|
|
Post by imgrimmer on Aug 17, 2016 16:17:49 GMT -5
MikeH These seedlings look much more like Sorbus torminalis then S.domestica. What happened to them?
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeH on Aug 19, 2016 22:49:54 GMT -5
It's possible. I thought that I had the labelling correct based on the seed packet labeling. They survived and got planted out and, as far as I know, are doing well. We've since sold the property though I do go back periodically to get cuttings. I'll take a look the next time and take a picture if I can.
|
|
|
|
Post by philip on Aug 20, 2016 7:11:13 GMT -5
I have grown a lot of true service trees from seed and they do look like that when they are small. Afterwards from the third or fourth leaf on they have the typical sorbus domestica shape. If anyone is looking for seeds there is a very good french association that started a conservation garden using large-fruited true service trees. Their seeds have a much higher diversity and likelihood of producing large-fruited trees. They sell seeds from the 1st of november on, but i don't know to which countries they send or if they send seeds outside of france at all. www.associationcormier.fr/le-cormier/22-verger-de-varietes-selectionnees-pour-leurs-gros-fruitswww.associationcormier.fr/ |
|
|
|
Post by Marches on Sept 15, 2016 4:03:37 GMT -5
Yes, I have a Service Tree. Big woop! It's a small (8'), 7 year-old, pest-free tree which has never yet produced a single fruit. Now I learn that if it fruits, I have to blet them! Grump. What will you graft scions to, or do you suppose they will root? Some kind of Sorbus is a common street tree here in Oakland; I must gather seeds this year for plants on the farm, where they will make a great show in Fall. Did I ask whether you wanted scionwood from Cooke's Jumbo quince? Or make cider or rather Perry as it's common name in England is "shitty pear" and it was used to make a cider when it was more common. |
|
|
|
Post by philip on Oct 2, 2016 16:21:32 GMT -5
example of a large-fruited sorbus domestica. They are few and far between but they do exist.  I tried to find out more about the fruit size,colour and taste of the 6 Luther Burbank sorbus domestica accessions but unfortunately they never answered me. Does anyone know more about these american true service trees? Pictures of the fruit or more information? |
|
|
|
Post by steev on Oct 12, 2016 22:39:25 GMT -5
Those are impressive.
Guess I need to re-visit the Burbank home and gardens.
|
|
|
|
Post by philip on Oct 13, 2016 15:50:09 GMT -5
Well, now would be a good time to see some fruit.
If you do go, please take some pictures and measure the size of the fruits!
|
|
|
|
Post by steev on Oct 13, 2016 19:47:01 GMT -5
Hmm, a pleasure/investigation jaunt just as the Fall farm-work season goes into over-drive? I suppressed my work ethic for so many years that it seems it's back to bite me in the ass; still, "all work and no play makes steev a dull boy", n'est-ce pas? Wait, my work IS my play! I'll see what I can do; a nice day-trip with my sweet-heart would be mixing pleasure with pleasure; I DO love excess; did I mention suppressing my work ethic?
Please understand that you ask a lot; I'll have to get pictures (if there's anything to document) with my ante-deluvian flip-phone; learn to get them into my desk-top; then learn to post them. Oh, well; surely this is going to be a very rainy Winter, so I'll be cooped up with little to exercise but my brain.
|
|
|
|
Post by steev on Oct 23, 2016 19:36:30 GMT -5
My service-tree is producing its first fruit ever, only one; I'll keep an eye on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by steev on Oct 24, 2016 23:55:19 GMT -5
I would note that last year I saw a few sprigs of flowers on this tree, but the bees seemed uninterested, though busy with exudate on the stems. Anybody got a clue?
|
|
|
|
Post by castanea on Oct 25, 2016 9:17:22 GMT -5
example of a large-fruited sorbus domestica. They are few and far between but they do exist. I tried to find out more about the fruit size,colour and taste of the 6 Luther Burbank sorbus domestica accessions but unfortunately they never answered me. Does anyone know more about these american true service trees? Pictures of the fruit or more information? The Burbank fruit are very colorful with lots of reds and yellows. The largest fruit size is generally a little smaller than those in your photo but you'll get a range of fruit sizes on each tree. Some of the trees drop fruit very early (mid September?) and some very late (mid October?). Flavor varies from tree to tree. Some of the fruits are OK while still semi hard but others have to be very soft before eating. Some of the fruit on some trees hangs on the tree for a long time while fruit on other trees drops quickly. The trees are massively productive. |
|
|
|
Post by philip on Jan 31, 2017 14:51:14 GMT -5
New large-fruited true service tree varieties found in France! very large fruit, longer than wide, a bit pear-like in shape  And another one with huge fruit, the largest slightly over 50mm wide. More of an apple shape. Fruit wider than long  |
|
|
|
Post by steev on Feb 1, 2017 4:44:41 GMT -5
This piques my interest. I regret that something got the single fruit my service tree has ever produced. It's a pleasing, trouble-free, little tree, so I guess I must try to increase plantings of its kin.
At the very least, I need to stop screwing around and gather seeds from street-trees to grow trees for shade and beauty on the farm.
|
|
|
|
Post by philip on Feb 2, 2017 14:21:20 GMT -5
Steve,
don't expect your tree to make fruit of this size cause you're likely to be disappointed. The average fruit diameter is about 1 inch (25mm)
However, if your tree tried to make a fruit last year it will continue. You should get more this year.
And true service trees are very drought tolerant. Bletted fruit is quite tasty and you can make excellent alcohol with them.
|
|
|
|
Post by philip on Oct 7, 2017 17:13:28 GMT -5
I went to see a large-fruited true service tree today and i was able to mesure and weigh the fruit. It makes good decent sized fruit and they are pretty. It's the same tree that i posted a picture of a fruit before where the guy holds it in his hands. This is one of the best french varieties for fruit size (top ten i'd say)  Notice the Brown fruit at the top. It's bletted, nice and soft and good for eating.  The big fruits are 4cm large and 4.5cm high. Kind of pear-shaped.  The ten biggest fruits weighed 320 gramms and the largest one weighed 36 gramms. I only collected the largest fruits that i found. There were a lot that were smaller. |
|
