Larry Cook from Indiana wrote, "I have read that it takes a planting of
several hundred seedlings and then you may not get fruit
quality............"
Could you have been reading about my work? If we don't try something,
how do we learn? Most plant breeders take the easy path and develop fruits
for their zone ending up with yet another variety that isn't available to
colder climate growers. 'Where is the economics of that? Too little has
been written about developing fruits for colder climates; it might take some
original thinking; it is just EASIER to not do it.
When I developed my black raspberry, the only goal I had in mind was
making it more cold hardy, much to the dismay of some who buy it suspecting
that perhaps I also may have developed huge fruits. Sorry, but that is
still in the offing. I haven't stopped working on hardiness. I've been
playing with the genetics of my plants and have been noticing that some
plants do produce larger than normal berries but I'm working on developing a
black raspberry that will thrive in Fairbanks, Alaska. When (if?) I do
that, then I concentrate on getting larger fruits.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies, syrups and more:
www.jellygal.com
1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free)
1-218-831-7018 (My Cell)