Recommended Fruits for Willow Glen
by Nancy Garrison, Urban Horticulture Program Coordinator,
University of California Cooperative Extension
For a year-round supply of your own home grown fruit, plant a variety of
trees, so that at any given time of year, you have a crop ready... The
following table summarizes the best bearing season for different fruits:
| oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes |
November through March |
| cherries |
May - June |
| apricots |
June |
| best peaches |
June - August |
| plums, and plum apricot hybrids (plumcots) |
June - August |
| apples |
July - October |
| pears |
August - early October |
| persimmons |
October - December |
| kiwi |
November - December |
| pineapple guava, passion fruit: |
Fall |
Blueberries can yield nearly year round.
Best Varieties
The following list represents the varieties I have found to perform best
in Willow Glen and have superior flavor.
APPLES
Akane, Ashmead's Kernel**, Braeburn, Cox's
Pippin Orange, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein,
Jonagold, Jonathan, Mutsu, *Newtown Pippin, Red Delicious, White Pearmain**.
APRICOTS
Blenheim - you can't beat this one for flavor and productivity!
BLUEBERRIES
Bluecrop, Duke, Georrgia Gem, Misty, Reveille, Sunshine Blue
CHERRIES (Sweet)
Bing*, Black Tartarian*, Coe's Transparent,
Craig's Crimson, Lapins, Rainbow Stripe, *Rainier, Republican (Black Republican
or Black Oregon), Stella, Van*
Note: all but Stella require another variety for cross pollination.
FIGS
Black Mission*, Desert King (King), Tiger (Panachee)**
GRAPES
European - Black Monukka, Black Rose, Cardinal, Delight, Exotic, Flame
Seedless, Perlette, Ribier, Ruby Seedless (King's Ruby), Tokay American
& American Hybrids - Catawba, Concord, Golden Muscat, Niabell, Niagra,
Pierce
KIWI (CHINESE GOOSEBERRY)
(Any will be fine) Abbott, Bruno, Chico, Hayward, Monty, Vincent
PEACHES
Freestone: Babcock, +Baby Crawford (aka. Phil Adrian), Crawford*,
Cresthaven, Double Jewel, Eagle Beak, Early Elberta (Gleason) Flavorcrest,
J.H. Hale, +J.M. Mack, Nectar, O'Henry, Pallas, Peregrine, Rio Oso Gem,
Silver Logan, Strawberry Free, Sugarlady*, Suncrest*,
Zee Lady
GENETIC DWARF PEACHES
Empress, Garden Gold, Golden Gem, Golden Glory, Honey Babe, Southern Flame,
Southern Rose, Southern Sweet
NECTARINES
Arctic Glow, Arctic Rose*, Double Delight*,
Fantasia, Goldmine, Heavenly White*, Panamint, Peento,
Silver Lode*, Snow Queen, Suncrest, Tashkent Gold, White
Rose*.
DWARF NECTARINES
Garden Beauty, Garden Delight, Garden King, Golden Prolific, Nectar Babe,
Nectarina, Southern Belle, Sunbonnet
OLIVES
Ascolano, Manzanillo, Mission, Sevillano
PEARS
European - Anjou, Bartlett*, Comice*,
Seckel (French Butter)*, Winter Nelis, Winter News*
Asian (Nashi) - Chojuro, Hosui, Kikusui, Korean Giant (Don Bae), Kosui,
Seigyoku, Seuri, Shinko, Shinseiki, Shinsui, Yakumo, and Ya Li.
Note: Other varieties may also be suitable. There are no climate or
soil restrictions on growing Asian pears in this area.
*Exceptionally well adapted
**Hard to find - Many older hard-to-find
varieties are available in the form of grafted wood (scions) through local
chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers. Call Kit Donnell at (408)
379-7714 for more information on upcoming educational meetings and how
to get the local chapter newsletter.