donniec

 

Posts: 13

Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:02 pm

Climate Zone: Sunset 15/16?, USDA 9b/10a?

Is there anybody out there in a mild summer area who successfully grows Elephant Hearts? I've been advised against it. My summers are typically in the low 70s. I do have great success with Beauty(July-August), Burgundy(August-September) and Weeping Santa Rosa(August) plums, Flavor Queen Pluot(August), Blenheim(July- early August)and Moorpark(August) apricot and Snow Queen Nectarine(July-August.) Other plums I've tried but don't like are Golden Nectar(strange bitter lemony flavor even when soft ripe) and Inca(tastes like a crunchy tart nectarine/pineapple even when the outside is soft ripe.) I need to find a tasty plum that harvests after Labor Day through October that will do well in my climate that doesn't get significant heat until September. I did grow Dapple Dandy and Flavor Grenade Pluots(exact same long harvest in my backyard mid August-late October) but I hated them. I'm looking for varieties needing less than 700hrs winter chill. Any suggestions? Thanks.

George

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 234

Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:32 pm

Location: san diego

Climate Zone: ssz 23

I am growing Elephant Heart Plum in ssz23. It grows well, is more resistant to aphids than the beauty and Santa Rosa and gives me tasty plums. The biggest problem is that the color changes slowly so they hang a long time as a target for the birds.

Axel

Site Admin

 

Posts: 2377

Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:49 pm

Location: Santa Cruz Mountains

Climate Zone: sunset 15/USDA 9b

If you can't ripen Inca plums properly, then you won't be able to ripen elephant heart plums either. Don't get fooled into thinking that plums that ripen during the hottest months in September will be better. It doesn't quite work that way. Late fruit is late with respect to warm Summer climates. In cool Summer climates they will not ripen properly.

So far, all of the late stone fruits I have grown here with exception of golden nectar plums are bland. They just don't flavor up well here. Early ripening stone fruit does best for me, except for peaches, for which both the early and late ones are quite good.

donniec

 

Posts: 13

Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:02 pm

Climate Zone: Sunset 15/16?, USDA 9b/10a?

Thanks for the input George. I think in your zone 23, you get more consistent spring and summer heat than I receive in my maritime ss zone 15/16. According to Axel, that may be a problem with properly ripening a late stone fruit such as the Elephant Heart. I might have to settle with my plum season concluding with Burgundy in mid September.

donniec

 

Posts: 13

Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:02 pm

Climate Zone: Sunset 15/16?, USDA 9b/10a?

Thanks for the input Axel. It looks like if I want a tasty plum, I'll have to settle for my awesome flavored Burgundy through mid September. I was impressed with the ten week harvest of my Dapple Dandy and Flavor Grenade Pluots but what good is the long harvest if I hate the fruit? You mentioned that late season peaches/nectarines work for you? I'm thinking of planting a Liz's Late nectarine this next bare root season. I tried them from Andy's Orchard last September and loved them! Also, I'm thinking of Bavay's greengage and Golden Transparent gage and maybe even a Sugar prune and Imperial Epineuse prune. Do you think they'll flavor up fine in my climate?