A New Apricot Variety
Q: Our ‘Royal’ apricot tree has not borne fruit since we planted it three years ago. What it does is send up many small trees all over the rest of the backyard. Can you tell me what’s wrong?--C.C., Cerritos
A: According to University of California pomologist James A. Beutel, apricot trees generally are difficult to grow in Southern California because it is not cold enough, and often the fruit of the trees that do grow lacks flavor. Even the traditional apricot areas (apricots are commercially grown only in the San Fernando Valley, Ojai and Hemet) are now a lot warmer--as much as 10 degrees warmer in winter--because of all the pavement and houses. During a warm winter, apricots actually drop their fruit buds (you can find them all over the ground in February), and even a normal winter might not result in much fruit being set. There are exceptions: Certain trees will bear fruit, and some places do seem to get cold enough. Silicon Valley, which had the ideal apricot climate, was where the variety ‘Royal’ (also called ‘Blenheim’ by the canneries) grew best. ‘Royal’ has always been a poor choice in Southern California. There are reports that a new apricot named ‘Katy’ needs less winter cold and might do well in Southern California.
Three years is still rather early for an apricot tree to bear fruit. First it must grow the short branchlets, called spurs, on which the fruit forms, and that takes at least three years. In addition, apricots tend to be alternate bearers, which means they fruit heavily one year, then not at all the next. An old agricultural bulletin suggests trying to keep the leaves on the trees into the fall with good care and adequate water.
As a rule, apricots don’t sucker. Sometimes they are grafted onto plum roots, and those sucker profusely if they are damaged by tilling or cultivation.
Q: Could you tell me what a Kiwano is? I found one at the market but couldn’t figure out what to do with it. It tasted terrible raw.--G.S., La Habra
A: It is a fruit, a relative of the cucumber. Botanically it is Cucumis metuliferus ; the common cucumber is C . sativus . Kiwano is the trade name given it by its New Zealand growers. Its common name is African horned cucumber . An article in California Grower states: “The fruit is so ugly that it has a certain appeal.” The spines are vicious; thick gloves are required to harvest the fruit, and before it is sent to market the spines are blunted with a grinding wheel. The article goes on to say that the “New Zealand promotional literature describes the flavor of the fruit as having a ‘refreshingly tropical flavor.’ It is suggested that it might be sweetened to taste with a little sugar and served as a desert fruit at room temperature.” However, the author also notes that when he served Kiwanos to his students, they “described the taste as somewhat like a cucumber; however, the overall response was not enthusiastic. If this reaction is representative of the consuming public, California farmers should not rush to plant.” In a letter to the magazine National Gardening, Julia Morton of the University of Miami went a great deal further, recommending that the fruit be classified as a noxious weed and be forbidden entry into the United States. Ripe fruit is bright orange; the pulp is green and has many black seeds. Don’t drop any of those seeds in your garden, though; farmers in Australia and California are concerned that the Kiwano might indeed be a weed of considerable stature.
Q: I have been trying to locate a supplier of Indian peach trees. I understand that they are grown in the vicinity of Fresno. Where can I find one for my garden? --W.M., Hemet
A: From time to time, ‘Indian Free’ shows up at nurseries during the bare-root, winter planting season. Try these mail-order sources: Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (11173 Peaceful Valley Road, Nevada City, Calif. 95959) and Fowler Nurseries (525 Fowler Road, Newcastle, Calif. 95658). Indian peaches are supposedly sweeter, if they are allowed to become fully ripe. Although they are not a good bet in Southern California (because they need colder winters), they might do well in Hemet or in the San Fernando Valley.
