North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com>]

Autumn Bliss:    Because our first hard frost last night (Sept.30) was 2 to 
3 weeks late - I got to get a 90 percent harvest from these. That was the 
first time in 5 years I have gotten over 50 percent before they are finished 
by frost.What a treat!
Polana:  2nd year:  What a nice big flavorful berry. Later than bliss, so I 
got 50 percent of them before this frost, but no hope for normal years here.
K 81 6: 2nd year: 5 foot stalks, not a berry
Killarney: 2nd year: same result as K 81 6
Summit: 2nd year: 3 foot canes, abundant small berries. Not as flavorful as 
autumn bliss. It seemed  more intollerant than bliss of drought stress. 
Average taste.
Caroline: 2nd year: Nice big tasty berries, harvested half of them, but too 
late for normal years here.
Pathfinder:1st year:  Only 3 leafed out of the 10 I bought last spring, 
small plant and berry, seems about same season as autumn bliss, will give it 
another year.
Boyne: Certainly a common hardy floricane berry in these parts, very 
disappointing harvest of small berries this year.
I'll be taking out most of these. If any one is interested in a few of the 
above plants for a somewhat warmer area, contact me off-list.
Berry picking bucket: My personal favorite I made from a gallon ice cream 
pail, cut in 2 (the part I used is a little over  half, perhaps 5/8) screwed 
a back of thin plywood into the cut opening, attach a soft cotton rope 
through 2 holes in the bucket, The advantage over just hanging a bucket on 
the neck - is that the flat back stays put flat against the chest.
We are zone 2/3, heavy soil, south facing. Last winter was dry, and a low of 
-35F. This summer had to sprinkle irrigate 3 weeks.
Del Stubbs   N. Minnesota

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