That Peach You Planted May Be Only Ornamental : Before You Buy, Determine Which Trees Bear Fruit in Southern California--Nurseries Carry Some That Don’t

This is the time of year when bare-root deciduous fruit trees abound in local nurseries. No other time of the year offers such a bounty of different varieties as our bare-root season.

A word of caution, however, before selecting a bare-root fruit tree for your yard: It is crucial that the particular variety you select is suited to our mild climatic conditions. Many of the more popular deciduous fruit trees simply will not produce well here; they require colder winters than we experience.

Here is a listing of deciduous fruit-tree varieties that will produce well in most Southern California climatic zones. New varieties are introduced each year, many from countries such as Israel that have similar climates, so keep an eye open for these as well.

APPLES

Gordon--Developed about 20 years ago in Whittier, it produces a large, plump apple that is green with red striping and has an unusual sweet-tart flavor. Bears fruit beginning in mid-August, and harvest extends through October.

Dorsett Golden--The flavor and texture resemble that of Golden Delicious, except that it is slightly tart. The skin is a rich yellow color blushed with red. Harvest period begins in June, and it sometimes sets a smaller secondary crop, which is ready for harvest in November.

Anna--Produces a prime dessert fruit; sweet flavor, crisp juicy texture. Fruit color is greenish, splashed with red. Bears a crop in June and sometimes again in the fall.

Early Dawn--This is a highly aromatic apple the tart--sweet flavor of which is delicious either fresh or cooked. The tree is quite ornamental, with beautiful yellow fruit that is blushed with red. Harvest period begins in August.

All of the above trees are self-fruitful (will produce fruit without another tree nearby for cross-pollination) except for Anna. If you plant an Anna tree, also plant a Dorsett Golden tree in close proximity for proper pollination.

APRICOTS

Royal--Also called Blenheim in some nurseries, Royal is the best bet for Southland growing conditions. It bears prime-quality yellowish-orange fruit of superb flavor and texture. Begins bearing in late spring.

Royal is the only apricot variety I recommend for local growing conditions--and even Royal can be a spotty producer if the weather is erratic during the blossoming period. However, as a boy growing up in the Southland, I made a good deal of spending money by selling to local markets the fruit of three magnificent old Royal apricot trees that grew in my yard.

NECTARINES

Gold Mine--A very reliable producer of large, delicious fruit with white skin that is blushed red. Bears in mid-July.

Silver Lode--Medium-size fruit with yellow and red skin. The juicy white flesh is of fine quality. Harvest begins in June.

Pioneer--Productive variety with good-flavored fruit. Yellow skin is blushed with red; yellow flesh. Starts bearing in early July.

PEACHES

Florida King--A very early peach that starts production in May. Attractive, large yellow fruit blushed with red. The juicy, sweet fruit features bright-orange flesh and a smooth texture.

Florida Prince--Similar to Florida King, but bears later. Medium-large fruit of fine flavor.

Babcock--This is an old favorite in the Southland that has been around for half a century. Medium-size fruit have pure-white flesh that turns red at the pit; sweet and juicy. The pretty fruit has a pink skin with a red blush. Starts bearing in late spring.

Mid-Pride--Produces medium-large yellow fruit that is blushed with red. Yellow flesh is freestone and has a superb, rich flavor. Very low chilling requirement. Begin harvest in mid-July.

August Pride--Produces large, round, yellow freestone fruit of fine flavor and texture. Very low chill requirement. The tree is large and vigorous, and the fruit ripens 3 weeks later than Mid-Pride.

Desert Gold--Very early producer of medium-size yellow fruit splashed with red. Yellow flesh is clingstone and of very good eating quality. Produces as early as May in some areas.

PEARS

There are four pear varieties with a low-chilling requirement that will produce fruit in our area. The fruit quality, however, does not begin to match Bartlett or Comice (which will not produce well here). Trees for these low-chill varieties are very scarce in Southland nurseries, but if you are determined to grow a pear tree locally, the four low-chill varieties are: Baldwin, Floridahome, Fanstill and Hood. The only nurseries I know of that usually stock these trees are Pacific Tree Farms in Chula Vista, (619) 422-2400, and Palos Verdes Begonia Farm in Torrance, (213) 378-2228; phone first to make certain they have the trees in stock.

Additionally, two Asian pears will grow and produce fruit here--Ya-li (pronounced Yah-lee) and Tsu-li (soo-lee). They must be planted together to cross-pollinate.

PLUMS

Santa Rosa--This is the most reliable plum for Southern California. Large, juicy fruit with purple skin and yellow flesh. Begins fruit production in June.

Satsuma--A delicious plum with small dark-red fruit and blood-red flesh. Needs a Santa Rosa tree planted near it for proper pollination. Bears mid-summer.

Green Gage--An old-timer in Southland yards, it produces unusual greenish-yellow fruit. The golden flesh is sweet and quite juicy. Starts bearing in July.

Howard Miracle--Produces pretty yellow fruit that is blushed with red. Flesh is yellow with a sweet-tart flavor. This tree is a good choice for coastal areas, as it needs very little winter chill.

Unfortunately, many bare-root fruit trees that will not produce here are still sold locally. For instance, I went into a nursery in Long Beach last year that had Bing Cherry trees for sale. Bing, or any cherry variety, will not produce fruit anywhere in Southern California (and especially not in Long Beach) except for a few high elevation areas such as Beaumont and parts of the Antelope Valley.