I have tried several years to grow mistletoe on an old apple tree from sprigs bought at Christmas - and not succeeded. Now I have read that these commercial mistletoe sprigs are harvested before the berries have ripened. Would somebody be able to pop a few ripe berries into an envelope so that I can have another go? Will gladly pay for them or swap for something else!
Maybe our climate is wrong up north?!
Mistletoe berries
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
Hi Monika,
Mistletoe berries are not yet ripe even now.
The trouble is that they really need to ripen on the plant and with Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes about they have a habit of clearing them all. I will go down to the orchard in the morning and put a wire cage round some if there are any left.
When they are good and ripe I will send you some.
I sent Clive some the other year to pass on to somebody else but I do not know if they were successful.
JB.
Mistletoe berries are not yet ripe even now.
The trouble is that they really need to ripen on the plant and with Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes about they have a habit of clearing them all. I will go down to the orchard in the morning and put a wire cage round some if there are any left.
When they are good and ripe I will send you some.
I sent Clive some the other year to pass on to somebody else but I do not know if they were successful.
JB.
-
Clive.
- KG Regular
- Posts: 2267
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
- Location: East Lincolnshire.
- Has thanked: 72 times
- Been thanked: 442 times
Hello Monika and JB,
I have not heard back as to the success or not with the berries you sent JB...it would be interesting to know in this case as they were sent on to a garden near Kirbymoorside, N. Yorks. I am sure the recipient will be visiting us at some time in her Hon capacity and I must try to remember to enquire..
It is worthy of note that the berries that JB very kindly sent were to hopefully re establish Mistletoe in this N. Yorks garden...a previous example having been lost when its host Apple tree succumbed.
"We" have previously succeeded to get Mistletoe to grow in E, Lincs on a couple of Apple trees and also a Rowan...the tiny new growth on the Rowan so nearly got the chop during a bit of a tidy up when a lower branch was being removed.
..
In these 3 cases the berries were rubbed onto quite young branches of about inch and a half to two inch diameter rather than pushed into crevices in older bark.
Our first succcess from at least 10 years ago has a few berries on this year and I don't doubt we will be experimenting further with these.
The first that was seen if they started to take is what I struggle to correctly describe but look like two "horns" that come from the seed to attach to the host tree..and then a year or more later having totally forgotten all about them one day noticing a tiny Mistletoe shoot.
When I refered to "we have succeeded" I must in fact credit a local friend of ours who supplied and applied berries for us initially.
All the best,
Clive.
I have not heard back as to the success or not with the berries you sent JB...it would be interesting to know in this case as they were sent on to a garden near Kirbymoorside, N. Yorks. I am sure the recipient will be visiting us at some time in her Hon capacity and I must try to remember to enquire..
It is worthy of note that the berries that JB very kindly sent were to hopefully re establish Mistletoe in this N. Yorks garden...a previous example having been lost when its host Apple tree succumbed.
"We" have previously succeeded to get Mistletoe to grow in E, Lincs on a couple of Apple trees and also a Rowan...the tiny new growth on the Rowan so nearly got the chop during a bit of a tidy up when a lower branch was being removed.
..
In these 3 cases the berries were rubbed onto quite young branches of about inch and a half to two inch diameter rather than pushed into crevices in older bark.
Our first succcess from at least 10 years ago has a few berries on this year and I don't doubt we will be experimenting further with these.
The first that was seen if they started to take is what I struggle to correctly describe but look like two "horns" that come from the seed to attach to the host tree..and then a year or more later having totally forgotten all about them one day noticing a tiny Mistletoe shoot.
When I refered to "we have succeeded" I must in fact credit a local friend of ours who supplied and applied berries for us initially.
All the best,
Clive.
I'm interested to hear that you had success, Clive. I've always been told that mistletoe has to pass through a bird before it will successfully germinate - so that must just be an old wives' tale! We've got tons of mistletoe on apple, rowan, wild rose and May. I keep looking on the oak tree so I can tell the local druid society - but nothing in the 15 years we've been here!
Just out of interest, we had very few berries this year. Was that the same for everyone, and if so, does anyone know why?
------------------
Granny
Just out of interest, we had very few berries this year. Was that the same for everyone, and if so, does anyone know why?
------------------
Granny
Hi Granny,
Well I'm no bird and I have had a lot of success.
The trouble is that Mistletoe is dioecious and if you manage to only have the one seed germinate and it's male you are still without berries.
I have always sown them in fours. Don't ask me why in fours 'cos I don't know.
Our trees were absolutely full of berries this year but most of it now grows well out of my reach even on a ladder with the long arm.
Some time back I sowed masses of berries in an orchard of MM 106 Apples and the strike rate was amazing and since then it has now spread to almost all the trees and they farm it and send it to the Tembury Wells Mistletoe Sales each year.
I just cut some and hang it on the railings out the front and a request to donate to the local church.
I have a mailbox out front and people put money in there and this reminds me that I have not checked it for coins of late. Last year it was about £18.00.
and locals donate direct.
JB.
Well I'm no bird and I have had a lot of success.
The trouble is that Mistletoe is dioecious and if you manage to only have the one seed germinate and it's male you are still without berries.
I have always sown them in fours. Don't ask me why in fours 'cos I don't know.
Our trees were absolutely full of berries this year but most of it now grows well out of my reach even on a ladder with the long arm.
Some time back I sowed masses of berries in an orchard of MM 106 Apples and the strike rate was amazing and since then it has now spread to almost all the trees and they farm it and send it to the Tembury Wells Mistletoe Sales each year.
I just cut some and hang it on the railings out the front and a request to donate to the local church.
I have a mailbox out front and people put money in there and this reminds me that I have not checked it for coins of late. Last year it was about £18.00.
and locals donate direct.
JB.
-
Clive.
- KG Regular
- Posts: 2267
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
- Location: East Lincolnshire.
- Has thanked: 72 times
- Been thanked: 442 times
I had a wander round with camera at lunchtime today...the light was a bit poor...went as dark as night, all but...so had to lighten them up on pc so hope they are viewable ok.
Clive.
..all are clickable thumbnails
Our first success on MM106 Apple Quarendon.
Second..on an old standard Newton Wonder..this sort of goes against my comment about small branches rather than crevices in old bark...
...however the growth started from the top of a then recently healed pruning wound.
A potential new establishment..a bit difficult to make out but the attachment can been seen right of the white bird doings.
..another potential establishment..
...and the one that nearly got the chop when only a tiny tiny shoot...
Clive.
..all are clickable thumbnails
Our first success on MM106 Apple Quarendon.
Second..on an old standard Newton Wonder..this sort of goes against my comment about small branches rather than crevices in old bark...
...however the growth started from the top of a then recently healed pruning wound.
A potential new establishment..a bit difficult to make out but the attachment can been seen right of the white bird doings.
..another potential establishment..
...and the one that nearly got the chop when only a tiny tiny shoot...
Many thanks, Johnboy! I will wait patiently and hope no little birds squeeze through your 'cage'. I enjoyed your photos, too. Now I know what I will have to look out for when they first germinate (I hope).
By the way, my maternal grandfather who farmed near Dresden in eastern Germany used to grow lots of mistletoe (between ca 1900 and 1940) on huge poplar trees and sent the harvest to England for Christmas! In turn, he bought his woollen suit and coat material directly from Bradford and his seed potatoes from Scotland.
By the way, my maternal grandfather who farmed near Dresden in eastern Germany used to grow lots of mistletoe (between ca 1900 and 1940) on huge poplar trees and sent the harvest to England for Christmas! In turn, he bought his woollen suit and coat material directly from Bradford and his seed potatoes from Scotland.
Hi Monika,
Risking life and limb I managed to isolate four areas and caged them. I have used expanded metal lath and not even an adventurous mouse will get to them. What is good about EML is that when the berries are fully ripe they will fall off the plant and be collected in the caging.
Will contact you later on when the need arises.
Sincerely,
JB.
Risking life and limb I managed to isolate four areas and caged them. I have used expanded metal lath and not even an adventurous mouse will get to them. What is good about EML is that when the berries are fully ripe they will fall off the plant and be collected in the caging.
Will contact you later on when the need arises.
Sincerely,
JB.