[NAFEX] Tasty Japanese hybrid plums for hot and humid areas?
Scott Smith
scott at cs.jhu.edu
Tue Nov 20 10:58:41 EST 2007
I have been on a plum odyssey here. I started off growing all the
California Japanese plums and pluots in my Maryland climate, but I
have not had much luck at all with them. Shothole disease has been a
big problem, as has been getting crops to set. In particular I have
had bad luck with Santa Rosa, Howard Miracle, Elephant Heart, and
Wickson, and all pluots. I have had good luck with some as well:
Shiro and La Crescent have exhibited good disease resistance and good
productivity. These are crosses of Japanese and American plums and
so I now feel that is the way to go, but I don't know what the best
ones are. I am trying Superior which I know others are having good
luck with in my climate, but no crops there yet. I am not trying any
of the Georgia or AU selections since I have not heard great comments
on their flavor. I take that back, I have heard Rubysweet is very
good and was going to try that one. I am also trying the Spring
Satin plumcot to see how that works. And, I have heard that Crimson
Beauty (another Byron, Georgia selection) is tasty but cannot find a
source now. I also plan to try Purple Heart and Gracious: based on
my positive experience with La Crescent and Superior, the cold-hardy
plums appear to be good bets for me. Comments from growers in hot,
humid regions on any of the plums I have mentioned here, or other
varieties you have had good luck with are greatly appreciated.
Scott
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