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Post by prairiegarden on Feb 4, 2016 17:25:41 GMT -5
We are constantly being told here in the prairies that there are very few apple trees that can produce for us in this climate. Today on another forums this came up: www.appleman.ca/korchard/clair.htm Who knows how long these genetics will be available now he is gone. Trying to figure out how to make a quick trip to Alaska... |
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Post by mskrieger on Feb 10, 2016 14:52:50 GMT -5
A "quick trip to Alaska" sounds vaguely sinister. Like a quick trip to Shanghai or something  . But sounds like it would be worth your while. I have no experience with northern prairie conditions but have heard they are punishing. Michael Phillips discusses it some in his book on Holistic Orcharding. I seem to recall discussions of using fast-growing evergreens as wind breaks, and maybe some mention of growers in Saskatchewan and their varieties/techniques? Might be worth checking out. |
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Post by prairiegarden on Feb 15, 2016 15:41:09 GMT -5
There used to be several breeders of fruit trees in this neck of the woods but now they all seem only to be cloning the same stuff pretty much. ...just learned of one who used to be outside Edmonton who had something like 300 varieties ( he died a couple of years ago) and another in BC who had picked up the slack when a couple of other breeders had quit but this spring their place is up for sale and they've stopped selling trees.
The guy in Alaska had been growing out some trees which had been developed at the research station in Ontario but that program seems to have been discontinued and now they just do stuff like canola and barley. Some of the material is apparently available through GRIN (?) but that's uncharted territory, the site was down the other day and they SAY that the material is available for scientists and so forth, not sure if they will deal with a peon like me.
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Post by mskrieger on Feb 16, 2016 13:21:55 GMT -5
GRIN will send anyone material--it helps if you get in touch with the curator of the collection and explain your motives. They may have suggestions. I know the GRIN apple guy in NY has a good rep. blueadzuki may be able to guide you, I think he studied there. |
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Post by blueadzuki on Feb 16, 2016 14:26:37 GMT -5
No I studied at Cornell, I just VISITED the Grin at Geneva a few times. I might be able to point you to a few notable apples, but that would be about the extent of my skills.
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Post by prairiegarden on Apr 7, 2016 23:10:58 GMT -5
Just found out that one of the people who had been growing a lot of varieties - his own and other material- has had his work picked up by his kids after his death, and they have some very interesting whips for sale this year. Two hours north of Edmonton a lot closer than Alaska.. All sorts of people doing interesting things in odd corners of the world, and so often they are only found by a sort of happy accident.
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Post by steev on Apr 8, 2016 1:43:58 GMT -5
Just picked this up: I'd love a quick trip (or extended, to Shanghai).
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Post by mskrieger on Apr 13, 2016 13:49:51 GMT -5
Next time I line up a quick trip on a slow boat...I'll let you know, Steev.
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Post by MikeH on Apr 14, 2016 7:31:56 GMT -5
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jocundi
gopher
Tinkering with fruits and veggies in Eastern Boreal Forest on Canadian Shield.
Posts: 28 
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Post by jocundi on Apr 19, 2016 16:25:12 GMT -5
I've been trying to grow apple trees for 5 years here (zone 4b in Ontario) and had many of them die on me.... meanwhile I did find some that have self-seeded themselves in the old school yards, parks and farms. Those must be truly hardy as they seem to do so well in this otherwise harsh climate.
So this last fall, I went picking and sampling and found some that taste pretty amazing. I am grafting them onto the rootstock from my unsuccessful tree plantings. Will see how that does.
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Post by MikeH on Apr 21, 2016 9:16:05 GMT -5
I've been trying to grow apple trees for 5 years here (zone 4b in Ontario) and had many of them die on me.... meanwhile I did find some that have self-seeded themselves in the old school yards, parks and farms. Those must be truly hardy as they seem to do so well in this otherwise harsh climate. So this last fall, I went picking and sampling and found some that taste pretty amazing. I am grafting them onto the rootstock from my unsuccessful tree plantings. Will see how that does. What root stock are you using? Regards, Mike |
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jocundi
gopher
Tinkering with fruits and veggies in Eastern Boreal Forest on Canadian Shield.
Posts: 28
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Post by jocundi on Apr 21, 2016 20:59:38 GMT -5
Hi Mike,
It's very hard to say at this point as this was prior to my interest in rootstock names/options/etc.
However, what I can tell you to help me solve this mystery is this:
1. Trees were from Siloan Orchards (Uxbridge). When I was picking them up he mentioned that his rootstock came from Ohio. I just searched his website and he mentions Antonovka and Ranetka, but I don't know whether my rootstock is that.
2. The rootstock that survived and flourishing is all thorny, which makes me think it's definitely not Antonovka.
Appreciate your thoughts,
Jenna
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Post by steev on Apr 22, 2016 1:02:31 GMT -5
Thorny apple rootstocks? Sure they aren't pears?
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Apr 22, 2016 9:34:39 GMT -5
Thorny apple rootstocks? Sure they aren't pears? A few years ago, I was pruning an orchard of seed grown apple trees collected in the Stans. Some of them had thorns that were fierce enough to pierce my boots. |
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Post by MikeH on Apr 22, 2016 11:12:55 GMT -5
Hi Mike, It's very hard to say at this point as this was prior to my interest in rootstock names/options/etc. However, what I can tell you to help me solve this mystery is this: 1. Trees were from Siloan Orchards (Uxbridge). When I was picking them up he mentioned that his rootstock came from Ohio. I just searched his website and he mentions Antonovka and Ranetka, but I don't know whether my rootstock is that. 2. The rootstock that survived and flourishing is all thorny, which makes me think it's definitely not Antonovka. Appreciate your thoughts, Jenna Wow, I thought that Eric was getting his root stock from further north than that. My experience with Antonovka and Ranetka but that's only as root stock. Perhaps if they grow larger they produce thorns though I doubt it or these varieties would not have the long history that they do. Where you are I would focus on much hardier fruit trees and buy (if you are going to buy and not propagate) from nurseries that specialize in hardy fruit trees - www.hardyfruittrees.ca/catalog/apple-trees and www.boughennurseries.net/index.php?pageid=8&categoryid=67Regards, Mike |
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