To: Mike Levine <crunchy@oldweb.com>, North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] properly hardened off plants
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2003 16:44:41 -0400
I was going to suggest you try MSU, since that was growing in East Lansing,
but it probably won't make much difference. The original plants there,
which I believe are gone now, were planted in a south facing U shape formed
by the Botany building there so they were in a well protected area. In
fact, there were also two A. chinensis (I think the name has changed since
then---the fuzzy kiwi) growing there as well though they weren't nearly as
vigorous and probably never fruited.
I haven't seen any significant difference in spring frost resistance among
several hundred seedlings and named varieties I've observed over the
years. There may be a degree or two of resistance to the Issai variety,
possibly because the leaf is hairier and may trap the warmer air if the
below freezing temperatures are of short duration, but the production and
poor quality of the fruit would dissuade me from bothering with that variety.
Remember too Mike, the younger plants tend to break bud earlier. Once they
get older and more massive, they tend to be a bit slower to leaf out and
more likely to miss the late frosts. At least that has been my
experience. Most of my plants will probably be dormant for another 3 or
four weeks.
Don't give up on them because of this unfortunate experience. When you get
fruit they are worth it all.
Dan
At 11:07 PM 4/6/2003 -0400, you wrote:
We have frequent late frosts here too. Can you or anyone else suggest which
varieties are the latest to leaf out? I'm determined to grow some kiwis
here.
Mike Levine
Ann Arbor, MI
Zone 5b
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