It's CHE Time

[strudeldog]

Been eating some of these for a week or so. Probably will pick a good bunch tomorrow. They are supposed to make good preserves.

[ross]

You're killing me Phil. Damn. I really need to find some Osage Orange rootstock.

It's what tolerant? I didn't catch what you said.

[bigmike]

It looks delicious! I have been thinking through getting one. Where does yours come from? Leaves look good too! Thanks for sharing

[strudeldog]

Ross, Juglone It's a chemical that Black Walnut and to a lesser degree a few other trees put out that poison other plants in the area. Many plants are very sensitive. and will die if close, other plants not effected much. Google "Juglone" and you will see lists of many plants effected. That's why your tomato died

Mike, I grafted mine from UC Davis USDA Scion wood. It's a seedless and they listed Micheal McConkey as in Edible Landscaping in the accession listing as Donor so I assume mine is the same as they sell. There is no other CHE except the ones I have for miles I am sure so it's for sure self fruitful, some need pollinated and set seeds, but there has been discussion that all are self fruitful to a degree or more so as they mature.

I will add that unless you wait until they are really ripe and start to soften they are very bland and the latex is irritating. Once they soften like figs the latex is gone and it's pretty just sweet no acidity. Some folks don't care for them and many I think because they color up well prior to being ripe and eat to early. Like I said not my favorite fruit but pretty carefree, and so far neither birds or squirrels bother them.

[lauralou]

Thanks for the info, Phil. I've been curious about this one for a while.

We're going to the Persimmon Festival at Edible Landscaping this weekend. They are giving one away as a door prize. I'm sure I will win it...

[Blake]

Bumping up this thread. It looks like there are some named seedless cultivars out there for purchase - Darrow, Norris, others(?) - does anyone have any experience with these versus the type EL sells?

Link to a nice che overview here:

[strudeldog]

I tasted a couple on the tree at Just Fruits I think they carry Darrow and Norris and can't remember which tree they have inground there. but I preferred the one I grow. I sent the prior Owner some scion of mine, at least I think I did, I know I said I would a few years ago. I believe the thinking is now that they all will produce seedless fruit without a male if given enough years but I have only grown the 1 type. It is productive and seedless and doesn't seem to have a tough membrane like theone I tasted at JF&E. I have heard other complain about a membrane they disliked as well but not sure the cultivar they were growing

[YATAMA]

I planted a one acre orchard of che ten years ago on osage orange roots using female scionwood from EL and Hidden Springs trees, male from Hidden Springs Tree trees,bear heavily annually.I had previously one female tree from EL in my yard planted 15 years ago that NEVER fruited for 6 years til I grafted on a male cutting.Same story for the one acre orchard.. the EL selections naturally not seedless as are pollinated.Hard to understand how others get seedless fruit from the unpollinated EL female when we got zero fruit.

Second matter, would like to obtain scions from other che selections if any appear to have superior qualities.Davis lists several selections,but are they truly different?
Makes superb jelly and jam here. Someone's trying wine.

[crademan]

That's an interesting story, Yatama. The California Rare Fruit Growers fruit wiki offers lots of information about growing Che trees. CRFG members' experiences suggest planting a male Che tree about 1 foot from a female Che tree, and pruning to keep the male about 25% of the size of the female will assure pollination and fruit production. https://crfg.org/wiki/fruit/che/

[strudeldog]

Yatama,

A lot of folks have grown Che for many years and never get them to fruit. That Tree in video above was grafted from USDA Davis scion I received one stick listed as seedless Che. that listed Micheal McConkey as donor made 3 successful grafts to Osage Orange. I don't recall they ever made more than one available for ordering which others are you seeing listed? I have always just assumed it was the one that EL sells being that the owner of EL was listed as donor. That video on original post was 2016 I moved here winter of 2012-13 and think I grafted and had in pot one year prior to moving here and think it fruited some in 2014? Maybe I just got lucky but it is self fruitful and no seeds, there is no other Che anywhere around.

What would you do with an acre of Che? preserves? I can't even eat all the fruit from 1 tree, I have another at my cabin that the buck deer keep rubbing down and the 3rd was placed in shaded tree line where it has a lot of competion. it fruits but doesn't have an ideal location

[YATAMA]

the che orchard is not for my own personal use exclusively Is on a farm owned by an NGO of which I'm one director that has among other activities subsistence farming plots for certain refugees our veterans' organization is seriously indebted to .they can take what they want to eat for family and to sell if they choose.have mulberries there too,and they grow some fine vegetables and their favorite rice I serve as an AG advisor to the OP. plan to introduce figs this year.Deer no problem for obvious reasons.

[Blake]

Interesting comment about the "membrane." Sounds like the EL plant is the one to target (then hope it fruits.) Looks like EL is out of stock right now.