North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[dwoodard@becon.org]

People report problems growing saskatoons selected on the Canadian
prairies, in humid climates elsewhere. Saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia)
are not serviceberries although they are related. I expect that a lot of
the people who can't grow good saskatoons could grow good fruit from other
Amelanchiers, perhaps some of the native species of Amelanchier, which may
or may not be known as serviceberries, which grow wild near them.

There are many species of Amelanchier, adapted to different climates, soil
types and perhaps summer day lengths.

Similarly, apricots, peaches, plums (of various species), sweet and sour
cherries and their numerous relatives are all Prunus but they are not the
same and do not grow well under the same conditions.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada


>     I keep reading about humidity being a problem with growing
> Serviceberry
> and wonder if humidity is getting an, undeserved, bad rap.  Minnesota
> Summers can be very humid and Serviceberry varieties thrive as landscape
> plants.
>
> Jim Fruth
> Pequot Lakes, MN  56472