North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Richard MURPHY" <murphman108@msn.com>]

Hello All;

 

Amelanchier Alnifolia is 99.9% unknown, south of Canada.

 

On the Prairie, (Saskatchewan in particular) they are more than common.

Very common in Manitoba and Alberta as well. Many pick-your-own farms, too.

 

The only source of solid scientific information I have been able to find is from Dr. Richard St. Pierre, of the University of Sask., and his book on the subject.

From a business standpoint, as I read here and there, even the Canadian folks are still arguing about who should get money for further development of the Saskatoon Berry market. As far as 'how to produce crops, and what cultivars to use', they have well established this. BUT...... It is all for zones 3 and 2 climate. Not going to be a slam-dunk for Americans.

 

Look at a few of their places Saskatoonfarm.com    Select Seedling.com      Riverbendplantation.com   and see what they are up to. Buy Paul Hamer's (saskfarm) video and watch it a few times.

 

I have an orchard 4 hours north of my residence. It is in zone 4 Maine. I have about 500 Saskatoons in the ground. They are the slowest growing things I have ever seen, and this observation has been echoed elsewhere. One of the group here mentioned Boron; and I think that is a valid observation as well. I am keeping a spray log on these plants, as anyone would. Checking for pests, etc...

 

    The most common pest so far has been (to the best of my ability to match what I see to St. Pierre's manual) is Entomosporium Leaf Berry Spot. The most effective chemical for this, that I can find, is Chlorothalonil. Another problem was planting plants with dried-out roots. Another; planting in water-logged mud; another; plants being frost-heaved up and out of the ground. Haven't seen any Wooly Aphids yet. No CAR or other crud.. minor leaf damage from bugs.

 

Some of these plants will be exposed to a weak Borax solution next week. It will take months to see any results. I think patience is a key ingredient to success with these plants. They have a lot going for them, growing that is, and they taste excellent. The plants are far from precocious.

 

Another thing that differs from here to Saskatchewan is sunlight hours per day. Don't they get a lot more than we do ? Temperature is another factor, and soil composition and structure. The latter is being dug into more deeply by yours truly.

 

It would be a great thing to have a repository for all Amelanchier papers we write / find. Set up a small interest group, and publish an annual report in Pomona. Discuss goals and experiment designs, etc. This is what Chex said, too. My biggest problem is space here in Massachusetts. One third of an acre, versus 25 acres in Maine.

 

I need to move.

 

Richard Murphy