North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Evan <kodama@riseup.net>]

I've noticed the county has planted a kind of serviceberry (or, as we call 
them, 'sarvis') as an ornamental at the library and county park. Last year 
they fruited tremendously and I thought they were quite tasty. I was planning 
on trying to propagate them from softwood cuttings in the spring and see how 
they do.

Also, I ordered a variety called 'Northline' hoping to try out one of these 
Canadian types, though from the feedback so far it sounds like few east-coast 
folks have had success with the midwest and canadian selections, so maybe 
that'll be a flop. Anyone have experience with 'Northline'?

cheers,
Evan
Southern Appalachians, New River Watershed
Zone 6b, just short of 3000'

On Mar 7, 2011, at 1:59 AM, Douglas Woodard wrote:

> Rob, I haven't heard of eastern serviceberries being selected for fruit.
> 
> The fruit quality of Amelanchier arborea seems variable by report; some say 
> juicy and sweet, others mealy and not well-flavoured. A. laevis and A. 
> canadensis appear to be well liked. All these have fruit sizes 1/4 to 1/3 
> inch. I have tasted A. laevis and A. humilis and I like them a lot; tedious 
> picking of small fruit though.
> 
> There is a commercial ornamental hybrid of A.canadensis and another species 
> which has sparse but almost cherry-sized juicy, somewhat bland but pleasant 
> fruit.
> 
> There are some species here in Ontario with smaller plants which are 
> apparently not found in Georgia. I don't know if you have others.
> I expect you would get the best information by going to the native plant 
> people through
> 
> <http://www.nanps.org/resources/native-plant-societies>
> 
> People who live where saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia) grow well
> should look at
> "Growing Saskatoons -  A Manual for Orchardists"
> <http://www.prairie-elements.ca/saskatoon>
> 
> Note that there is a range of flavours.
> 
> Doug Woodard
> St. Catharines, Ontario
> 
> 
> On 06/03/2011 9:50 AM, rob hamilton wrote:
>> Hey all,
>> 
>> I know the seviceberry varieties have been discussed in the past, but are 
>> these
>> all wild or cultivated varieties for the ornamental landscape, or is anyone
>> working on varieties for fruit taste and production?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Do we have a specialist here?
>> --------------------------------------------
>> Now Zone 8a!!  Atlanta, GA
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