Michelle,
I'm growing both Goumi and Autumn Olive, both purchased from Hidden Springs Nursery in TN. Very similar, but the Goumi leaves seem to be a bit fuller and the developing fruits not quite as densely packed as the AO. This promises to be my second big harvest from AO (tends to alternate heavy and light crop years here in NW NC - also zone 6) but will be my first Goumi crop. A late spring freeze can eliminate your crop and burn back the vegetation, as they are an early bloomer and leafer. The AO fruit is a bit tart, but perfectly good eaten straight off the bush. I freeze most of my harvest and have them on my morning cereal as long as they last.
Small berries, but extremely abundant so that you can harvest a good amount pretty quickly. AO is rumored to be invasive, but I've been growing it for several years and have seen no signs of it spreading through seeds or sprouts. A good bee flower - very attractive to bumblebees - and a good bird food - I always run into catbirds and robins hopping around inside my bushes - but there's usually plenty to share.
Gene Spears
Banner Elk, NC 28604
-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Michele Stanton
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 8:10 PM
To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'
Subject: [NAFEX] goumi and other minor fruits
Are any of you growing goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora)?
Michele in SW Ohio z6
__________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subscribe, unsubscribe, change your user configuration or find out more about the list here:
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
NAFEX web site: http://www.nafex.org/
__________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subscribe, unsubscribe, change your user configuration or find out more about the list here:
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
NAFEX web site: http://www.nafex.org/
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.