Community and Resources for Home Gardens
RETAIL NURSERY VARIETY LIST
Chalfant Big Tree Farm & Feed
395 Hunter Ave
Chalfant Valley, California 93514
760.873.7129
Plant varieties ordered from Dave Wilson Nursery for 2021:
Apple Babe Genetic Dwarf Apple
Crisp, sweet, red apple - excellent quality even in hot inland climates. Glossy, russet-free skin. Heavy bearing 8-10 ft. compact tree. August. 700 hours. Pollenized by Garden Delicious or other apple. USDA Zones 4 - 8. (Zaiger)
Fuji Apple
Introduction from Japan that quickly became California's favorite apple. Sweet, very crisp and flavorful, excellent keeper. Dull reddish orange skin, sometimes russeted. Ripe mid-September. Excellent pollenizer for other apple varieties. Low chilling requirement - less than 500 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 6-9.
Gala Apple
Wonderful dessert apple from New Zealand. Crisp, nice blend of sweetness and tartness, rich flavor. Skin reddish orange over yellow. Early harvest, 2 - 3 weeks before Red Delicious. Good pollenizer for other varieties. Adapted to cold- and warm-winter climates. Chilling requirement less than 500 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4-10.
Golden Delicious Apple
Long-time favorite for its sweetness and flavor. Reliable producer, adapted to many climates. Pollenizer for Red Delicious. Midseason harvest (September in Central CA). 700 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.
Honeycrisp Apple
Winter hardy tree from the University of Minnesota. Fruit is crisp and juicy with an aromatic flavor. Striped red over yellow color. Stores well. Ripens mid-August. Pollenized by Gala, Granny Smith, Empire, McIntosh and Red Delicious. USDA Zones 3-8.
Multi-Bud Apple, Espaliered 3-tier, Northwest Varieties 6n1
Six northwest apple varieties selected for home growing.
Pink Lady® Apple
Hot climate apple from Western Australia. Very crisp, sweet tart, distinct flavor, good keeper. Skin reddish pink over green when ripe. White flesh resists browning. Harvest begins late October in Central CA, about three weeks after Fuji. Self-fruitful. 300-400 hours. USDA Zones 6-9.
Red Fuji Apple
Redder skinned bud sport of Fuji. Sweet, very crisp and flavorful, excellent keeper. Ripe September-October in Central CA. Excellent pollenizer for other apple varieties. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-9.
Snow (Fameuse) Apple
Famous for its pure white flesh and spicy, aromatic, subacid flavor. Small to medium-sized fruit with beautiful light red stripes over a cream background. In cool climates, the skin is a solid, very dark red. Used primarily for dessert, also for cooking and cider. October harvest, keeps until the holidays. Very hardy, long-lived, heavy-bearing tree. Originated from French seed planted in Canada in the late 1600s. Parent of McIntosh. Reported to have a moderately low winter chilling requirement: perhaps 600 hours. Partly self-fruitful, biggest crops with cross-pollination. USDA Zones 4-8.
Harcot Apricot
From Canada. Frost hardy late bloom. Resists brown rot and perennial canker. Medium to large fruit ripens early to mid-June in Central CA. Sweet, juicy, rich flavor one of the best. 700 hours. Self-fruitful.
Tomcot Apricot
A consistently productive apricot variety. Large, orange fruit with firm, sweet flesh. Slightly tart, old-time apricot flavor. Early harvest, 2 - 3 weeks before Wenatchee Moorpark. Originated at Prosser, WA, introduced in 1989. 500 hours or less. Partly self-fruitful, largest crops if cross-pollenized by another apricot. USDA Zones 4-8.
Chojuro Asian Pear
Russeted golden brown skin. Crisp like an apple when ripe. Harvest mid-August in Central CA. 450 hours. Pollenized by Hosui, Shinko, or other pear.
Hosui Asian Pear
Consistently rated the best-tasting Asian pear at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. Large, juicy, sweet, flavorful, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Brownish-orange russeted skin. Harvest early to mid-August in Central CA. 300-400 hours. Pollenized by Shinko, Chojuro, Bartlett, or 20th Century.
Shinko Asian Pear
Late ripening - September in Central CA - and excellent quality. Juicy, sweet, flavorful, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Golden brown russeted skin. 450 hours. Pollenized by Hosui, Chojuro, Kikusui, Bartlett
Royal Rainier Cherry
Large yellow cherry with slightly more red blush than Rainier. Excellent flavor, taste test winner. Ripens early, about 3-5 days ahead of Rainier. Chill requirement 500 hours. Pollenized by Bing, Black Tartarian and Lapins. USDA Zones 5-9. (Zaiger)
Utah Giant Cherry
The industry favorite sweet cherry in Utah. Larger, firmer, more flavorful than Bing or Lambert. Good canner. Does not double. 800 hours. Pollenizer required: Bing, Lambert, Rainier, Van. USDA Zones 5-9.
Chicago Hardy Fig
Late season mahogany to purple fruit are set on current season's growth. One of the most frost hardy of all figs. Known to grow into zone 5. Little to no breba crop. Best quality late summer through fall. Required chill 100 hours or less. Self-fruitful. Best in zones 6-10
Violette de Bordeaux Fig
Small to medium size purple-black fruit with a very deep red strawberry pulp and distinctive, sweet, rich flavor. Brebas are pear-shaped with a thick, tapering neck, main crop figs are variable, often without neck. Medium eye. Excellent fresh or dried. Good for container culture or small spaces. Hardy. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.
White Genoa Fig
Old variety, a favorite in cool coastal areas - also excellent inland. Greenish-yellow skin, amber flesh, distinctive flavor. Prune to any shape. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.
Harko Nectarine
One of the highest scoring nectarines in DWN fruit tastings. Cold hardy Canadian variety has showy, large, single pink blossoms. Ripens with Redhaven Peach in early July in Central CA. Tolerant of bacterial spot and brown rot. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.
Mericrest Nectarine
Very cold hardy, frost hardy, late bloom. Crops after sub zero winters. Large, red-skinned yellow freestone with rich tangy flavor. Very high scoring in taste tests, highly recommended. Mid-July in Central CA. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.
Babcock White Peach
Long-time favorite white-fleshed freestone. Sweet and juicy, aromatic, low in acid. High scoring in taste tests. Ripens mid-July in Central CA. Widely adapted (low chill requirement, yet not early blooming). 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.
Indian Free White Peach
The all-time highest rated peach at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. Large freestone, firm crimson and cream colored flesh. Tart until fully ripe, then highly aromatic with a rich, distinctive flavor. Highly resistant to peach leaf curl. Late season. 700 hours. Another nectarine or peach needed to pollenize.
Red Baron Peach
Flowering/fruiting. Large, juicy, firm, richly flavored yellow freestone fruit. Highly rated in taste tests. Showy double red blossoms. Mid-July. Long-time favorite in Southern CA and Texas. Low chilling requirement, 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.
Reliance Peach
Late blooming. Very cold hardy/frost hardy. Sweet, flavorful yellow freestone - best choice for climates having severe cold in winter and spring. Harvest 2-3 weeks before Elberta. Showy bloom. 1000 hours. Self-fruitful.
Snow Beauty White Peach
Taste test winner: one of the all-time highest-scoring varieties in blind fruit tastings at Dave Wilson Nursery. Low acid, high sugar, tantalizing flavor. Large, very firm, attractive red skin. Harvest early to mid-July in Central CA. Estimated chilling requirement 750-850 hours. Self-fruitful. (Pat. No. 10175) (Zaiger)
Suncrest Peach
Large, very firm, fine-flavored, yellow freestone. Bright red skin over yellow. Suncrest is the peach immortalized by the book Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on My Family Farm, by David Mas Masumoto (1995). Harvest late July in Central CA. Frost hardy blossoms, consistent producer. Originated in Fresno, CA. Introduced in 1959. 500 hours. Self-fruitful.
Bartlett Pear
World's most popular pear. Early midseason, high quality, tolerates hot summers. 500-600 hours. Self-fruitful in most climates of Western U.S. Elsewhere, pollenized by Bosc, D'Anjou, Winter Nelis.
Comice Pear
The famous gift pack pear. Sweet, aromatic, fine texture, superb flavor and quality - one of the best. Short neck, greenish-yellow skin with red blush. Late harvest. 600 hours. Self-fruitful in most climates of Western U.S. or plant with Bartlett.
Sensation Red Bartlett Pear
High quality Bartlett-type fruit with attractive red skin. Relatively small tree. 700 hours. Self-fruitful in most climates of Western U.S. Elsewhere, pollenized by Bosc, D'Anjou, or other pear.
Flavor Punch Pluerry™ Interspecific Plum
Small to medium (golf ball size) fruit with orange-red exterior and bright orange interior. Firm texture with unique sweet tropical punch flavor. Late season harvest, September into October. Requires another Pluerry™, Plum or Pluot® as pollenizer. Chilling requirement preliminary estimate 500 hours. USDA Zones 6-9. Patent pending. (Zaiger)
Sweet Treat Pluerry™ Interspecific Plum
Sweet Treat is the first of its kind, the Pluerry™: a new fruit type from the genius of Floyd Zaiger. This taste-test favorite is a complex interspecific hybrid, predominantly of plum and cherry, combining the sweetness of a cherry with that summer fresh plum zing. Much larger than a cherry, this precocious and prolific variety will hang on the tree for over a month, and the colorful fruit make Sweet Treat a true ornamental. Tested as 46MB583. Harvest late June through July. Estimated chilling requirement 450 hours. Pollenizer required: Burgundy or Santa Rosa plum, or Flavor King Pluot® recommended. Patent Pending (Zaiger)
Golden Nectar Plum
Popular yellow dessert plum. Large, oblong fruit with waxy, thin, amber skin. Amber flesh is firm, sweet and flavorful. Very small pit. August harvest in Central CA. 400 hours or less. Self-fruitful.
Inca Plum
Medium size, heart-shaped fruit. Rich, crisp flesh, golden skin, red specks and blush when fully ripe. Pleasant acid/sugar balance. Introduced by Luther Burbank in 1919. Ripens early to mid August; ripe fruit hangs well on the tree. Self-fruitful. 300 hours. USDA Zones 7-9.
Laroda Plum
Very high scores for flavor and overall appeal in Dave Wilson Nursery taste tests. Dark purple skinned fruit with juicy, richly-flavored red and amber flesh. Prolonged harvest: late July to late August in Central CA, 5-6 weeks after Santa Rosa. 400 hrs. Pollenizer required: Santa Rosa, Late Santa Rosa, Burgundy, Nubiana.
Dapple Dandy Pluot® Interspecific Plum
Taste test winner. Ranks with Flavor King Pluot® among the all-time top five best flavored fruits at Dave Wilson Nursery tastings. Creamy white and red fleshed freestone with wonderful plum-apricot flavor. Skin greenish-yellow with red spots, turning to a maroon and yellow dapple. August harvest in Central CA. 400-500 hours. Pollenized by Flavor Supreme Pluot®, Flavor King Pluot®, Santa Rosa, Catalina or Burgundy Plum. (Pat. No. 9254) (Zaiger)
Italian Prune
Large, purple skin, freestone. Rich flavor, very sweet when fully ripe. Fresh/dried/canned. Vigorous, cold hardy tree. Late bloom. Late summer harvest. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.
Blueray Northern Highbush Blueberry
Best variety for hot climates. Large, firm fruit,excellent flavor. Upright, vigorous bush, very productive. 800 hours. Self-fruitful
Legacy Northern Highbush Blueberry
A USDA introduction from the blueberry research station in New Jersey. Vigorous grower producing medium to large size berries late in the season. Uniquely robust sweet flavor, highly rated in USDA trials. Zones 4-8. Estimated at 800 chill hours. Self-fruitful.
Top Hat Southern Highbush Blueberry
Lowbush, dwarf variety, growing to 16-24 tall. Medium, firm, sweet, light blue berries that last for several weeks. Good flavor. Completely covered with white, bell shaped flowers for several weeks. Great fall color. Self-fruitful. Perfect for growing in a pot on the patio or indoors in a sunny window. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
Baby Cakes® Blackberry
Dwarf, thornless blackberry with compact, rounded growth habit to 3-4 ft., ideal for patio pots. Large, sweet berries. Chilling requirement observed to be much lower than advertised, productive to zone 10. USDA zones 4-10. USDA zones 4-10. U.S. Plant Patent #27032.
Boysenberry Thornless
Rubus ursinus var. loganobaccus, a hybrid of blackberry, raspberry, dewberry and loganberry. Very large berry up to 2.5", dark maroon in color with an intense, tangy, sweet flavor. Excellent quality with few seeds and a pleasant aroma. Vine-like trailing growth habit. Harvest through summer. Self-fruitful, best in zones 5-10.
Chester Blackberry
Thornless, semi-trailing. Large, very sweet, flavorful even when firm. Fruit retains color and quality even in the heat. Begins to ripen just as Triple Crown finishes. Chester is the most winter hardy thornless blackberry and is very resistant to cane blight. Good variety for the Midwest and Deep South. Provide support for the vines. USDA Zone 5-7 (possibly 5-9).
Fall Gold Raspberry
Everbearing - Hybrid of Taylor X wild Korean mountain berry X Fall Red. Large to very large golden berries of excellent flavor. Extremely sweet and soft textured. Very adaptable and winter hardy. Harvest June through fall. Self-fruitful. Best in zones 4-11.
Heritage Raspberry
Everbearing - Large, sweet, dark red berries. Mild flavor and excellent quality. Good for all uses. Moderate early crop in June, July. Heavier late crop August through fall. Berries keep well on or off the vine. Upright growth habit. Self-fruitful. Best in Zones 4-11.
Kiowa Blackberry
The largest and possibly thorniest of the U of Arkansas introductions. 3" long, firm and highly flavored. Fruits for 6 weeks. Upright growth requires no support. Very adaptable. USDA Zones 5-10. Low winter chill makes it productive in both coastal and desert climates.
Raspberry Shortcake®
Raspberry Shortcake® offers a new, easy way to grow your own raspberries. Its compact, rounded, thornless(!) growth habit to 2-3 ft. is perfect for patio container growing or any sunny, well-drained spot in the landscape. Chilling requirement observed to be much lower than advertised, productive to zone 10. USDA zones 4-10. U.S. Plant Pat. #22141.
Triple Crown Blackberry
Semi-trailing, thornless. Medium to large flavorful berries. Dense foliage prevents sunscald. Vigorous vines to 15’ require support. Very productive, reliable harvests. Widely adapted, excellent home garden variety. USDA Zones 5-12.
Willamette Red Raspberry
Large to very large, long-conic berries. Very firm and deep red. Lower sugar content, slightly tart flavor. Good for all uses. Berries hold and store well. Main harvest June, July. Some support required. Self-fruitful. Best in Zones 5-10.
Goji Berry
Lycium barbarum - (aka Wolfberry) is highly acclaimed for its high nutrient and antioxidant value. Recently termed a superfood. Ripe berries can be used fresh, dried, frozen and in teas. Goji has an appealing spicy, nutty flavor. Berries are bright red-orange when ripe. Harvest summer through fall. Shrubby plant to 8-12 ft. or prune to desired manageable size. Hardy to sub-zero and very drought tolerant once established. Requires neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Well adapted to container growing. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4 - 11.
Flame Seedless Grape
Medium-sized, light red. Crisp, sweet, excellent flavor. For fresh use or raisins. Needs hot summer. Ripens before Thompson. Vigorous. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. Cane or spur prune.
Thompson Seedless Grape
Most popular grape in CA, AZ. Fresh and raisins. Pale green, very sweet. Thin the clusters for larger berries. Needs plenty of heat. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. Cane prune.
Cascade Hops
Cascade and Centennial are the basic hops varieties grown for home brewing.
Centennial Hops
Cascade and Centennial are the basic hops varieties grown for home brewing.
All-in-One Genetic Semi-Dwarf Almond
No. 1 almond for home orchards. Heavy crops of soft shell nuts with sweet, flavorful kernels. Hot summer required to ripen. 15 ft. tree, very winter and frost hardy. 300-400 hrs. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Large showy clusters of pink to purplish-blue flowers, wonderful fragrance. Full sun (light shade in hottest areas), alkaline soil. Grows to 20 by 20 ft. Best in Sunset zones 1-12. Less dependable in zones 14-16, 18-22. USDA zones 5-9.
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Very distinctive tree - light green round leaves flutter and shimmer in the slightest breeze. Fast growing to 40-60 ft. Smooth bark, light gray-green to almost white. Bright yellow fall color. Sunset Zones 1-7.
Western Cottonless (Cottonless)
Populus fremontii
Fast-growing to 60 ft. or more, by 30 ft. wide. Shimmering leaves are especially distinctive, ornamental. Widely adapted, including desert. Yellow fall color. Invasive roots. Sunset Zones 7-24.