DWN FRUIT VARIETY COLLECTION
Consistently High-Scoring Varieties
The 2014 Fruit Tasting Report introduces a new way of summarizing Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tasting data: Consistently High-Scoring Varieties. These fruit varieties of the Home Garden/Retail Catalog have made an overall score of 6.0 or higher in a majority of years tested, with a minimum of three years at 6.0 or better.
Note that DWN formal fruit tastings tend to be scheduled in seasons when there many varieties to evaluate and demonstrate to the panelists. For this reason, most early and late ripening varieties are tested less often (the highly regarded Indian Free White Peach, for example).
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New, from New Zealand. Superb late season fruit: very crisp and tangy, more flavorful than Granny Smith. Excellent keeper. Green with dark red blush. October-November harvest. 700 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.
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.
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.
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 in many western U.S. climates; pollenizer recommended for best production. 300-400 hours. USDA Zones 6-9.
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.
A favorite late apple in Northern California. Yellow with red blush, rich sprightly flavor, moderately sweet. Excellent fresh or cooked. Good keeper. 700-800 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 6-9.
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.
Juicy, sweet, yellow-skinned fruit - crisp like an apple when ripe. Superb fresh eating, one of the best. Easy to grow. Keeps well. Mid-August in Central CA. 450 hours. Partly self-fruitful or pollenized by Ishiiwase or 20th Century.
Large fruit, smooth yellow skin. Very best quality - juicy, sweet, flavorful, crisp like an apple. Blooms later than Shinseiki and 20th Century. Ripe a few days before 20th Century. 500 hours. Partly self-fruitful or plant with Kikusui, 20th Century, or Bartlett.
Southern Highbush. Midseason. DWN house favorite. This berry has pleasing crunchy texture and excellent flavor. Chilling hours are listed at 400-500 hours.
Southern highbush. Exceptional berries with superb flavor. Florida native with vigorous, upright character. Performs well in California, both inland and coastal. Prefers light sandy soils. 200-300 hours. (Pat No. 9834)
Taste test winner. Self-fruitful, natural semi-dwarf sweet cherry. Dark red to nearly black, medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture. Mature tree size about 2/3 of standard (smaller when budded onto Colt or Mahaleb rootstock). Harvest begins early. 500-600 hours. USDA Zones 5-9. (Zaiger)
Large, yellow with red blush. Sweet and flavorful. Very cold hardy. Midseason harvest. 700 hours. Pollenized by Van, Lambert, Lapins, Black Tartarian & Bing. USDA Zones 5-9.
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)
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.
The first NectaPlum™ from Zaiger Genetics: a white-fleshed, nectarine-peach-plum hybrid. Skin is dark maroon at fruit set, and turns pale pink when ripe. Fully ripe fruit is unparalleled in flavor, and both nectarine and plum traits are easily detectable. Tree is quite ornamental. Tremendous purplish pink bloom in the spring, followed by a flourish of red leaves which mature into lush green in late summer. Self-fruitful. Very productive. 200-300 hours. High chill adaptable. (Pat. No. 13503) (Zaiger)
Exciting, sprightly-sweet, early season white-fleshed nectarine. High scoring in taste tests: nice balance of sugar and acid, very appealing flavor. Highly recommended for home orchards. Late June/ early July in Central CA. 400-500 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Taste test winner. Very attractive, firm, freestone fruit is richly flavored, with a balance of acid and sugar. Ripens between Arctic Glo and Heavenly White white nectarines. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful. (Pat. No. 9908) (Zaiger)
Delicious, super-sweet, white nectarine. Very high scoring in taste tests. Rich flavor and nice crunchy texture when firm ripe, extremely sweet when fully ripe. Harvest mid to late July in Central CA. Highly recommended for home orchards. 600-700 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Popular, large yellow freestone. Early harvest fruit is firm ripe and tangy, later harvest is sweet with rich flavor: high scoring in taste tests. Late July/early August in Central CA. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful.
High quality late season clingstone. Large, firm, red over yellow skin. Popular fresh market variety. Ripens late August/early Sept. in Central CA. 600-700 hours. Self-fruitful.
Large, firm, yellow freestone of excellent quality. One of the highest scoring nectarines in DWN fruit tastings. One of the very best! Ripe mid-July in Central CA, between Independence and Fantasia. Large showy blossoms. 650 hours. Self-fruitful.
One of the highest-scoring fruits in Dave Wilson Nursery taste tests. Very large, firm, white-fleshed freestone. Superb acid/sugar balance and rich, complex flavor, a connoisseur's delight. Dull red and cream colored skin. Mid-July in Central CA. 650 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Old favorite yellow-fleshed nectarine. Richly flavored, still one of the best. Very high taste test scores. Attractive red and yellow skin. Harvest mid to late-August in Central CA. 600 hours. Self-fruitful.
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.
Taste test winner. Sweet, juicy, early season white freestone. Late June harvest in Central CA, 2-3 weeks ahead of Babcock peach. Long-time favorite in So. Calif. Low chilling requirement, 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.
Taste test winner. Delicious late summer fruit with classic, zesty, nectarine flavor. Superb balance of acid and sugar. Attractive, dark red skin. Harvest about two weeks after Fantasia, mid to late August in Central CA. Showy pink blossoms in spring. 600-700 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Two-time taste test winner. Large, white flesh, nearly freestone when fully ripe. Red over cream colored skin. Sweet and tangy, fine delicate flavor, firm texture. Peak quality reached a short while after picking. Harvest late July/early August in Central CA. 700 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Medium to large yellow freestone with red blush. Sweet, subacid, very flavorful. Proven variety for So. Calif, coast or inland. Late July. Chilling requirement less than 400 hours. Self-fruitful.
Flowering/fruiting peach for home orchard and landscape. Profuse, showy, double pink flowers. Late blooming, but early harvest: late June in Central CA. Large, richly flavored, yellow freestone. Self-fruitful. 300-400 hours. (Zaiger)
Delicious, fine flavored peach with very low chilling requirement ripens 2-3 weeks before Mid-Pride. Medium to large-sized yellow freestone - also recommended as early season peach for moderate climates - harvest 3 weeks before July Elberta. 100-200 hours. Self- fruitful. (Zaiger)
Large yellow freestone, similar to its parent J.H. Hale. Excellent dessert quality. Ripens late July in Central CA, one week before Fay Elberta. 700 hours. Self-fruitful.
A favored late summer peach at Dave Wilson Nursery for providing consistent high yields and large size fruit. Kaweah has a delicious true peach flavor with a good balance of sugar to acid and is an all-purpose fruit good for fresh eating, baking, canning, jams and jellies. Recent low-chill trials have shown Kaweah to be productive with less than 500 chill hours. (Pat. No. 10177) (Zaiger)
Popular fresh market yellow freestone and an excellent choice for home planting. Large, firm, full red skin, superb flavor. Ripens early to mid-August in Central CA. Good for freezing. Strong, vigorous, heavy bearing tree. 750 hours. Self-fruitful.
One of the most winter hardy peach varieties. Developed in Iowa, hardy to -20 deg F. Reliable crops of tasty, sweet, medium-sized, white-fleshed fruit. Crimson-blushed white skin. 1,000 hours. Self-fruitful.
Delicious white freestone for warm-winter climates: balanced acid and sugar, superb flavor. Harvest begins mid-June in Central CA, about three weeks before Babcock. Showy blossoms in spring. From Florida, introduced in 1988. Very low winter chilling requirement, about 200 hours. Self-fruitful.
One of the most reliable peaches for cold climates: winter hardy and late blooming. Yellow to yellow orange skin. When fully ripe the yellow flesh is freestone and richly flavored. Harvest one week before Elberta. 900 hours. Self-fruitful.
One of the highest-rated plums in blind fruit tastings at DWN. Light green skin, greenish-yellow to orange freestone flesh. Harvest begins late August in Central CA. Ripe fruit continues to sweeten, becoming exceptionally sweet, but remaining crisp and crunchy. Ripe fruit holds on tree longer than any other stone fruit: two months or more! 600-700 hours. Pollenizer required: Beauty, Burgundy, Late Santa Rosa, Nubiana, Flavor King Pluot. (Pat. No. 9162) (Zaiger)
Hybrid plum: Japanese x American. Large, firm, delicious fruit. Bears earlier and heavier than most plum trees. Ripens in August-September. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4-8.
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)
Medium to large fruit with green skin and yellow-orange flesh. Prolonged harvest: early picked fruit is firm, yet juicy and sweet. Left to hang, fruit turns greenish-yellow with honey-like orange flesh. Upright tree sets heavy crops once established. Harvest mid-July to late August. Originally tasted tested as 7HC165. 400 hours or less. Pollenized by Flavor Grenade Pluot® or Santa Rosa plum. (Pat. No. 14599) (Zaiger)
Medium- to large-sized with purplish-red skin and jelly-like amber-red flesh. Wonderful complex flavor. At Hickman, CA harvest begins the second week of September and the fruit is edible well into October. Upright tree sets large crops. Originally taste tested as 5Z366. 500 hours. Pollenized by Santa Rosa or Burgundy plum, or Flavor Grenade Pluot®. (Pat. No. 16590) (Zaiger)
Elongated green fruit with red blush. Crisp texture, explosive flavor. Taste test winner. Hangs on the tree for 4-6 weeks. Pollenized by Flavor King Pluot®, Dapple Dandy Pluot®, Emerald Drop Pluot® or Santa Rosa plum. 300-400 hours. (Pat. No. 12097) (Zaiger)
Taste test winner. Unique plum-apricot hybrid with sensational bouquet and sweet, spicy flavor. Reddish-purple skin, crimson flesh. Harvest mid-August in Central CA. Naturally small tree. 400 hours or less. Pollenized by Flavor Supreme Pluot® or Dapple Dandy Pluot® and Santa Rosa or Late Santa Rosa plum. (Zaiger)
Taste test winner. Plum/apricot hybrid with sweet, richly flavored, firm red flesh. Greenish-maroon mottled skin. June harvest in Central CA, about two weeks before Santa Rosa. 700-800 hours. Pollenized by Santa Rosa and Late Santa Rosa plums, or Flavorosa, Flavor Queen and Geo Pride Pluot®. (Zaiger)
Small to medium-sized red-orange colored fruit, with very sweet orange flesh. Consistently among the highest scoring varieties at Dave Wilson formal fruit tastings. Round to heart-shaped fruit is excellent eaten fresh, dried or in desserts. Upright tree sets large crops once established. 400 hours or less. Pollenized by Santa Rosa plum or Flavor Grenade Pluot®. (Pat No. 14583) (Zaiger).
Edible Ornamental: varieties having both tasty fruit and especially attractive tree, foliage, bloom or long-hanging fruit characteristics.
Taste Test Winner: varieties that have made the highest overall scores at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings.
DWN Top 100: the 100 best-selling DWN fruit varieties for retail nurseries, including many of the most well-proven varieties.
Zaiger Variety: developed by Zaiger's Inc. Genetics of Modesto, California. Dave Wilson Nursery is the exclusive U.S. licensor and primary propagator.
