North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lon Rombough <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

If you planted the Canadian varieties of Amelanchier, they don't grow 
because of an adaptation they have to the cold prairie climates.  They 
have a "burst" growth habit in which they do all their growing fast, 
early in the season.  By the first of July (more or less) they will set 
buds and you can fertilize and water up the yazoo and never get them to 
budge.
This is one reason that we really need to have people go out and 
explore the LOCAL Amelanchier for other selections, to get types with 
better local adaptation.  There are species of Amelanchier  over most 
of North America and all have decently edible fruit, though some are 
better than others.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at 
http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association 
"Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Oct 30, 2004, at 10:31 AM, tanis cuff wrote:

Amelanchiers don't want to grow-- probably a soil pH/nutrient fault.