North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Amelia Hayner <abhayner@gmail.com>]

On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 4:12 PM, Richard Wagner <rewagner@centurytel.net> wrote:

Have you tried any of the ‘sweet/tart’ varieties such as ‘Danube’ or ‘Jubileum’. They are recent introductions from Hungary that are supposed to be sweeter than most tart cherries. I planted both last year but it is to soon to have results. We have two Montmorency but they are too tart for my wife to eat fresh while they are still firm and by the time they are soft ripe the birds or ‘worms’ have gotten them. I intend to experiment with others.

--------I haven't tried them, but I have looked at them and wondered. I saw that the Danube is supposed to have red juice, which makes me wonder if it's not more tart. I am thinking I might just go for the "Carmine Jewel" that Gurneys' has advertized this year.

It would be worth getting just for the ad, saying that it was the most delicious cherry ever. It says it only gets around 6 1/2' tall. I wonder if it's just an improved prunus besseyi??

 

 

Other possibilities are ‘Kansas Sweet’ reputed to be a sweet x tart cherry hybrid though I would be skeptical unless I saw the DNA tests. Another possibility would be a duke cherry such as ‘Almaden Duke’. When I was a child (1940’s) in the San Joaquin Valley (California) a local mom and pop greengrocer had the best semi-sweet cherries but they were in scarce supply, Don’t know their name. They were smallish but not as much as Montmorency, Clear bright sealing wax red and the flesh itself was also bright red. Wish I knew what they were.

-------that's fascinating. I love stories of lost fruits.

 

 

I have always been partial to slightly tart fruit of whatever kind. The acidity adds body and character to what would  otherwise be watery insipid sugar water. I also like aromatic fruit with a pronounced fragrance.

-------me too, sweet tart candies were always my favorite as a kid. I was disappointed that I couldn't get quince to grow, as they were said to be all of the above.. but fireblight got them TOO.

It even got the pyracantha we planted! I think we were cursed!