one Tomcot, and it set fruit regularly, so I don't
> think it needs a pollinator.  I think this is true of most apricots,
> although set may be improved with more than one.  The problem here is
> those rogue freezing nights in mid to late April, and I am determined to
> deal with that by putting out hoses and sprinklers should it occur again
> next spring.
> Rgds, Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
>