Yangmei (Morella/Myrica rubra) thread

[simon_grow]

Improved Dongkui

Improved Dongkui is very similar to the original Dongkui but it is supposed to ripen a bit earlier. From what I’ve noticed so far, it also gets a bit of extra growths on the fruit, similar to the Early Hermaphrodite.

The taste is identical to Dongkui as far as I can tell and the color of the ripe fruit is also identical. I sold my original tree to a friend and this is the first time this particular tree is fruiting.

This variety has a very strong Yangmei flavor, a high level of sweetness and just a touch of acidity to make it exciting. The highest Brix I got from this variety so far is 15.8%. The fruit size is very large and many fruit weigh  over 25g or more with my biggest fruit weighing 28.91g so far. My tree has only been in ground for under a year and im sure the fruit can get bigger as the tree gets established.

For many Yangmei varieties, the fruit is small enough that you can just pop the whole thing in your mouth but the fruit of this variety is so large that you have to take bites out of it. Like Dongkui, this variety has large seeds.

For anyone that likes large fruit that is sweet and has less acidity, this is a must have variety.

I harvested almost 3 lbs in one day off my small tree and harvested another pound the following day. This variety is very productive. I did heavily thin my fruit set in order to get larger and better quality fruit.























Simon

[K-Rimes]

Perhaps some action on my Wandao on cerifera graft? Wandao is pushing nicely right now vegetatively, so I hopefully hit the window nicely.


Cerifera rooting already after just a week???


Calmei seedling in ground looking GREAT

[Galatians522]

Perhaps some action on my Wandao on cerifera graft? Wandao is pushing nicely right now vegetatively, so I hopefully hit the window nicely.


Cerifera rooting already after just a week???


Calmei seedling in ground looking GREAT

Looks promising! We are rooting for you!

[simon_grow]

Looking good so far. For Yangmei, buds can push and then suddenly die back. I consider it a success when the first flush fully hardens.

For the Cerifera, it usually takes about 3-4 weeks for mine to root out in warm weather.

[K-Rimes]

Looking good so far. For Yangmei, buds can push and then suddenly die back. I consider it a success when the first flush fully hardens.

For the Cerifera, it usually takes about 3-4 weeks for mine to root out in warm weather.

“Sudden die back on yangmei” is my middle name Simon. 

I will keep you all updated. The cerifera cuttings have a few buds showing, if you zoom in you can see them. I know it is common for cuttings to throw leaves or even whole branches without any roots at all just stored energy so I will be patient.

The Wandao tree really is budding up nicely. I want to say I nailed the timing, but let’s see.

[K-Rimes]

Hardwood cerifera cuttings in peat moss seems to be the ticket.

[SubmarinePete]

What are the secrets to success when grafting Yangmei? I’ve had a couple instances where I thought I had good scion wood from a specific variety and did a good number of grafts and they all failed. Then I’ll do other scions and consistently get some to take. Are some varieties just really hard to graft? Is there some other factor I’m not considering? Has anyone found any tricks to getting better success rates when grafting?

[nattyfroootz]

Got nearly 100% takes on my in ground plants.

[K-Rimes]

I’m trying to temper my expectations but……. This sure looks promising!! Wandao on cerifera.

[Rain]

is everyone Yangmei still alive from the group order this year? One of mine already hit the can 😂
but 2 are still alive!

[Rain]

I’m trying to temper my expectations but……. This sure looks promising!! Wandao on cerifera.

That look great! How long does it take to push?

[K-Rimes]

I’m trying to temper my expectations but……. This sure looks promising!! Wandao on cerifera.

That look great! How long does it take to push?

Grafted on June 20, so about 3 weeks. Simon warns that it's not a true take till it has flushed and hardened, so let's wait and see.

[ScottR]

Patients Grasshopper From one who has killed every Yangmei that came through my hands

[Jaboticaba45]

How is everyone's yangmei doing for people on the east coast?
Mine are doing quite well...they never stop growing. After one flush is finished, a new flush happens right away.
I saw some at my friends place in FL, and they were doing ok...Any other reports of them growing well in FL?

[Rain]

Any other reports of them growing well in FL?

It is growing very slowly for me. It's alive but not doing much.

[K-Rimes]

Patients Grasshopper From one who has killed every Yangmei that came through my hands

Oh I know. I want to say this is a win already but I know I need to be patient and let them actually grow a branch or two before saying it's for real! I am a consummate yangmei assassin myself.

[simon_grow]

I had a member pick up some small Yangmei trees from me about two weeks ago and we walked by my Big Black Carbon tree which still had quite a few fruit on it and I gave him permission to sample some fruit. I told him the fruit was a little bland because it’s in a pot and has to be watered twice a day and he ate the fruit and said it was actually very sweet and very delicious. I thought he was trying to be nice so didn’t think much about it but last week, I decided to pick some more fruit and test out the Brix late into the season and I was pleasantly surprised that the Brix was 15.8%.

I ate the fruit and was shocked at how good it was. It had the strongest Bkackberry/mulberry flavor out of all my varieties and the sugar acid balance was perfect. It tasted extremely sweet because this variety is slightly lower in the acidic component. I can imagine that this variety will produce exceptional tasting fruit if planted into the ground or if not over watered.

Simon

[BestDay]

Two of my three plants from the last group buy are still alive.  I still have them in quarantine because of the root know nematodes.  I'm hoping to get rid of those with continued treatment.  At this point I believe that seedlings are peoples best option for growing Yangmei.  They can be purchased mush cheaper than grafted trees.  You don't have to worry about root know nematodes.  And you could grow an excellent new variety of Yangmei.  At this point there just isn't enough information out there on what varieties are the best tasting or productive.  Simon is providing excellent information but that is a very small sample size.  Seedlings seem like a great option until more information on varieties is available.  And clean grafted trees can be purchased at reasonable prices.  Just my two cents.

Bill

[Kankan]

I think you are probably right. I had 3 varieties when I was in portugal a few years ago, fresh picked the day before, all grown from seed, and they were pretty good and more importantly there was a noticeable difference between all 3, so likely with enough seeds planted theres some great varieties that will come about in the US. I still think grafting on to Cerifera is best for long term.

Two of my three plants from the last group buy are still alive.  I still have them in quarantine because of the root know nematodes.  I'm hoping to get rid of those with continued treatment.  At this point I believe that seedlings are peoples best option for growing Yangmei.  They can be purchased mush cheaper than grafted trees.  You don't have to worry about root know nematodes.  And you could grow an excellent new variety of Yangmei.  At this point there just isn't enough information out there on what varieties are the best tasting or productive.  Simon is providing excellent information but that is a very small sample size.  Seedlings seem like a great option until more information on varieties is available.  And clean grafted trees can be purchased at reasonable prices.  Just my two cents.

Bill

[Moomin]

My seedlings have grown a bit and are doing fine here in Switzerland so far.



6 in total so far. I'm keeping the seeds that have not germinated yet to see if they will come out next spring.

[simon_grow]

Seedlings are a great way to get new genetics but be very careful as I’ve experienced a lot of sudden death with Rubra and Californica rootstocks.

What I have noticed is that my friends with Rubra/Californica trees planted in Decomposed Granite type soil which has excellent drainage seems to be able to keep their trees alive longer and some are still alive.

Now back to Yangmei seedlings. I’ve been keeping records of my plants and I’ve discovered that my Dongkui, Biqi and Big Black Carbon can produce male pollen occasionally. It may be a good idea to use pollen from these selected varieties to cross pollinate each other or other selected top notch varieties like White Honey.

By using pollen from top tier selected varieties, we are starting with the best genetic material as some of the genes for size, Brix, phenolics, acidity may have been already set. What if we use Dongkui or Big Black Carbon pollen to pollinate a female Wusu? I would hope that this would create an excellent tasting fruit with larger size and increased productivity. By crossing two higher Brix fruit, we could (or not) have a better chance of getting high Brix progeny.

I would also believe that the High Brix Early Hermaphrodite would make good breeding stock as it is high Brix, one of the earliest to ripen fruit and also holds fruit the latest for me. I still have 2 fruit hanging on a small tree. The High Brix Early Hermaphrodite also has a fruit that is more firm than the other varieties so it may hold up better to shipping.

[Moomin]

Seedlings are a great way to get new genetics but be very careful as I’ve experienced a lot of sudden death with Rubra and Californica rootstocks.

What I have noticed is that my friends with Rubra/Californica trees planted in Decomposed Granite type soil which has excellent drainage seems to be able to keep their trees alive longer and some are still alive.

Now back to Yangmei seedlings. I’ve been keeping records of my plants and I’ve discovered that my Dongkui, Biqi and Big Black Carbon can produce male pollen occasionally. It may be a good idea to use pollen from these selected varieties to cross pollinate each other or other selected top notch varieties like White Honey.

By using pollen from top tier selected varieties, we are starting with the best genetic material as some of the genes for size, Brix, phenolics, acidity may have been already set. What if we use Dongkui or Big Black Carbon pollen to pollinate a female Wusu? I would hope that this would create an excellent tasting fruit with larger size and increased productivity. By crossing two higher Brix fruit, we could (or not) have a better chance of getting high Brix progeny.

I would also believe that the High Brix Early Hermaphrodite would make good breeding stock as it is high Brix, one of the earliest to ripen fruit and also holds fruit the latest for me. I still have 2 fruit hanging on a small tree. The High Brix Early Hermaphrodite also has a fruit that is more firm than the other varieties so it may hold up better to shipping.

Thank you for the tipp. I've ordered seeds of  pensylvanica and cerifera to use as future rootstocks from an Etsy-shop in France, but I don't know how well they will germinate... Which of the two do you think will be better suited for Swiss climate? It's zone 8a where I'm at, in Autumn and Winter it can be very wet and temperatures could potentially drop to -15°C, but I think the lowest was -9°C in the last 10 years or so. Also, our tap water is very calcareous, but very clean otherwise. I sadly don't have a rainwater tank yet (neither anytime soon, likely) but for very finicky plants I filter it... I'm planning to maybe someday plant one in ground as an experiment, but I'll mostly be keeping them in containers.

[Jaboticaba45]

Seedlings are a great way to get new genetics but be very careful as I’ve experienced a lot of sudden death with Rubra and Californica rootstocks.

What I have noticed is that my friends with Rubra/Californica trees planted in Decomposed Granite type soil which has excellent drainage seems to be able to keep their trees alive longer and some are still alive.

Now back to Yangmei seedlings. I’ve been keeping records of my plants and I’ve discovered that my Dongkui, Biqi and Big Black Carbon can produce male pollen occasionally. It may be a good idea to use pollen from these selected varieties to cross pollinate each other or other selected top notch varieties like White Honey.

By using pollen from top tier selected varieties, we are starting with the best genetic material as some of the genes for size, Brix, phenolics, acidity may have been already set. What if we use Dongkui or Big Black Carbon pollen to pollinate a female Wusu? I would hope that this would create an excellent tasting fruit with larger size and increased productivity. By crossing two higher Brix fruit, we could (or not) have a better chance of getting high Brix progeny.

I would also believe that the High Brix Early Hermaphrodite would make good breeding stock as it is high Brix, one of the earliest to ripen fruit and also holds fruit the latest for me. I still have 2 fruit hanging on a small tree. The High Brix Early Hermaphrodite also has a fruit that is more firm than the other varieties so it may hold up better to shipping.

Thank you for the tipp. I've ordered seeds of  pensylvanica and cerifera to use as future rootstocks from an Etsy-shop in France, but I don't know how well they will germinate... Which of the two do you think will be better suited for Swiss climate? It's zone 8a where I'm at, in Autumn and Winter it can be very wet and temperatures could potentially drop to -15°C, but I think the lowest was -9°C in the last 10 years or so. Also, our tap water is very calcareous, but very clean otherwise. I sadly don't have a rainwater tank yet (neither anytime soon, likely) but for very finicky plants I filter it... I'm planning to maybe someday plant one in ground as an experiment, but I'll mostly be keeping them in containers.

My trees would die at temps below 15f which is higher than -15C.
I think you would be best keeping yours in pots which are protected. But potentially you could grow in ground with protection when it's cold. Pennysylvanica is most hardy, but cerifera also is decently hardy. Not enough plants have been grafted on Pennyslvanica for me to give you a solid answer.

[K-Rimes]

Seedlings are a great way to get new genetics but be very careful as I’ve experienced a lot of sudden death with Rubra and Californica rootstocks.

I have had only one rubra put on even a few leaves in ground, or long term in pots without that sudden death experience. I am over it. Other people seem to have better abilities than I do to keep Californica or Rubra alive, or maybe better soil, who knows, but I am over it. Cerifera or death, quite literally, for me.

I ordered a grip of cerifera rootstocks. The gardeners at the ranch knocked over all my cuttings by mistake so I think none will work unfortunately.

[nattyfroootz]

I planted 5 rubra seedlings this year and at least two have totally kicked the bucket.