North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Gene Spears" <Spears@LMC.edu>]

        Since Richard is just "down the mountain" from me (Zone 6 - NWNC), 
I'm surprised he finds Cornus mas to be a dependable fruiter.  I've got a 
couple in my yard (one is Red Star, but I forget the other) that have bloomed 
for six years - only one year gave me any fruits.  We always seem to get one 
hard frost after they bloom (March) that shrivels the flowers & kills the 
embryonic fruit.  I suspect that they can withstand light frosts, but really 
cold freezes (like we get up here at 4000') are too much for them.  If they 
weren't such pretty tress, I'd have to clear them out.
        There was an earlier thread about early apples, so I thought I'd give 
a quick report on my early varieties.  For the first time this year I got 
fruits from two new early apples - Monark and Sansa - and I got my second 
crop of the older variety Wealthy (not quite as early, but we're eating them 
now).  Keeping in mind that the first year or so of fruit production may not 
give the best fruits, I was impressed with Sansa, but not so taken with 
Monark.  Sansa produced small, slightly russetted apples, not very 
attractive, but the flavor was great!  Spicy, sweet and crisp; definitely an 
"eat off the tree" treat.  (Now, if it will only recover from the apple stem 
borer attack this summer, I'll be happy.)  Monark was lovely to look at, big 
and red with no real blemishes (and I don't spray), but not a good eating 
apple.  My wife also tried it, and opined that it would make good apple pies.
        Wealthy is an apple that grows on you.  Another pretty apple - in my 
climate a flawless fruit with no real protection, with a nice, glossy red 
color.  Last crop, I thought them a bit too tart (I prefer a sweet apple), 
but this year, I've been more careful not to pick them until the red color 
starts to really deepen and the stem breaks free easily.  Good flavor - tart 
burst when you first bite in, but sweet after a munch or two.  Ripens about a 
month after the first two, which were ripe here in zone 6 in mid August.
        All three apples seem to grow quickly and be quick producers - the 
second crop of Wealthy in a tree 6 years old.

gene
spears@lmc.edu

PS - Actually, I should mention a 4th early - the old favorite Yellow 
Transparent.  Ready here in July, worthless as an eating apple (IMHO), but 
great for apple sauce.  Also pretty fruit, and a prolific bearer.

-----Original Message-----
From: Moyer, Richard [mailto:ramoyer@king.edu]
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 10:04 AM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] Cornus mas sources


IMHO, C. mas deserves to be grown more widely as a dependable fruiter
despite weather.  Early spring bloomer, and altogether carefree edible
landscaping plant.  Fruit too large for the birds that eat our blueberries,
and untouched by squirrels (so far).

As Robert noted, Edible Landscaping has C. mas, 'Golden Glory'.  They used
to feature 'Elegant' but due to foliar disease at their location (Blue
Ridge, S. VA) are discontinuing it.  Email them (www.eat-it.com for contact)
and see if they still have some 'Elegant' available. They did in August.

'Golden Glory' also available from Forest Farm.

Hidden Springs Nursery offers a variety of C. mas, from Turkish seedlings to
3 named cultivars.  Hector has traveled collecting this one.  To see their
catalog, go to catalogs.google.com, and type in 'Hidden Springs'.  C. mas on
page 7. They are selecting for disease resistance in the SE.

Don't forget the "Black plum" offered by John Gordon, noted in previous
message.

Burnt Ridge Nursery in WA also offers 'Elegant' as well as C. mas seedlings,
though Elegant sold out now.  I am growing their seedlings (my only bearing
plants) and though not large, the fruit sweetens up well 2 days after
picking, and gives enough for jam.

For those of you in or near Corvallis, OR, 2 years ago there were 4 trees on
the N. side of the Ag. Life Sci. building with good fruit, for seedling
sources, and they do trim these so scionwood could probably be arranged.

If none of these sources appeal to you, and you'd like to set out multiple
seedlings to explore for superior plants, let me know offline:
ramoyer@king.edu

Richard Moyer
East Tenn, Zone 6