North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["PATTY " <jrplelie@centurylink.net>]

Hello Devin,

"King Red" is most likely Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Orientalis' or considered 
Elaeagnus orientalis by others.  A few years ago, I purchased several bags of 
the fruit from a middle eastern grocery store.  It is known as Igde, Senjed, 
Oleaster, or Mountain Ash.  After removing the seeds, I soaked them in 
multiple changes of water for 3 days using the same program as the USDA's 
apple folks.  Then I stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with a moist 
paper towel.  3-4 months later, the germination rate was very close to 100%.  
I have moved since then but the plants are 4-5 feet tall and doing well.  
Hopefully, they continue to do so with our frigid winter.  They are too young 
for fruit production.

I also started some local trees of Russian Olive, from larger fruited trees.  
Taste between the R.O. and the Igde was the same.  

With the middle eastern grocers, there are a few names used but from my own 
experience, they were in fact R.O.s.  You may be able to purchase cheaply 
from a large city out your way.  If only to experience the fruit for yourself.

In the future I may try grafting Igde onto a few R.O.s in the area. The seeds 
are 1/3 to 1/2 a size larger than the regular R.O's.

http://www.kalamala.com/products/mountain-ash-tree-fruit-senjed

Jim Elie
Pulaski WI
zone 5

----- Original Message -----
From: "Devin Smith" <dvidedevo@yahoo.com>
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 8:13:54 PM
Subject: [nafex] "improved" Eleagnus

I just noticed Baker Creek is offering seed for giant fruited Russian Olive 
(ala "King Red") and was thinking about buying some. Anyone grown these from 
seed, and if so, how true do they come to type? Do they taste good? Any idea 
on approximate flowering and ripening dates (southern VT warm zone 5)?

I've been poking around the various roadside stands of autumn olive 
(presumably "Cardinal" seedlings) and found one with fruits nearly double the 
size of the rest. I plan on propagating some this spring before someone 
decides they need to nuked, which could easily be any day now. If anyone is 
interested in some, I could probably send some you're way. I'd be interested 
to know if others here have made similar finds.

One final idea I thought I'd run by the Eleagnus enthusiasts among you, was 
the idea of doing some inter-specific crosses. I've looked around for info 
about this, wondering if it had been done or was possible, and turned up 
nada. The most practical way to proceed, I thought, would be to save some 
pollen (in a jar in the freezer) from goumi and use it to pollinate Autumn 
Olive. Anyone know if this has been attempted? Anyone been able to find info 
about breeding Eleagnus?


-Devin Smith
Witness Oak Polycultures

Rockingham, VT
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