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["Michele Stanton" <6ducks@gmail.com>]

Scott
Thanks for the update. Two questions:
How many summers have you fruited Metolius?
Did you use any form of winter protection for the Black Pearl?

Michele in SW Ohio, z 6a
PS Triple Crown is good here, too.

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Scott Smith
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 4:10 PM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] source for 'Black Pearl' blackberry?

Melissa, I had two Black Pearls and both died to the roots and my low was
only about 4F that year which is zone 7.  So, zone 6 is a long ways off, I
would put Black Pearl in 7B or 8A.

I am testing many of the new Oregon releases for hardiness; thus far the
only hardy one for me is Metolius but it produced poor tasting fruit in my
climate.  In your zone 5 I expect none of the western trailing varieties
will be hardy and I would recommend growing Triple Crown instead.  Its not
as good as Marion but it is still a delicious berry both fresh and cooked.

Scott z7a MD

On Mar 7, 2011, at 9:20 AM, Melissa Kacalanos wrote:

> After thinking for years that blackberries were pointlessly flavorless, I
finally tried some 'Marion' blackberry jam, and now I see the point.
Delicious!
> 
> 'Marion' is zone 7, and I'm not foolish enough to try growing it here in
zone 5. However, the new cultivar 'Black Pearl' supposedly tastes almost the
same, and is reputed to be zone 6, and I might be foolish enough to try
that. However, the only source I see for it is Raintree, and their minimum
shipping is rather a lot for just one plant. Is anyone else selling it,
maybe closer to NY state?
> 
> Or, does anyone have an extra plant to spare? I could trade plants from my
small fruit collection, or my larger collection of culinary herbs.
> 
> Melissa
> zone 5, central NY, under yet another foot of snow as of last night.
> 
> 
> 
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