North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <list@ginda.us>]

On Apr 1, 2011, at 5:33 PM, Ginda Fisher wrote:

> 
> On Apr 1, 2011, at 3:09 AM, Steven Covacci wrote:
> 
>> Group: 
>> 
>> 
>> CORNELIAN CHERRY [C. mas] - 
>> 
>> 
>> I'm looking for a recommendation for a cultivar (selected for edibility) 
>> for cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas); and perhaps scionwood or a 
>> nursery that carries the cultivar.
>> 
> 
> I have three C. mas, Jolico, Elegant, and something else whose name tag is 
> currently buried in the snow.  One of these (not Jolico) has fruited.  I 
> thought it was delicious.  It was tasty but extremely sour when red and 
> firm, and sweeter and less sour and more richly flavored when it got soft.
> 
> It took several years for the trees to fruit, and the one that finally did 
> fruit two years ago decided not to this year.  I think one of the others 
> had female flowers last year, and might even have set a fruit or two, but 
> if it did it dropped them early in the season.  So in my experience, this 
> crop takes a lot of patience.
> 
> Mine are growing in the shade, though, so perhaps you'd get fruit faster in 
> the sun.
> 
I got out and checked today, the third one (and the one that's fruited) is 
Pioneer.  It and Elegant are older than the Jolico by a few years.  The 
Elegant is the prettiest tree.

Despite bits of snow still on the ground, the Cornus Mas is about to flower, 
the buds are about half open.


> Ginda
> Eastern MA, zone 6