North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[John Barbowski <jbarbowski@gmail.com>]

About two weeks ago (mid Nov), I had about 6 ripe blackberries, ripe and sweet! - in spite of a couple of frosts and cold temps. This spike was left after I pruned out the old canes in late Oct.

Up here in Cdn Zone 6B, just north of Toronto, the berries start to ripen in early Aug and by mid Sept, are mostly finished. I wait till the berries literally drop in your hand when touched - the only way to ensure some sweetness. Even still, some are tarty. A bumper crop this year provided copious fruit for eating and making jams (with a bit of Pamona Pectin, naturally). In Thornhill, winters can drop to -20C for short durations. So far, there has been minimal winter kill on the plants.

I tried a Boysenberry but removed the plant; I didn't like the habit. It had tiny thorns and several long sinewy canes as opposed to the 3-5 thick blackberry canes. It was nice because it was 2-3 weeks earlier than the blackberry - but with similar flavour.

I have 3 hybrid thornless varieties, Black Satin, and two unknown - one from my mother who got hers from an invasive neighbour's plant, and the 3rd from Adriano of Adriano's figs in Oakville, Ont. Only subtle differences between them.

I do find Black Satin a bit invasive! I have several shoots proliferating from the mother plant - not so with the two unknowns. (If in Thornhill, you are welcome to a plant or two - I pot the invasions and distribute them to frends and aquaintances.

jmb

On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 11:35 AM, Hector Black <hblack1925@fastmail.fm> wrote:

We find there are a lot of Prime Jim and Jan fruits on when hard frosts come.  We get a crop starting in late August, but so far the hearvy production comes too late.    Hector Black zone 6 middle tn
----- Original Message ----- From: "Brungardt, Sam (MPCA)" <Sam.Brungardt@state.mn.us>
To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:23 AM

Subject: Re: [NAFEX] flavorful blackberries?

Anton, from everything I've read, neither ripens its fruit early enough in the season to be productive as far north as you are. -- Sam

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of anton ptak
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:18 AM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] flavorful blackberries?

on the subject of blackberries, i was considering a trial planting of
the supposedly hardy prime jim or prime jan, offered through nourse
farms.  i know a couple growers who have recently planted as a trial
planting but don't think they've had enough time in the ground for an
assessment.  anyone tried these varieties in the northern climes yet
with any results to speak of?

anton ptak
w. wisconsin zone 4a
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