North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com>]

> Unfortunately, I discovered that Pink Lady requires a long, hot growing 
> season.  Just to cold here in zone 2.  Minnesota


Yes, I suppose that you're right. But my little Pink Lady apple tree 
bore fruit for the first time last year, and I was surprised at how 
early they ripened. I mean, I was expecting them to be very, very late, 
but they ripened considerably earlier than my other late apples 
(admittedly, they get some shade, while the Pink Lady is in full sun).

Unfortunately, I forgot to note the date - sometime in late September, 
as I recall. And here I was worried that they might not have time to 
ripen at all! We had a very cool summer, too (for Nebraska).

They also kept very well in the refrigerator. I still have three or four 
left, though they're starting to go bad now.

Unfortunately, we've had a very unusual amount of snow this winter, and 
the rabbits got over the little electric fence and chewed the heck out 
of my tree. Usually, I put a circle of 4' high chickenwire around each 
tree, but we rarely get much snow. Naturally, the year I decide to 
experiment with the electric wire, we get a ton of it. Go figure.

I had the trunk wrapped, so that should be OK. But the tree is very 
small and most of the branches were low enough for the rabbits to 
completely strip.

Bill
Lincoln, NE (zone 5)

--
When a whole nation is roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice, I am 
fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and purity of its heart. - 
Ralph Waldo Emerson