North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Sam Franc <franc@oregonfast.net>]

LONGDISTSHTR wrote:

> Lon suggests that I buy the list of NAFEX Members to find those in my
> area to help me with selections in my immediate vicinity. Thanks Lon but
> I have, and kept up with them for the last 12 years.  Some are fairly
> close but not close enough.
> Richard Moyer suggests I look at Clemson's selection. I have and most of
> what they have is for the western part of the State. He also says
> Reighard has been trialing unusual fruits in SC for years. Too bad but I
> want decent USUAL fruits. Miller sticks to upstate SC and tells how
> great they are there. I'm in the Pee Dee Region of the State. It is
> unique in that it shares climate, soil and  growing conditions with no
> other region of the State.  Notice that the 7&8 Zones are split right
> through it.
> I'm the only NAFEX member in it as far as I can determine.
> My statement still stands that there just isn't much assistance
> available.
> Thanks Richard but you are about 200 miles from me and Clemson is about
> the same. The fancy "trialers" are in a different world as far as I'm
> concerned.  Note that Dr. Bullard's climate for figs is different from
> mine as well as the soil. Givan suggested Chicago Hardy Fig for me
> several years ago but his climate is different and it is a poor tasting
> fig and a low producer here.
> My area was fair for peaches, cotton and asparagus when I was a boy in
> the '30s but only asparagus, some blueberries, some muscadines and some
> figs will produce fairly well here now.  The ARS plum/apricot selection
> just fed the insects.  It was supposed to bloom late, but beat my plums
> blooming this year so the twenty I planted will be a fairly costly
> firewood in a few years (if the borers don't destroy them). Of the
> so-called Southern apples I had poor results with them. The best
> producer is Centennial Crab. The rest either died or didn't produce.
> Maybe the climate change or whatever just caught me right.  I don't know
> but neighbors just keep right on planting trees with lousey results.
> I grow 7 varieties of bamboo and  one Arundo Donax (African Corn Grass)
> and they thrive well. Bamboo shoots galore every Spring.
> Thanks for the info, boys but it doesn't apply here.
> Doc Lisenby
> Zone 7&8 SC
>
>  
You have my sympathies.
I live on the Oregon coast in zone 8.
Really the USDA zones are sort of useless for me and i think for you too.
I find the zoning of Sunset is much better and more detailed.
Get your hands on a National Gardening Book and check out you zone in there.
Then find someone whose zone matches yours.
I think you will have better luck with compatibility issues.
When I gardened in CA it was my bible on selections.
Here as I age I am not as active in new stuff.
I won't live long enough to see it mature.
Good luck,
Sam