This may be way more information than you want, but here are some great posts with respect to plums:
You have probably come to the wrong site for information about the best plums to grow for brandy. I don’t know of any members here who even have much knowledge of cider varieties.
This list, from Plumhill Farm in the Northeast, Z5, won’t really answer your question but might provide some ideas of varieties to experiment with. Any variety rated high on flavor undoubtedly gets up the brix.
Maybe you should be as concerned with productivity as taste. In the Northeast there is a wide range of …
There exist many variants of Gage (Reine Claude) plums. They vary by ripening time, size, shape, skin color, etc., but most have a similar flavor type, very sweet and rich. July Green Gage (Reine Claude de Juillet), mentioned above , is important because it ripens very early, Old Green Gage (the original Reine Claude) is the classic one, Bavay is very productive and sweet. Some of the later ripening varieties, in addition to Bavay, are Golden Transparent Gage, Count Althann’s Gage (Reine Claude C…
It is cold here and I am thinking longingly about all my favorite fruit varieties. Here is a list of a few “greatest hits” from my orchard that I am really glad I have growing. Feel free to follow up with your own orchard greatest hits.
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I made a bunch of apple categories, part of the joy of apples is the variety in the flavors and I really appreciate having some of each type.
Apple, aromatic: Suncrisp, Hoople’s Antique Gold.
Apple, sweet/sour: Rubinette. GoldRush and Pitmaston Pineapp…
My “Castleton” picked today. This year I picked them a few days later than last year. Quite a few started to shriveled. Got about 16 lbs today. Altogehter I got about 20 lbs this year from this 4th year old tree.
I have eaten them for the past 10 days. The more shriveled, the sweeter. Sweet and plumey. Some have tangy taste to them. I had two friends tried them yesterday. They preferred this Castleton to Mirabelle.
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Instead of Stanley, Damson, or Italian, you might want to try Castleton, De Montfort, or Valor.
Other varieties you might find interesting are Early Transparent Gage or Kirks Blue. Green Gage is always popular.
Castleton might be a good starter tree. I believe it is supposed to be self fruitful.
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