What new fruits are you trying this year?

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Permalink Reply by NoLawnSean on June 28, 2009 at 9:58pm

Planting lots of Paw paw trees this year along with some hardy Kiwis!

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Permalink Reply by Betsy True on June 29, 2009 at 7:02am

I have had Paw paws for about 6 years and we get flowers, but no fruit. The horticulturist, Ed Hasselkus, at the Arboretum here in Madison, WI notes that his do likewise. Occasionally there will be a low hanging fruit that he speculates is pollinated by a beetle, but the normal pollinator just doesn't live this far north. Perhaps global warming will change that? The trees thrive as an understory and will spread slowly by a running sucker. I've never eaten a Paw paw and am very curious.

I also have the hardy Kiwi, a male and a female planted on a trellis. They're getting a slow start and haven't had blossoms yet. My persimmons, both native (started from seed) and cultivated, have started to grow.

After several years, much pine needle mulch and acidifying sulfur, my low bush blueberry patch is thriving. Our clay with limestone bedrock here makes the soil and water pretty basic.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Fox on June 29, 2009 at 1:18am

This year we are growing Acca Sellowiana (previously Feijoa Sellowiana). The shrub is in a pot and has flowered prolifically but not sure if any fruit has set yet, though have tried hand pollination. We are also growing the Kiwai, which is apparently a cross between Actinidia Arguta and Actinidia Polygama. It doesn't seem to be very vigorous as yet. Also planted a Persimmon in the winter and an Aprium (Apricot and Plum hybrid) which is struggling to establish itself. Interested to hear from anyone who has grown any of these successfully in a temperate climate, and how good the fruit are.

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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Hiestand on June 29, 2009 at 5:42am

I am trying several new varieties of day-neutral strawberries. I have already got ripe strawberries. These will produce the rest of the year. Seascape and Tribute are very tasty. The third variety, Selva, is basically not worth planting. But isn't this why I planted several varieties? Before long, I will probably replant that space to fall peas.

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Permalink Reply by Joel LeGrand on June 29, 2009 at 8:31pm

I HAVE PICKED WILD HIGHBRUSH BLUEBERRIES FOR YEARS. ABOUT 21R AGO I PLAN 3 CULTURES ONLY 1 IS STILL KICKING .THE ONE HAS 6 LARGE SUCKER , THAT ARE BUSHIES IN THIER ON RIGHT. I PLANTED ONE NEW BUSH SPRING OF 2008; I PLANTED 19 SUCKERS THAT A FRIEND GAVE ME THIS SPRING 2009 . ON 6/27/09 I WAS TOLD THAT BLUEBERRIES NEEDS A MALE POLYINATER. CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THIS IS TRUE; I DO NOT THINK SO.

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Permalink Reply by Joel LeGrand on November 10, 2009 at 7:43pm

Sorry Folks,
I am new to webpage & sites. I didnot mean to leave the CAPS lock on, nor did I know this is yelling online. Again I am sorry for yelling.

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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Hiestand on June 30, 2009 at 6:12am

I have blueberries. They bear fruit. I have never heard it said that a blueberry bush needs a male pollinator. I know kiwis need that. But blueberries...no.

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Permalink Reply by Joel LeGrand on June 30, 2009 at 8:34pm

On blueberry cross-pollination: 'polaris' &'St.cloud' must have another variety ......'Chippewa,northblue &northcountry will bear fruit without cross-pollination. www.startribune.com Blueberry cannot be fertilized by their own pollen. www.blueberry.org/gardening.htm Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees - Digger Bee, Bumblebees, Sweat Bee, Squash Bee, Carpenter Bee,Mason Bee. Nesting Habits, Wild Forage,Raising Bee, Bee Species, Other Pollinators, Enemies & Pests, References, Suppliers of Bees & Equipment, Publications,People. AT http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/nativebee.html.

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Permalink Reply by Sandi on November 6, 2009 at 8:43am

there are some blueberries that will produce with out having a pollinator however you are far better off planting more than one variety for better cross pollination which in turn means more fruit. They also have early, mid and late season varieties and by planting some of all 3 you can extend your harvest for fresh blueberries for several months.

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Permalink Reply by Sandi on November 6, 2009 at 10:28am

i currently grow apple, cherry, peach and asian pear trees. I have Jim & Jan blackberries these bushes have thorns, I grow several varieties of blueberries and have some raspberries. I have a banana tree. I have tried growing orange trees in the house but haven't had much success do to lighting issues.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Fletcher on November 6, 2009 at 11:32am

Hi Sandi
I think i will try growing blueberries again this next year. I,ve tried them in the past in pots without much success. Now i know they like it wet i will try them in the soil. Maybe get some coffee grounds again to lower the acidity.
Is your banana in a pot or in the ground? I have a small banana [Musa] in a pot which i bought from the sickly section at the garden centre. I have to keep it in a pot so i can drag it into my shed for the winter. Its about six feet tall now. They seem to tolerate it shady. I have mine under cover and out of the wind, you can see it at the back in this photo.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela on November 7, 2009 at 9:28pm

Glenn,

Noticed your comment about blueberries! They are tempermenta' but it depends where you live to select the correct variety. Then plant in a well drained area with good soil. Mix a shovel of sand, two shovels of peat moss four shovels of light soil and a tablespoon of potassium. Mix well and fill in around blueberry roots. Water in and mulch with 4=6 inches of fine mulch. Keep watered the first three months and watch them grow! Berries in a few years! My Jersey started producung at five years and we picked no less than four gallons for years! Good luck!

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