North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["tanis cuff" <tanistanis@hotmail.com>]

Ditto-- amazing harvests despite drought year, and the crumby weather during 
bloom.  Only problems are, 1-- insects avoided some apple cultivars but 
heavily attacked others, and 2-- those which shed their apples right before 
ripening are REALLY shedding.

(Referring mostly to apples, but we also had nice black-raspberries, the 
wild blackcherries are great, and now a few blackberries.)

tc, s.WI, a county or 2 north & west of MH


----Original Message Follows----
From: "Michelle Horner" <>
To: "nafex" <>
Subject: [NAFEX] ripening harvest
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:14:51 -0500

Oh-ma'-gosh.   Stuff is ripening even when I am not supervising it!

All of Pristen is on the ground.  I did find a number of unblemished 
fruits--they are very sweet.  Hubbie likes these a lot.

Plucked a beautiful Zesta off the tree--green background with the most 
beautiful bright red cheek in the sun.  This is more to my tastes--crisp and 
somewhat tart.

1 green gage plum--it is dark purple???

And the Shiro is loaded.  I will have to harvest tomorrow.  I do not known 
what to do with these.  I discovered they are NOT a free stone plum.  The 
branches are lined with golden globes--just like the pictures.  The flavor 
is wonderful, but now I appreciate the description "freestone".  Maybe I'll 
have to bring to work and feed the hordes.  Other suggestions??

I am surprised with the yields.  We have been very droughty.  I just dried 
the rest of my apricot harvest that I held in the outside refidge for 3 
weeks while we attend weddings and funerals.

I'm thinking apple-caramel cobbler for Sunday brunch.  I'll take any 
suggestions for the Shiro plums harvest.  Wine???

Michelle Horner
Zone 4/5  SE Wis.