The Orchard at Sage Hen Farm: Cherries, Plums, and Apricots

Descriptions of varieties presently growing in our orchard in Lodi, NY.

For descriptions of other fruit trees grown at Sage Hen Farm, go to our pages for apples, peaches, and pears

Cherries Tart: Balaton, English Morello, Evans, Garfield Plantation, Mesabi, Montmorency, Sumadinka. Sweet: Black Tartarian, Black York, Kristin. (listed below in order of harvest)
Variety Origin Date	Fruit Size & Flavor	Skin	Flesh	Bloom Harvest	Merits & Faults
Black Tartarian (Tartarian) Russia, on the shores of the Black Sea. Introduced to England before 1800 and to North America before 1830 Sweet	medium to large sweet and spritely	dark purple to black quite resistant to cracking	soft, purplish red, dark colored juice (stains); very juicy	early May, so susceptible to frost late June	Tree: large and upright; not self-fertile, but, interfruitful with all our other sweet cherries, productive, reliable cropper. Special: By 1900, because of its flavor, it was second or third most popular sweet cherry in North America. Because of its soft flesh, which hinders shipping and storage, it is not grown commercially, and no longer widely grown anywhere.
Montmorency France, before 1600 introduced to North America before 1830 Tart	medium mildly tart	bright red	firm, amber fruit, pinkish clear juice; very juicy	first of May, so susceptible to frost early to mid July	Tree: medium-sized; self-fertile; heavy cropper; resistant to brown rot & other diseases; very hardy.
Evans (Bali) Alberta, rediscovered and introduced in 1976 Tart	large sweet-tart	bright red	semi-firm, translucent yellow flesh, pinkish clear juice; not as juicy	early May, so susceptible to frost early to mid July, later for sweeter cherries	Tree: naturally small, vigorous growth, self-fertile, heavy cropper, very hardy, susceptible to cherry leaf spot, frequent suckering.
Garfield Plantation Maine, date unknown, rediscovered and introduced by Fedco after 2000 Tart	medium tart	orange red	firm, red juice; juicy	early May, so susceptible to frost mid-July	Tree: naturally small, self-fertile, heavy cropper, very hardy, frequent suckering.
Balaton Hungary, tested in Michigan introduced to US in 1984, commerically released in 2001 Tart	large rich, tart with more sweetness than most tart cherries	dark burgundy	firm, red juice; semi- juicy	early to mid May mid-July	Tree: naturally small, self-fertile, hardy.
Kristin (Emperor Francis x Gil Peck) NY, developed in 1938, tested in Norway 1969-1981, introduced 1982 Sweet	medium large sweet	very dark red or purplish black moderately resistant to cracking.	firm, red juice; juicy	early to mid May mid July	Tree: very hardy; naturally large; not self-fertile, but, interfruitful with our other sweet cherries except Emperor Francis, very productive, reliable cropper.
Mesabi (Bing x unknown tart cherry) Minnesota, introduced by Chris Knutson of Duluth in 1964 Sweet/Tart cross	large sweet-tart	red	firm, red juice; juicy	early to mid May mid to late July	Tree: naturally small, self-fertile, slow to mature, but then a heavy cropper, very hardy. .
English Morello England, or possibly the Netherlands, before 1600, introduced to North America before 1860 Tart	medium sharply tart	dark red to black	semi-firm, dark red juice; very juicy	early to mid May mid to late July	Tree: naturally small, self-fertile, heavy cropper, hardy.
Sumadinka (Koeroeser Weichsel x Heimanns Konservenweichsal [in the English Morello family]) Serbia, introduced 1984 Tart	large tart	dark red	semi-firm, ruby red; deep red juice; very juicy	early May, so susceptible to frost mid to late July	Tree: self-fertile, heavy cropper, precocious, hardy.
Black York (Eastern Bing, NY1725) (Giant x Emperor Francis) Geneva, NY selected 1951, introduced 2004 Sweet	large sweet, similar to Bing in flavor	dark reddish purple resists cracking,	firm, dark red juice; very juicy	early to mid May mid to late July	Tree: very cold hardy, poor in wet soil, not self-fertile, but, interfruitful with all our other sweet cherries, heavy cropper, hardy.
For cherries, large is 1" or more, medium around 3/4 inch.

Plums European: Castleton, Empress, Green Gage, Stanley. Asian: Methley, Satsuma. Other Hybrid: Hanska, Lavina.
Variety Origin Date Type	Fruit Size & Shape	Skin	Flesh	Bloom	Harvest	Merits & Faults
EUROPEAN
Castleton (Valor x Iroquois) NY introduced 1994	medium oval	purplish blue	yellow-green complex flavor, sweet with a bit of sharpness freestone	late April partially self fertile	late August	Heavy cropper; reportedly precocious; drops fruit, especially first few years; colors early before full ripe; firm flesh; good keeper for a plum.
Empress (President x Emily) introduced before 1998	very large elliptical	deep blue, waxy bloom	yellow sweet; firm flesh semi-freestone	late April into May	mid September	Heavy cropper; somewhat precocious; good keeper for a plum; vigorous tree
Green Gage (Reine Claude) France/England 1500s	small roundish	green, often with russeting prone to splitting after rain	translucent yellow-green soft, juicy flesh; rich, extremely sweet freestone	late April not self fertile	early September	Naturally large tree; slow to mature, but then good cropper; poor disease resistance; does not keep well.
Stanley (Agen x Grand Duke) NY introduced 1926	medium oval	purplish blue	golden yellow rich, sweet, compex; firm; somewhat juicy semi-freestone	early May self fertile	mid to late September	Heavy cropper; precocious; very good for fresh eating, but famous for drying well into a prune. Although late blooming makes it good for colder regions, it is not as hardy as many other European plums.
Variety Origin Date Type	Fruit Size & Shape	Skin	Flesh	Bloom	Harvest	Merits & Faults
ASIAN
Methley Japan introduced into Texas by way of South Africa in 1922	small round	purplish red, with green shadow when picked	deep red firm, juicy mildly sweet cling	late April self fertile	mid to late July	Small tree, early maturing, annual, heavy cropper, very hardy
Satsuma Japan introduced to North America by Luther Burbank in 1885	small to medium round to slightly flattened	mottled maroon over green	deep red firm, juicy, rich, sweet semi-cling	late April not self fertile	mid September	Small to medium tree, slow to mature, but then excellent cropper.
OTHER HYBRID
Hanska (P. americana x P. simonii [Chinese apricot-plum]) South Dakota introduced 1908 by N.E. Hanson	medium roundish flat	bright red with blue bloom	yellow firm; juicy; rich, sweet flavor semi-freestone	late April self fertile	August	Very hardy; very vigorous; annual; heavy cropper, requires thinning; good disease resistance; aromatic; thick skin; small pitted; pollinator for and pollinated by American and Asian plums. Apricot flavor is enhanced when cooked.
Lavina (Avalanche) (P. cerasifera x P. salicina) Lithuania 20th century	small roundish	yellow	yellow sweet flavor; juicy freestone	late April not self fertile	late Aug to early Sept	Hardy; vigorous; annual; heavy cropper; requires thinning; good disease resistance; pollinator for and pollinated by Asian plums.

Apricots
Variety Origin Date	Fruit Size	Skin	Flesh	Flavor	Bloom	Harvest (estimated)	Hardiness	Merits & Faults
Adirondack Gold NY (mid-20th century) (cultivated Manchurian Apricot)	small	yellow with red blush	orange, tender, moderately juicy, freestone	densely sweet	early, self-pollinating	early August	to z3	Tree: cold hardy, naturally dwarfing; vigorous; slow to mature
Alfred NY introduced 1965 (seedling of Doty x Geneva)	small to medium	bright yellow orange with pink blush	orange, firm, juicy, freestone	sweet	late, self-pollinating	mid August	to z3	Tree: cold hardy, naturally dwarfing; late blooming, productive
Henderson NY introduced in 1935 (unknown)	medium to large	yellow with red blush	yellow, tender, moderately juicy, semi-clingstone	mildly sweet	late, self-pollinating	late August	to z3	Tree: cold hardy, late blooming; vigorous.

This page written and maintained by John R. Henderson [jhenderson @ ithaca.edu].
Last modified: Spring Equinox, 2024

URL: http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/ourother.html