To: "'nafex mailing list at ibiblio'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [nafex] Saskatoons (A. alnifolia) varieties for the warmer regions
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 09:11:50 -0800
Here in N. Californian, Timm and Success from Bear Creek have performed
exceptionally well since the beginning- -they fruited heavy when they were
only 5" (inches) high. They are now (after about 20 or more years) about
3-4 feet tall (watered only once every three weeks and a small amount at
that). The other one that is successful here is Jenibelle. I have had some
other named varieties --they come small and died within a year. I did find
one called Success (forgot who I ordered it from) and it has done ok-- but
is was much taller initially than the Bear creek ones and does not produce
nearly as many berries. The native ones to here, A. alnifolia and A.
untahensis both flower much later in my garden (by as much as a month or
more) and have very few berries much later. They have grown taller -up to
over 6 ' in just a few years and are still growing-- the leaves are a blue
green color.
The wild serviceberries in NW Montana mountains in our yard get a lot of
rust as do some in the wild.
Idell Weydemeyr
-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Louis Pittman
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 8:18 AM
To: nafex mailing list at ibiblio
Subject: Re: [nafex] Saskatoons (A. alnifolia) varieties for the warmer
regions
I've had tissue-cultured specimens of Regent, Smokey, Northline, Theissen,
Forestburg, and a couple other saskatoon (A.alnifolia/stolonifera)
selections growing here for 15+ years; All have been easily surpassed by
two cheap (~$1ea.) little row-run seedlings (Timm & Success) that I got
from the defunct Bear Creek Nursery, planted around the same time, and in
the same site as the named selections.
The tissue-cultured specimens, grown in pots for one year prior to
outplanting, have always seemed to 'struggle' - sparse foilage, and what's
there is perennially plagued with leaf spot; fruiting has been even more
sparse than the leaves. The row-run seedlings are healthy, vigorous, and
fruit well.
Additionally, I planted A.obovata "Jennybelle', purported to be of more
'Southern' origin, around the same time. Performance has been similar to
the weak alnifolia types.
Again row-run seedlings of an A.x grandiflora type, from BCN, have been
vigorous and heavy-fruiting. They're my wife's favorite berry.
Your mileage may vary
Lucky Pittman
Hopkinsville, KY
On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 12:53 PM, Steven Covacci <filtertitle@aol.com>wrote: