North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Geoffrey Tolle <Gtolle0709@wowway.com>]

Folks,

    I've been researching zone 5 hardy tropicals with an eye towards 
trying to grow some within the next couple of years. I still have a lot 
to research but I have a few questions that some of you pioneers may be 
able to answer.

1) Bamboo - Does anyone know if the physical characteristics of the 
Canebrake Bamboo (Arundinaria gigantiea) compare with those of, say 
Phyllostachys nuda? In particular, I am thinking about both use as 
structural rods and the edibility of the shoots.

2) Banana - The winter-hardy banana from Japan (Musa basjoo) is listed 
everywhere as producing inedible fruit. Is this inedible inedible or is 
this banana inedible but maybe plantain edible. Also, does the fruit 
(even if inedible) mature in zone 5-6? I wonder in terms of possible 
cross-pollination with a more edible species and selecting from 
seedlings (not that I know anything about breeding bananas).

3) Oranges - Ponicirus trifoliata is listed as having fruit that is 
inedible (bitter, I assume) or lemon-like. What are people's experiences 
out there? Is it worth growing as a lemon substitute? Does the fruit 
mature in sone 5? Does anyone have experience with any of the other 
winter-hardy hybrids out there?

4) Palms - A number of palm species appear to be moderately 
winter-hardy. Does anyone have any experience with the fruit? The 
descriptions that I've read suggest that the flesh is thin but 
potentially edible.

    I'm sure that many other questions will occur to me over the next 
year or two but these are important for deciding where I want to direct 
my attention. Thanks.


                                                                        
Geoffrey Tolle