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["Pete B" <pete@cmpsource.com>]

From: buretachi@juno.com
Subject: [NAFEX] chinese che update
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <20030802.235223.-183297.3.buretachi@juno.com">20030802.235223.-183297.3.buretachi@juno.com>
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       As we start into August, the two 2yr old che trees, thought to be
one male, one female both have green fruits on them about the size of a
very large pea, resembling a round unripe mulberry.  They bore similar
quantities last year but lost all fruit while still green.  Should the
fruits be larger at this time in the season?  What are your che trees
looking like this year?

Scott
Lancaster, PA

Hi Scott

I have a female tree from Edible Landscape. It's about 3 years old I think. This year it ripened fruit for the first time. They all fell off like yours the first year it made fruit. Quite a bit of the fruit fell early this year after turning red. I never did find any that turned soft. They were kinda firm and a little sweet. I cooked some with figs. They ripened as early as my early figs. They are finished here now for about 2 weeks. The tree is growing very well and next year I am sure it will produce up to a gallon of fruit. It had a lot this year. They were about the size of a medium sized jawbreaker or a large marble. Almost as big in diameter as a quarter.

If nothing else, I will cook 'em down with sugar syrup with the figs.

Good luck

Pete in South Louisiana