Dragon Fruit Flowers and Fruits 2015, table with all

8S - 8S, Sugar Dragon
AB - American Beauty
D - Delight
G2 - Thomson G2
HC - Halley Comet
PG - Physical Graffiti
PP - Pink Panther
VG - Vietnamese Giant
VR - Valdivia Roja

flower	variety/plant ID	date flower opened	polination time	pollen used	cover	bag removed	made to fruit	weight in gr	days to maturity
1	G2-1	5/31/2015	10:00 PM	PG	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/7/2015	7/19/2015	470	49
2	PG-1	5/31/2015	10:00 PM	G2	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/7/2015	7/12/2015	469	42
3	G2-1	6/3/2015	10:40 PM	PG from 5/31	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/10/2015	7/23/2015	173	50
4	G2-1	6/3/2015	10:40 PM	PG from 5/31	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/10/2015	7/23/2015	61	50
5	8S-2	6/5/2015	10:30 PM	G2 from 6/3	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/12/2015	7/23/2015	73	48
6	8S-1	6/6/2015	10:30 PM	G2 from 6/3	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/13/2015	7/21/2015	66	45
7	8S-1	6/6/2015	10:30 PM	G2 from 6/3	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/13/2015	7/19/2015	31	43
8	8S-2	6/6/2015	10:30 PM	G2 from 6/3	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/13/2015	Failed
9	8S-1	6/7/2015	10:10 PM	G2	plastig bag, cut corners, with foil	6/14/2015	Failed
10	G2-1	6/7/2015	10:10 PM	8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/14/2015	7/27/2015	135	50
11	8S-1	6/8/2015	10:40 PM	G2 from 6/7	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/14/2015	Failed
12	8S-1	6/9/2015	10:10 PM	G2 from 6/7	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/16/2015	7/28/2015	131	49
13	PG-1	6/12/2015	10:10 PM	8S from 6/9 and G2 from 6/7	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/17/2015	7/24/2015	232	42
14	PG-1	6/13/2015	10:40 PM	8S from 6/9	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/20/2015	Failed
15	PG-1	6/13/2015	10:40 PM	8S from 6/9	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/20/2015	Failed
16	8S-1	6/17/2015	10:40 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	6/29/2015	8/4/2015	104	48
17	8S-1	6/21/2015	10:50 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/1/2015	8/3/2015	43	43
18	8S-2	6/24/2015	8:30 AM next morning	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/1/2015	8/11/2015	65	48
19	8S-2	6/24/2015	8:30 AM next morning	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/1/2015	8/11/2015	81	48
20	8S-3	6/27/2015	11:00 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/7/2015	8/13/2015	78	47
21	8S-3	7/1/2015	11:50 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/7/2015	Failed
22	8S-3	7/13/2015	10:30 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/20/2015	8/31/2015	156	49
23	PG-2	7/14/2015	10:30 PM	frozen 8S	none	N/A	8/28/2015	188	45
24	8S-3	7/16/2015	10:30 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/23/2015	9/2/2015	119	48
25	PG-2	7/17/2015	10:50 PM	8S from 7/16	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/27/2015	8/30/2015	206	44
26	8S-2	7/21/2015	10:30 PM	self	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/27/2015	9/5/2015	119	46
27	AB-1	7/22/2015	10:30 PM	8S from 7/21	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	7/28/2015	9/11/2015	389	51
28	HC-1	8/1/2015	10:40 PM	frozen 8S and AB from 7/22	none	N/A	9/19/2015	223	49
29	PG-1	8/2/2015	10:40 PM	frozen 8S and AB from 7/22	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/8/2015	9/18/2015	171	47
30	PG-1	8/2/2015	10:40 PM	frozen 8S and AB from 7/22	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/8/2015	9/18/2015	158	47
31	D-1	8/3/2015	11:10 PM	PG from 8/2	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/8/2015	9/13/2015	427	41
32	8S-1	8/4/2015	10:40 PM	self and VG	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/8/2015	9/19/2015	133	46
33	VG-1	8/4/2015	10:40 PM	self and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/14/2015	336	41
34	PG-1	8/4/2015	11:00 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/15/2015	235	42
35	PG-1	8/4/2015	11:00 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/17/2015	238	44
36	D-1	8/4/2015	11:10 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/14/2015	423	41
37	HC-1	8/4/2015	11:10 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/16/2015	552	43
38	PG-2	8/4/2015	11:10 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/13/2015	231	40
39	D-1	8/4/2015	10:00 AM next morning	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/16/2015	146	43
40	8S-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/20/2015	101	46
41	G2-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/11/2015	9/14/2015	501	40
42	VG-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/15/2015	293	41
43	PG-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/10/2015	9/19/2015	247	45
44	PG-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/19/2015	235	45
45	PG-1	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/19/2015	205	45
46	PG-2	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/11/2015	260	37
47	PG-2	8/5/2015	10:30 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/15/2015	262	41
48	PG-1	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/22/2015	273	47
49	PG-2	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/22/2015	314	47
50	8S-1	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/8/2015	9/23/2015	111	48
51	PP-1	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/22/2015	122	47
52	PP-1	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/21/2015	144	46
53	PG-2	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/20/2015	335	45
54	PG-2	8/6/2015	10:00 PM	VG and 8S	none	N/A	9/22/2015	364	47
55	HC-1	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	failed
56	D-1	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/23/2015	137	47
57	PG-1	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/23/2015	197	47
58	PG-2	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/23/2015	250	47
59	PG-3	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	64	50
60	PG-3	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	340	50
61	8S-1	8/7/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	60	50
62	PG-1	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	176	49
63	8S-1	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	114	49
64	PG-3	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	307	49
65	PG-3	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	210	49
66	PG-3	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	266	49
67	PG-3	8/8/2015	10:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	360	49
68	PG-3	8/8/2015	11:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/26/2015	227	49
69	HC-1	8/8/2015	11:00 PM	mostly fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/28/2015	200	51
70	8S-2	8/8/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	10/2/2015	102	55
71	VR-1	8/9/2015	12:00 AM	fresh VR and 8S	none	N/A	9/27/2015	236	49
72	HC-1	8/9/2015	12:00 AM	fresh VR and 8S	none	N/A	9/23/2015	420	45
73	8S-1	8/9/2015	12:00 AM	fresh VR and 8S	none	N/A	9/27/2015	113	49
74	PP-1	8/9/2015	12:00 AM	fresh VR and 8S	none	N/A	9/27/2015	120	49
75	PG-3	8/9/2015	12:00 AM	fresh VR and 8S	none	N/A	9/27/2015	394	49
76	D-1	8/10/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/25/2015	257	46
77	D-1	8/10/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/26/2015	282	47
78	8S-2	8/10/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/28/2015	121	49
79	PP-1	8/10/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/26/2015	141	47
80	D-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/15/2015	9/27/2015	209	47
81	D-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/15/2015	9/27/2015	284	47
82	VR-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/18/2015	9/28/2015	262	48
83	VR-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/18/2015	9/29/2015	249	49
84	8S-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/18/2015	9/29/2015	111	49
85	8S-2	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/18/2015	9/29/2015	135	49
86	PP-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/14/2015	9/27/2015	138	47
87	PP-1	8/11/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/15/2015	9/28/2015	167	48
88	8S-3	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/5/2015	133	54
89	8S-3	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/6/2015	106	55
90	D-1	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/30/2015	179	49
91	VR-1	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/4/2015	224	53
92	PP-1	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/28/2015	178	47
93	8S-2	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/30/2015	109	49
94	8S-2	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	9/30/2015	105	49
95	8S-1	8/12/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/2/2015	128	51
96	8S-3	8/13/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/5/2015	146	53
97	8S-3	8/13/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/6/2015	135	54
98	8S-1	8/13/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	Failed
99	8S-1	8/13/2015	10:30 PM	fresh 8S	none	N/A	10/2/2015	98	50
100	8S-1	8/14/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	N/A	Failed
101	8S-1	8/14/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	N/A	Failed
102	8S-1	8/14/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	N/A	the entire branch broke
103	PP-1	8/14/2015	11:00 PM	fresh 8S	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/20/2015	10/2/2015	132	49
104	PP-1	8/16/2015	10:00 PM	8S from 8/14	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/22/2015	10/6/2015	48	51
105	VG-2	8/17/2015	10:30 PM	self and 8S from 8/14	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	8/23/2015	9/28/2015	527	42
106	8S-2	8/26/2015	forgot to pollinate		none		Failed
107	8S-3	8/27/2015	8:30 AM next morning	self	none	N/A	10/22/2015	132	56
108	8S-3	8/29/2015	10:00 PM	self	none	N/A	10/22/2015	167	54
109	VG-2	8/29/2015	10:00 PM	self and 8S	none	N/A	10/14/2015	359	46
110	VG-2	8/30/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	10/15/2015	337	46
111	VG-2	8/30/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	10/13/2015	404	44
112	VG-2	8/31/2015	11:30 PM	self and 8S from 8/29	none	N/A	10/15/2015	361	45
113	G2-1	9/2/2015	9:40 PM	8S from 8/29 and VG from 8/31	plastig bag, cut corners, with foil	9/7/2015	10/16/2015	429	44
114	D-2	9/7/2015	9:00 PM and 7:00 AM	VG and G2 few days old	plastig bag, cut corners, with foil	9/13/2015	Failed
115	8S-4	9/8/2015	9:45 PM	self	plastig bag, cut corners, with foil	9/14/2015	11/7/2015	67	60
116	8S-4	9/8/2015	9:45 PM	self	plastig bag, cut corners, with foil	9/14/2015	10/30/2015	90	52
117	8S-4	9/9/2015	10:40 PM	self	none	N/A	11/15/2015	87	67
118	8S-4	9/9/2015	10:40 PM	self	none	N/A	11/15/2015	85	67
119	8S-5	9/9/2015	10:40 PM	self	none	N/A	11/7/2015	64	59
120	8S-2	9/9/2015	10:40 PM	self	none	N/A	10/30/2015	70	51
121	AB-1	9/9/2015	10:40 PM	8S	none	N/A	Failed
122	8S-4	9/11/2015	10:30 PM	self and previous 8S	none	N/A	11/15/2015	124	65
123	AB-1	9/13/2015	10:30 PM	8S from last week	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	9/18/2015	12/5/2015	285	83
124	AB-1	9/18/2015	11:00 PM	8S from last week	plastic bag, cut corners, with foil	9/25/2015	Failed
125	VG-2	9/19/2015	10:00 PM	self	none	N/A	11/21/2015	255	63
126	VG-2	9/19/2015	10:00 PM	self	none	N/A	11/27/2015	211	69
127	VG-2	9/19/2015	10:00 PM	self	none	N/A	11/23/2015	275	65
128	8S-4	9/21/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/5/2015	86	75	not ready
129	HC-1	9/21/2015	11:00 PM	8S and VG	none	N/A	11/23/2015	494	63
130	8S-1	9/23/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	Failed
131	8S-1	9/23/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/20/2015	167	88
132	HC-1	9/23/2015	11:00 PM	8S	none	N/A	Failed
133	8S-1	9/25/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/25/2015	128	91
134	D-2	9/25/2015	11:00 PM	8S	none	N/A	12/31/2015	274	97	not ready
135	8S-2	9/26/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/15/2015	148	80
136	8S-2	9/26/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/25/2015	159	90
137	8S-2	9/26/2015	11:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/31/2015	137	96	good fruit
138	D-2	9/27/2015	10:30 PM	8S from 9/26	none	N/A	12/15/2015	238	79	not ready
139	AB-1	10/1/2015	11:00 PM	8S from 9/26	none	N/A	Failed
140	8S-1	10/11/2015	12:00 AM	self	none	N/A	Failed
141	8S-1	10/11/2015	12:00 AM	self	none	N/A	12/31/2015	110	81	not ready
142	8S-1	10/13/2015	10:00 PM	self	none	N/A	12/31/2015	133	79	not ready
								25202

Tomato yield on different rootstocks

In the summer of 2015 I conducted a very small scale experiment to check if I should be exploring anything other then Supernatural rootstocks for grafting the cultivars I grow in my yard. Last year's (2014) experiment convinced me that grafting tomatoes is the way to go for my tomato plants, in the conditions of my yard.  Last year's results are at:  http://fruitsandgardening.blogspot.com/2014/12/performance-evaluation-of-grafted.html

This summer, along with Supernatural, I also used RST-04-105, and cultivar Galina as rootstocks.

The reason I used Galina as a rootstock was that  Galina plants did not show nematode infection last year, and I was hoping that this cultivar might be RKN resistant.

The early problem I encountered with RST-04-105 was its slow growth in the first few weeks after germination.  This rootstock should be sowed a week or two before the scion cultivars to reach the same stem diameter.  I had all seeds started at the same time, and this reduced the grafting success on RST-04-105.

The cultivar Cosmonaut Volkov was successfully grafted to all three rootstocks, and cultivar Pork Chop to only two, Supernatural and Galina.  The tree plants of Cosmonaut Volkov were planted in the same container, and two plants of Pork Chop in another one. All plants were kept single-stemmed, so I could discriminate the yield between plants in the same container. The harvest was recorded in grams per day from each plant.

Here are the results:

I will continue using Supernatural as rootstock for most of the cultivars that I grow. For the Pork Chop, the higher yield obtained on Galina roots looks interesting, and I may try it again next year. From last year's data for Pork Chop I had 2093 and 1608 grams of fruit for grafted and selfrooted plants, respectively. This year's 4427 g on Galina looks impressive. Unfortunately, I found the Galina cultivar to be not resistant to RKN. The Galina roots in these two particular containers used for this experiment were free of nematodes, but I found RKN infected Galina roots in other locations of my garden.  There is still a chance that Galina might tolerate RKN well, and it might be a more suitable rootstock for Pork Chop than Supernatural.

In agreement with the last year data, Cosmonaut Volkov cultivar was fruiting for a longer period than Pork Chop.  The harvest charts are below:

Cataloging irises that bloomed in 2015

Early Irises

12 varieties that bloomed on April 10

Mid and late season irises

7 varieties bloomed in late April and May

5 new irises acquired in 2015

They all bloomed in mid and late May. They came in pots and flowered after I put them into ground.

Spice Trader

Rio Rojo

Looky Loo

Road to Glory

Drinks at Sunset

Pictures from mulberry and stone fruit tasting at the USDA Wolfskill station. May 23, 2015

The event was organized by John Preece (station leader), Jenny Smith (mulberry, kiwi, persimmons), and Carolyn DeBuse (stone fruits).

The most important piece of info from John's talk for me was that the repository will not be accepting individual orders for the plant material anymore. They were overwhelmed with the orders they were asked to fulfill this spring and they are not done with them yet.  They simply do not have the resources to continue with this kind of practice.  They still will be supplying material to the institutional researches and to the growers organizations like GRFG. So we will need to do the organizational orders.  Probably good places to announce it are chapter meetings and the Festival of Fruit.

Carolyn presented the earliest stone fruit cultivars available.  The pictures below show them all.  I maybe interested to get the early white peach Springtime and the small yellow plum Gavoro to my yard.

Jenny presented mulberries, and everything what was there is below in the pictures.  My favorite was Pakistan mulberry.  She also mentioned that most of their mulberry collection is not ripe yet. However, they are always asked for the Pakistan variety, so they decided to organize the tasting when Pakistan is ready.