The Tropical Fruit Forum

Temperate Fruit & Orchards => Temperate Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: ClayMango on February 12, 2015, 05:45:55 PM

Title: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: ClayMango on February 12, 2015, 05:45:55 PM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: mksmth on February 12, 2015, 05:53:45 PM
peaches for me.  Ive only tried one Pluot, Dapple Dandy and it was pretty awesome. 
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: zands on February 12, 2015, 06:40:15 PM
Does anyone know what the classic pickled umeboshi plum is made from? What kind of plum? I also have heard it was made from a plum-apricot hybrid.

Cherries are the king of stone fruits for me with apricots #2. The peaches in supermarkets are just about always awful. But since mangoes taste somewhat like peaches I don't mind too much

Getting good cherries and plums in Florida is not too difficult. Cherries make it here very well. The plums are from California. Cherries mostly from Washington and then a smaller amount from California.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: emegar on February 12, 2015, 07:13:12 PM
http://www.raintreenursery.com/Fruit_Trees/Prunus_Mume_Flowering_Apricot/ (http://www.raintreenursery.com/Fruit_Trees/Prunus_Mume_Flowering_Apricot/)

Does anyone know what the classic pickled umeboshi plum is made from? What kind of plum? I also have heard it was made from a plum-apricot hybrid.

Cherries are the king of stone fruits for me with apricots #2. The peaches in supermarkets are just about always awful. But since mangoes taste somewhat like peaches I don't mind too much

Getting good cherries and plums in Florida is not too difficult. Cherries make it here very well. The plums are from California. Cherries mostly from Washington and then a smaller amount from California.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: RodneyS on February 12, 2015, 07:30:58 PM
A nice, acidic white nectarine
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitnut44 on February 12, 2015, 11:27:14 PM
My best fruits are nectarines. Best being the Honey series of yellow flesh, low acid. These take on a superb flavor when grown with some water deficit and brix 20-28.

Next the Arctic series white flesh nectarines.

A couple pluots rank very high: Flavor Supreme and Flavor King. I also like Geo Pride, Flavor Grenade, Honey Punch, Flavor Finale, and Flavor Treat. Most of these are dark skin.

A few apricots rank highly: Tomcot, Robada, Orangered, and Golden Sweet.

Emerald Beaut is the only plum that tastes as good as pluots above.

Best Sweet cherries are Selah, Skeena, Sandra Rose, and Bing.

Figs rate next: Strawberry Verte, RDB, and Paradiso

Summer Muscat is a fantastic tasting grape but very hard to grow. Summer Muscat is good and much easier to grow.

Best blueberries are Sweetcrisp and Springhigh.

I've only got one peach, Valley Sweet, that ranks near the nectarines.

All above grown in a greenhouse in west TX at 4500ft elevation.  http://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/growing-fruits-and-nuts/cultural-practices/greenhouse-fruit-growing/greenhouse-fruit-production-in-west-texas (http://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/growing-fruits-and-nuts/cultural-practices/greenhouse-fruit-growing/greenhouse-fruit-production-in-west-texas)
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Samu on February 13, 2015, 12:11:55 AM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.

I certainly hope so Clay, since today I just bought Pluot Flavor Grenade bare root, and another Pluot Flavor King is on back order. (I am told that I need another plum for pollination).  I just have a little concern that my location doesn't get enough chilling hours at some years, but maybe you have no problem there in Temecula, right?
Cheers!
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitlovers on February 13, 2015, 03:32:31 AM
I agree with Zands more on fruits than on politics. :D For me cherries and apricots also rank very high, right up there with nectarines. Some plums can be 10's also. But you really need to get into specific cultivars as there is so much difference in quality between cultivars. Also you need to state whether you are talking about fruits picked off trees at perfect stage, or supermarket fruits? In the supermarkets all the fruits are  for the most part very low quality. Early picking, long periods of refrigeration, and cultivars picked for storage longevity rather than taste usually kill the eating delight. I won't even get into all the chemicals used for growing them.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: zands on February 13, 2015, 08:12:00 AM
I agree with Zands more on fruits than on politics. :D For me cherries and apricots also rank very high, right up there with nectarines. Some plums can be 10's also. But you really need to get into specific cultivars as there is so much difference in quality between cultivars. Also you need to state whether you are talking about fruits picked off trees at perfect stage, or supermarket fruits? In the supermarkets all the fruits are  for the most part very low quality. Early picking, long periods of refrigeration, and cultivars picked for storage longevity rather than taste usually kill the eating delight. I won't even get into all the chemicals used for growing them.


+1 on Apricots and cherries. The traditional Chinese revered apricot in their medicine. Lychee too.
Supermarket cherries are high quality. Thick skin means they transport well so can be picked at ripeness. I never buy the first of the season. Wait. They get picked dark and ripe after two weeks. The last ones are the darkest and best.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: zands on February 13, 2015, 08:24:35 AM
http://www.raintreenursery.com/Fruit_Trees/Prunus_Mume_Flowering_Apricot/ (http://www.raintreenursery.com/Fruit_Trees/Prunus_Mume_Flowering_Apricot/)

Thanks for the ume info!!! Very interesting wikipedia page on it
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Pancrazio on February 13, 2015, 08:35:58 AM
Ferrovia cherries and Reale d'Imola apricots are the best in my humble opinion.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: mksmth on February 13, 2015, 09:09:32 AM
glad to see you here Fruitnut!
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitnut44 on February 13, 2015, 11:06:35 AM
mk:

Thanks for the welcome!!

Dapple Dandy isn't a very good pluot IME. Wish I could share my good ones or better yet some top line nectarines.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: mksmth on February 13, 2015, 11:52:32 AM
Fruitnut
man i must really be missing out on the best then because I thought the Dapple dandy we get here locally are pretty tasty.  I have based a lot of my variety selection off of what the commercial guys grow here and what Oklahoma State university recommends. Starting out I want to give myself the best chance at a harvest then try more unique fruits and newer varities.  OSU says most nectarines dont do as good here as the peaches do.  No idea why thats just what they say. the do recommend a couple varieties.  I love a good nectarine  so I will be trying some just not sure which ones yet.  The selection of trees at the stores right now is not that vast. Plus the way the wholesaler for lowes and homedepot prunes them is atrocious.  Most I have not really heard of before. Of course the only place that gets in DWN trees only gets the boring stuff, LOL. In fact they didnt order any nectarines.  Just superior plum, red haven(which i already have) and reliance peach.   
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitnut44 on February 13, 2015, 12:28:18 PM
mk:

The universities are way behind on variety recommendations. You'd do well to follow olpea, Mark, on the fruit and orchards forum. He's near Kansas City and has a website, tubby fruits. Has tested lots of varieties that should work for you. My greenhouse stuff is iffy outdoors in humid climates.

http://www.tubbyfruits.com/ (http://www.tubbyfruits.com/)
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: mksmth on February 13, 2015, 03:04:33 PM
Thanks for the info Fruit. 
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: ClayMango on February 13, 2015, 04:33:49 PM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.

I certainly hope so Clay, since today I just bought Pluot Flavor Grenade bare root, and another Pluot Flavor King is on back order. (I am told that I need another plum for pollination).  I just have a little concern that my location doesn't get enough chilling hours at some years, but maybe you have no problem there in Temecula, right?
Cheers!

From what the research is showing from  many places...I think chill hours are not being factored in properly usually being to high... for example several people in San Diego who get roughly 100-250 chill hours depending on the year can still fruit stonefruit with say 400 plus chill hour requirements....their appears to be a breakdown somewhere in who's determining the requirements....maybe they just add a safe number in their to prevent complaints...

*PLEASE don't  quote me on any of that information i posted above, my information could be completely wrong.

We get about 400-*600 chilll hours where I live...so most stone fruit is not an issue with my location minus the super  Northern Fruits, i really want to give a Honey Crisp tree a  shot to see if I cna get it to flower. screw it!! Push it to the limits!
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitlovers on February 13, 2015, 05:17:16 PM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.

I certainly hope so Clay, since today I just bought Pluot Flavor Grenade bare root, and another Pluot Flavor King is on back order. (I am told that I need another plum for pollination).  I just have a little concern that my location doesn't get enough chilling hours at some years, but maybe you have no problem there in Temecula, right?
Cheers!

From what the research is showing from  many places...I think chill hours are not being factored in properly usually being to high... for example several people in San Diego who get roughly 100-250 chill hours depending on the year can still fruit stonefruit with say 400 plus chill hour requirements....their appears to be a breakdown somewhere in who's determining the requirements....maybe they just add a safe number in their to prevent complaints...

*PLEASE don't  quote me on any of that information i posted above, my information could be completely wrong.

We get about 400-*600 chilll hours where I live...so most stone fruit is not an issue with my location minus the super  Northern Fruits, i really want to give a Honey Crisp tree a  shot to see if I cna get it to flower. screw it!! Push it to the limits!

Yes chill hours are not an exact science. Different places even quote different number of hours. For example, according to literature Anna apples need between 100-200 hours chill, depending on where you look. But they will fruit here with 0 chill hours. Ofcourse they would probably make lots more fruits with chill hours. So those hours may be about peak performance. You should take them as a rule of thumb, and not as definitve absolute numbers.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: ClayMango on February 13, 2015, 06:53:06 PM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.

I certainly hope so Clay, since today I just bought Pluot Flavor Grenade bare root, and another Pluot Flavor King is on back order. (I am told that I need another plum for pollination).  I just have a little concern that my location doesn't get enough chilling hours at some years, but maybe you have no problem there in Temecula, right?
Cheers!

From what the research is showing from  many places...I think chill hours are not being factored in properly usually being to high... for example several people in San Diego who get roughly 100-250 chill hours depending on the year can still fruit stonefruit with say 400 plus chill hour requirements....their appears to be a breakdown somewhere in who's determining the requirements....maybe they just add a safe number in their to prevent complaints...

*PLEASE don't  quote me on any of that information i posted above, my information could be completely wrong.

We get about 400-*600 chilll hours where I live...so most stone fruit is not an issue with my location minus the super  Northern Fruits, i really want to give a Honey Crisp tree a  shot to see if I cna get it to flower. screw it!! Push it to the limits!

Yes chill hours are not an exact science. Different places even quote different number of hours. For example, according to literature Anna apples need between 100-200 hours chill, depending on where you look. But they will fruit here with 0 chill hours. Ofcourse they would probably make lots more fruits with chill hours. So those hours may be about peak performance. You should take them as a rule of thumb, and not as definitve absolute numbers.


Yeah Oscar my eyebrow shot up about a half an inch when you said your were grabbing Ann's off your tree.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: gator_rider2 on February 13, 2015, 07:44:31 PM
Peaches number one some nectarines are great I have peaches at end April.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Doglips on February 16, 2015, 08:54:53 AM
Peaches are "A" number "1". (Nectarines are peaches).
A good batch of blackberries are tough to beat (k, not stone, but this is a temperate forum I can cross post if I want to).

Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: From the sea on February 16, 2015, 10:25:29 AM
Oscar what root stock is on your apple? and were did you get it? 
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitlovers on February 16, 2015, 04:58:38 PM
Oscar what root stock is on your apple? and were did you get it?

Long ago, and i barely remember. It's semi dwarf, i believe M-101 or something like that, probably Dave Wilson nursery.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: From the sea on February 16, 2015, 09:13:09 PM
thanks I have been thinking about trying out apples here
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitlovers on February 16, 2015, 09:37:59 PM
thanks I have been thinking about trying out apples here

I'm at 600 ft. elevation, but i've seen Anna apples fruiting even at sea level here, so it's certainly not impossible at your location.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: From the sea on February 16, 2015, 09:56:23 PM
I think that would blow my wife's mind, thanks again for the info
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: gunnar429 on February 16, 2015, 10:30:50 PM
thanks I have been thinking about trying out apples here

I'm at 600 ft. elevation, but i've seen Anna apples fruiting even at sea level here, so it's certainly not impossible at your location.

Golden Dorsett was originally found in bahamas.  Anna and ein shemer are also possibilities.  I am growing all 3 plus a red fuji (as I heard you can manipulate the chill hours on apples by removing the leaves in winter to simulate dormancy.  We shall see, as my trees are all really young.  Planning to espalier them so won't take up too much mango space.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: gnappi on February 20, 2015, 10:49:41 PM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.

I L-O-V-E pluots, but the problem is there are SCADS of varieties and I've rarely seen the same one twice in local markets. I wish I could grow them here in south Florida... I'd chop a mango for the right one.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Doglips on February 21, 2015, 10:51:28 AM
One of the local Master Gardeners sales here was selling apricots, I think they may be experimenting on people, like when they sold me fruitless cherry trees.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Bush2Beach on February 21, 2015, 12:23:08 PM
Oscar what root stock is on your apple? and were did you get it?

Long ago, and i barely remember. It's semi dwarf, i believe M-101 or something like that, probably Dave Wilson nursery.

M 111 is a common rootstock from Dave Wilson
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: zands on February 21, 2015, 01:25:21 PM


Golden Dorsett was originally found in bahamas.  Anna and ein shemer are also possibilities.  I am growing all 3 plus a red fuji (as I heard you can manipulate the chill hours on apples by removing the leaves in winter to simulate dormancy.  We shall see, as my trees are all really young.  Planning to espalier them so won't take up too much mango space.

Here are the Chinese removing all mango leaves. Perhaps to stimulate or intensify dormancy. Maybe you get a larger mango harvest  when the tree goes into deeper dormancy
http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Blogs/For-The-Love-Of-Mangos/ArtMID/780/ArticleID/328/Ten-Days-in-China (http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Blogs/For-The-Love-Of-Mangos/ArtMID/780/ArticleID/328/Ten-Days-in-China)

(http://s28.postimg.cc/djtq8a2vd/CHINA_MANGO_Severely_pruned_tree.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/djtq8a2vd/)
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: phantomcrab on February 23, 2015, 07:17:57 AM
For me it is either peaches or apricots.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: TriangleJohn on February 24, 2015, 03:46:14 PM
To the person asking about Umeboshi apricots/plums - Many people here in Raleigh NC grow Prunus mume because they are winter bloomers with wonderfully fragrant blossoms. Some people refer to them as apricots and others call them plums (same thing happens with other Prunus species). They grow easily from seed and show very little variation from their parent. The fruit is harsh and astringent and doesn't taste like any other Prunus fruit. I think they would need a bit of cold weather to be happy. In this area you only see them for sale at nurseries this time of year, when they are in full bloom.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Viking Guy on March 05, 2015, 12:58:28 AM
Not sure how the Double Delight Nectarine didn't get mentioned on some of the lists, but I must say I have yet to taste a stonefruit that beat its full flavor.

I grow extras now as a result, and removed and gave away some other varieties that were only average to me.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: Yorgos on March 06, 2015, 04:24:59 PM
Can't beat a ripe peach. It tops a mango, IMHO, if barely.  I've never had a tree ripe apricot or pluot, though.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: fruitlovers on March 06, 2015, 04:33:15 PM
Can't beat a ripe peach. It tops a mango, IMHO, if barely.  I've never had a tree ripe apricot or pluot, though.

I've always thought of mangoes as the peach of the tropics. But then again i was exposed to peaches at much earlier age than mangoes.
A tree ripened apricot is really an exquisite fruit. Right up there with the best of peaches in my opinion.
I've only had the pluots from the store, and they are ok, but not all that exciting. But then again most stuff in stores is not that exciting, so not surprising.
I still remember the plum in my backyard when i was a kid. Still have never tasted a plum that came close to that quality. All of these fruits really need tree ripening, ferts, and some TLC, to get to top notch premium taste.
Title: Re: Who's the King of Stone Fruits? Plums, Peaches, Pluots, Nectarines, or Cherries
Post by: gnappi on March 08, 2015, 07:48:32 AM
For me, I love a good Peach. Though I heard the newly introduced Pluots are on a whole nother level of greatness.
Last summer (2014) was the first time I had a pluot. If they were all as good as the first, they'd rival mango as a top fruit.

Unfortunately since my first I've had enough sub par pluots that I'd not buy another as they're not inexpensive and too variable with so many cultivars out there. When I was a kid, nectarines and plums were my faves, but now every time I buy one, they're tasteless.
That said the old standby is a tree ripened peach.