North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["MARIE ASHTON" <bwoodtx@verizon.net>]

Anton,

This might help a little, from my book Plums of North America.

 

BLUEBYRD – (P. domestica) – Skin: Dark Purple, Flesh: Amber-yellow, Ripe: Mid-season,  Taste: Good, sweet, C/F: Semi-clingstone, Fruit Size: Medium, Shipping: Good, Tree Size: Medium-large.

           Developed by Harold W. Fogle, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland and released by Ralph Scorza on March 20, 1998. An open pollinated seedling of NYH4 which is a Domestica plum of unknown heritage.

           The fruit average about 1 5/8^th inches in width by 2 inches long being oblong. The skin is dark purple and the flesh is amber-yellow. Very sweet averaging about 20 brix. Semi-clingstone. Ripens about 10 days before Stanley. The upright growing tree is productive. Self-infertile, needs a pollinator of the Domestica type.

 

Since this is a European (domestica) plum there is a question if it will do well in the Southeast but if you can grow Stanley you should be able to grow this plum.

 

Regards,

Richard Ashton

Oak Creek Orchard

www.oakcreekorchard.com

bwoodtx@verizon.net