Such a great wealth of knowledge! I really appreciate all of the detail in the descriptions of the flavor profiles! Thanks for the correction on the Kent vs Keitt parentage. I hadn't heard the cola taste comparison to the Maha before, hard to imagine. So is there anywhere that I could acquire Maha Chanok, Honey Kiss and Venus fruits to try? Anyone selling them (feel free to link to the appropriate spot in the buy/sell)? I lean toward the Maha based on descriptions, but all three sound appealing and I would like to taste before planting if possible.
Swrancher - I'm not sure what scab looks like, but my Angie's I think may have that too. Very ugly fruit, they have anthracnose spots for sure, and a lot of what looks like scuff marks except all over the fruit not just where it contacts another branch. They fall off the tree when barely showing the slightest yellow blush - very hard for me to tell when they are ripe. They look nothing like the gorgeous red yellow Fairchild advertised. Also, it seems to require copper to set fruit. I didn't spray half of the tree - those panicles set zero fruit. Panicles I sprayed set heavily, then self culled to 1 or 2 fruits. Overall, doesn't seem like an easy tree.
My Manilita may be plain flavor wise, but it is a joy in the garden. Every fruit ripens unblemished and perfect, no uneven ripening, and it requires no spraying. Very easy tree. How do Maha, Venus and Honey Kiss compare in disease resistance and ability to set fruit without spraying? Also, how are their internode lengths? Short lengths, in addition to lower vigor make the tree easier to shape.