Unusual pollination partners

I misremembered lots about these, lol. I must have assumed the number given went with Robada, since it’s mentioned in the patent.

Learning about their lines is so interesting, though.

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The Zaigers created the first apriums and pluots by using the plumcot as the pollen parent, so there’s not doubt that a plumcot will pollinate a plum and apricot or unless they used embryo rescue to create those hybrids.

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In the east coast I believe the understanding is that apricots are not reliably SELF-FRUITFUL. When I started growing cots in NY a quarter century ago my experience was that they didn’t need cross pollination because I’d moved from S. CA, but I found that apricots planted next to a different variety bore fruit far more consistently in my new environment. I was working mostly with varieties developed in Canada- the “har” series.

Adams County Nursery used to say they didn’t need cross pollination and I told them of my experience. I guess other growers told them the same because now they recommend using two different varieties last I checked.

Sometimes, fruit species are self fruitful as long as they have a surplus of stored energy in spring, this has been shown to be true of pears. There used to be a small pear production industry in S. CA and growers could plant exclusively Bartletts with size and yield being the same as for cross pollinated trees there. In S. CA springs are reliably warm and sunny.

My hunch is that many varieties of apricots behave in the same way.

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Yeah, most “self-fruitful” trees still benefit from cross pollination.

This thread just helps remind me why I love my mulberries so much, no pollination :slight_smile:

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Im hoping that superior plum and flavor supreme pluot pollinate each other. I also have a Tslor Tsiran apricot that is a possibility of pollen compatibility and i was going to get a wild plum from the colorado forestry department as i have heard they are excellent pollen chuckers. My understanding is that Dapple Dandy is a great plum/pluot pollinator and drew speaks very highly of it so i have thought about grafting that too. I think you can always wait and if you have good blooms that don’t set fruit or drop early then maybe continue grafting or adding partners. I really want to have multiple pollination partners too increase chance of getting fruit after freezes pests etc… Also when you are out of space if you can convince neighbors to plant disease resistant trees that help pollinate thats always a plus. I realize this is just anectdote and hard to watch but if a bee flies from one tree to the next usually that means they are pollen compatible. In general honeybees will only hit flowers with a similar pollen profile each trip.

Interesting do you still have them or pictures?

Plums are tough I had the most problems with Nadia getting pollinated. I added Lavina, and Laroda, to the tree, problem solved. I keep getting more fruit every year. About 20 feet away is Satsuma, Toka, Superior and Vermont.
Speaking of unusual pollination partners is Mountain Ash and pears to make the Shipova!
From Wiki
Shipova_fruit

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Yes, I believe I saw 4 when I ran through inventrory of plants this winter. I lost 2 or 3.
Probably should try to root some cuttings.

I think it’s Darwin barberry x Mahonia aquifolium. Bred in Russia is what I understood.
I don’t have a ‘smart phone’ so getting a photo might take me some time.
But I can put it on the to-do list sometime this summer maybe.