North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Cornus mas goes through a "male" phase when it will bloom but not set fruit.  Eventually, it will set, though some trees, especially seedlings, can take 10 to 12 years before they fruit.    
Hidden Springs Nursery, in Cookeville, TN, founded by our own Hector Black (see listings for interest groups in the back of POMONA) has some named selections.  I have several good large fruited ones I've been testing, but would have to find someone else to do the propagating as they aren't that easy to graft, and I haven't time.  Oddly enough, I just found some dried Cornus mas fruit from the Middle East in a local grocery store.  More than likely, the seed in it is viable if someone wants to try some.
-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 Apr 16, 2005, at 6:28 PM, list@ginda.us wrote:

I have two cornus mas, but I think they are too far apart to pollinate.  I've decided that rather than move the smaller one, I will buy a new one this fall.  (My soil is rocky, and if the roots have established much, it will be very hard to move the tree.)  I will put it near the one that is doing better.  There's more sun on that side.

Any advice on good cultivars, and/or good people to buy from?  I prefer to buy from east of the rockies, partly because the shipping is less stressful for the plants, and partly because I'm afraid of sudden oak death.  (Although I suppose we will all be seeing that all too soon.)  Also, it's always easier to buy from the same climate or north, rather than from the south.  A southern plant may have broken dormancy in the spring before I can get it in the ground, and may not have hardened off in the fall.

I am in eastern Massachusetts, zone 6.

Thanks,
Ginda Fisher