Kei apple cold tolerance

[shaneatwell]

Just wanted to post a note. I planted a bunch of seedlings where they probably shouldnt be. First observation is that deer and probably squirrels or rats love the leaves. Plants get stripped every few months. They were fine with the two winters before last but then got a cold wet winter with a couple hard freezes. Probably 29 or 27 degrees. The bad news is that they all died to the ground. One made it through the first couple but then succumbed. The good news is they all regrew from the roots.

[shaneatwell]

Btw my silber at home is loaded. Anyone who wants to stop by and pick a few fruit or grab some scions is welcome. Really tasty right now.

Also, not shipping.

[CeeJey]

Same thing happened to my seedlings but due to the heat stress ironically. A year's worth of growth died during the July/August heat wave and they regrew from the roots, after making it through last year's summer fine in the same conditions.

[CarolinaZone]

I'd love to have some cuttings and fruit. The problem is I'm 3000 mile away. Anybody here ever root Kei apple from cuttings? shaneatwell, how does your Silber taste. I have been in the market for one for about 5 years. I read that they are sweet and not as vegetable tasting as other.

[shaneatwell]

At peak ripeness theres very little vegetal taste.  Sweet sour balance is like a slightly under ripe orange or ripe green apple. I rarely eat more than one but do eat them every time i walk by. My wife usually turns them down.

[12Zodiac]

I have 4 growing in pots that are 2 years old. How long before they fruit. Hopefully I have at least one male ND one female.

[shaneatwell]

Mine took 7 to first flowers and two more seasons for decent set. And probable air layer. But my yard is slow with everything.

[K-Rimes]

I have some I'm testing out here in 9b, but they're kinda under some oaks. Hope they'll take some frost! There is a huge thicket of them established down in town at Franchesci Park, so there is a chance, but that's 10a.

[Bush2Beach]

The only fruit I have planted on a ridge top in hard off limestone/sandstone that took it like a champ and kept growing with Zero irrigation after year 1.
You might get frost nipped but I'll be darned these guy's are tough planted out in CA.
If I could only get a graft to take , maybe I could solve my pollination issue. Dennis sent the good one's perfect time of year in March/April and they all failed for me.
That tree was right near the sidewalk in the neighborhood so I cut the trunk with a chainsaw to 2' and hooked a chain up to my truck to pull it out of the ground. It budged but my clutch was stinking and it wasn't coming , so I gave up . It has regrown and threatens any who dare come near it.

I have some I'm testing out here in 9b, but they're kinda under some oaks. Hope they'll take some frost! There is a huge thicket of them established down in town at Franchesci Park, so there is a chance, but that's 10a.

[brian]

So are self-fertile varieties commonly grown or are you guys all having one known male + one known female... or planting 5+ to ensure both?

I know these are supposed to be dioecious but I keep seeing things that suggest otherwise. 

[Bush2Beach]

I have never seen rat or deer issue's with Kei apple. There are 2 huge bushes at UCSC right in constant every day sort of deer grazing and bedding habitat. Coincidentally there is a huge wood rat nest in one of the 2 bushes, and a gaggle of Quail.
Maybe they have better options than Kei Apple to eat here , whereas it is considered primo food in your location.
Rats can get a taste for different things and then girdle , or they do it at the end of summer when there is no water , just for the moisture.
I was very surprised to see rats girdle Cherimoya, since nothing including gophers seem to touch them.

[Bush2Beach]

Where , who has a self fertile variety?

So are self-fertile varieties commonly grown or are you guys all having one known male + one known female... or planting 5+ to ensure both?

I know these are supposed to be dioecious but I keep seeing things that suggest otherwise.

[brian]

Where , who has a self fertile variety?

So are self-fertile varieties commonly grown or are you guys all having one known male + one known female... or planting 5+ to ensure both?

I know these are supposed to be dioecious but I keep seeing things that suggest otherwise.

I have been seeing posts like "my kei apple" and not "my female kei apples" when talking about fruiting.

Lara Farms sells a grafted kei apple with no mention of it being dioecious or if the scion is male or female.  I can't imagine they would sell a tree that won't fruit without some warning, but maybe my expectations are wrong?


https://larafarmsmiami.com/products/kei-apple

[brian]

Okay I called Julian and he said he believes it is hermaphroditic because the scion came from a tree which has no others "in 45 miles" I think he said.  He said he is going to update the description to this effect.

This is good to hear because I had already bought one before I read that they are strongly dioecious.

[hammer524]

Okay I called Julian and he said he believes it is hermaphroditic because the scion came from a tree which has no others "in 45 miles" I think he said.  He said he is going to update the description to this effect.

This is good to hear because I had already bought one before I read that they are strongly dioecious.

Good looking out. I have a kei apple and it has fruited. Ill wait again to triple check if its self fertile

[brian]

hammer524, can you tell us a bit about your situation?  You only have one tree?  Is it a seedling or clone?  If a clone, where'd you get it?


... and how big was it when it first flowered?

[hammer524]

I got it from a local nursery a few years back. Unsure if its a seedling or clone.  I now moved to a new neighborhood where a lot of people garden so Im not 1000% sure yet.

[hammer524]

hammer524, can you tell us a bit about your situation?  You only have one tree?  Is it a seedling or clone?  If a clone, where'd you get it?


... and how big was it when it first flowered?

I planted this last weekend in ground, it was purchased from Greenlife nursery here. It lost a large branch in our monsoon last month. It was about this size. I've been leaning on its a rooted cutting. but Im not sure.

[brian]

Thank you for sharing.  That makes me very optimistic

[Nick C]

I keep 4 trees in one pot that are in desperate need for a repotting. They’ve definitely experienced mid 30s in my greenhouse with no problems. Two of the trees briefly flowered for the first time this year after growing from seed 3 yrs ago

[K-Rimes]

I keep 4 trees in one pot that are in desperate need for a repotting. They’ve definitely experienced mid 30s in my greenhouse with no problems. Two of the trees briefly flowered for the first time this year after growing from seed 3 yrs ago

Could you post a photo of the whole plant?

[CeeJey]

hammer524, can you tell us a bit about your situation?  You only have one tree?  Is it a seedling or clone?  If a clone, where'd you get it?


... and how big was it when it first flowered?

I planted this last weekend in ground, it was purchased from Greenlife nursery here. It lost a large branch in our monsoon last month. It was about this size. I've been leaning on its a rooted cutting. but Im not sure.

Huh. Did you get that this year? A couple of months ago I dropped by Greenlife after a visit to their neighbor (worm farm) and they had kei apples but the pots were marked male and female when I was there. They were definitely air-layered or rooted cuttings.

EDIT: Oops just saw that you got it a few years back. Interesting.

[hammer524]

hammer524, can you tell us a bit about your situation?  You only have one tree?  Is it a seedling or clone?  If a clone, where'd you get it?


... and how big was it when it first flowered?

I planted this last weekend in ground, it was purchased from Greenlife nursery here. It lost a large branch in our monsoon last month. It was about this size. I've been leaning on its a rooted cutting. but Im not sure.

Huh. Did you get that this year? A couple of months ago I dropped by Greenlife after a visit to their neighbor (worm farm) and they had kei apples but the pots were marked male and female when I was there. They were definitely air-layered or rooted cuttings.

EDIT: Oops just saw that you got it a few years back. Interesting.

mine wasn't marked anything

[Nick C]

I keep 4 trees in one pot that are in desperate need for a repotting. They’ve definitely experienced mid 30s in my greenhouse with no problems. Two of the trees briefly flowered for the first time this year after growing from seed 3 yrs ago

Could you post a photo of the whole plant?

[K-Rimes]

Those are pretty small to be fruiting! Good looks, thanks for sharing.