North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Steven Covacci <filtertitle@aol.com>]

Group:

I've tasted the fleshy rachis of an apparently self-fertile Japanese raisin 
tree (Hovenia dulcis); it seems to be the only raisin tree around and 
produces many seedlings.  The problem with this specimen (from which I have 
my seedling) is that the rachis are highly astringent.  Anyone have a great 
tasting specimen - one which looses its astringency?  Or maybe I just needed 
to let it dry out - perhaps I should graft the mother tree to my seedling if 
there's nothing wrong with the astringency issue after all, since it is a 
self-fertile female.

Also, I planted a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) just 10' away.  Do you 
think that I can get the raisin tree to tower over the dogwood as an 
over-story; if I did, that would require me to force the raisin tree to a 
height of around 50', due to light-competition.  Most cultivated raisin trees 
only get to around 35' high.  I think that the dogwood would be over-come by 
the raisin tree.  Any experience with the growth tendencies of raisin tree 
re: competition and height?

Thanks,
Steve; NJ