RE: Nuptial
- To: "m*@ucdavis.edu"
- Subject: RE: Nuptial
- From: G* W*
- Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 20:32:12 +0100
In France there are also two plants called "néflier", one German( the
Mespilus species which I have never seen planted) and the other which is
Eriobotrya japonica. This latter is planted all over the Midi, where I
guess it must tolerate temperatures down to -10°C or so, but the chances
of its fruiting increases significantly with nearness to the
Mediterranean.
Where I used to live was about 50 miles from the sea and fruit ripened
about one year in three. Now , at 10 miles from the sea, fruit will
ripen most years. I suspect that the critical temperature is about -4°C
but I have no idea whether this applies to the flowers or the fruit. I
do know that for the almond tree the relevant temperatures are -3°C in
flower and -1°C in fruit.
Perhaps this is why these trees, which are grown commercialy for their
nuts here, have such a long flowering season, of almost two months from
mid January to mid March, with the last frost normally in early March,
so that there is a good probability that some fruiting will take place.
It seems likely then that winter cold will not be too much of a problem
in coastal west Cumberland but whether the sping and early summer would
provide sufficient warmth there is, for an old Workingtonian, much more
doubtful!
--
Gordon Walker
France
