North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lon Rombough <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Agreed. There are so many excellent varieties, don't limit yourself just because of thorns.  Get a range of varieties to extend the season and to savor the various flavors.  Hinnomaki Yellow, for me at least, has a flavor that makes me think of apricots.   Also, Jahn's Prairie, while large and decently sweet,  doesn't bear as heavily as some varieties.  Captivator is another thornless type.  You WILL find one or two thorns on the bottom of a shoot, but both are essentially thornless - you would have to work to find one where it would stick you
-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 Dec 30, 2004, at 11:02 AM, JoanRRosenberg@aol.com wrote:

Make sure the new selections grow and fruit well before you rip out the old ones.  I have 20 varieties of gooseberry and current and not all produce as advertised in my location.