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Unusual Fruits on trial at Mount Vernon

Cornelian Cherry is a member of the dogwood family blooming in early spring.
Cornelian Cherry is a member of the dogwood family blooming in early spring.
Photo of cover of EB 2002For a summary of our current findings from our alternative fruit crops program, see our Extension Bulletin EB 2002 New Alternative Fruit Crops for Western Washington (3/2006 – PDF)

Over the past 20 years the Fruit Horticulture program has tested a number of potential alternative crops. Important factors being considered in this program are disease susceptibility, reliable production and high quality production in the cool maritime climate of western Washington. Results from this program are also useful to western Oregon and British Columbia. Many of the fruit crops initially tested for suitability to the home grower have shown considerable promise as alternative crops for commercial production. Several of these crops best fit a specialty niche market, yet there are a few that show potential for larger-scale operations.

In 1998 a research planting was established at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC to investigate some new and interesting possibilities for wild and ornamental shrubs that produce berries or fruit not usually considered for their edible qualities. This trial was concluded in 2009.

Unusual Fruit Reports

Unusual Fruit

Figs 2007

Brown TurkeyBrunswick

Contessina

De Dalmatie

Desert KingGoutte

D’Or

LattarulaMadeleine

Neveralla

Norland

Pastiliere

Peter’s HoneyPetite Negri

Sultane

Tashkent Uzbekistan

Vern’s Brown Turkey

Kiwi 2007

A. arguta “Ananasnaja”A. arguta “Geneva”

A. arguta “Hardy Red”

A. arguta “Issai”

A. arguta “Jumbo”

A. arguta “Ken’s Red”A. arguta “74,49”

A. deliciosa “Exbury”

A. deliciosa “Maki”

A. deliciosa “Matua” male

A. deliciosa “Monty”A. deliciosa ” St. Albans”

A. deliciosa “Starella”

Currants 2007

Ben AlderBen Connan

Ben Lomond

Ben Nevis

Ben Sarek

Ben Tirran

Blackdown

BlankaHilltop Baldwin

Magnus

Mason’s

Minaj Smyriou

Minn 69

Primus

Prince ConsortRovada

Titania

Tsema

Viking

Currant Report 2001

Other fruit kinds in field 2007

Aronia

Aronia Report 2001

Camellia

“Tea Breeze”

Cornus mas

“Elegant”

“Olga”

“Pioneer”

“Red Star”

“Sevetok”

“Yevgenii”

Elderberry, variegated
Goumi

“Sweet Scarlet”

Honeyberry

“Berry Blue”

Honeysuckle

“Bluebird”

Mountain Ash

“Ivan’s Beauty”

“Nevezhinskaya”

“Rabina”

“Rosina”

Mulberry

“Oscar”

Paw paw

“Davis”

“Ford Amend”

“Overleese”

“Penn’s Golden”

“Prolific”

“Rebecca’s Gold”

“Sunflower”

“Taylor”

“Wells”

Persimmon

“Coffeecake”

“Fuyu”

“Ichi Kei Ki Jiro”

“Izu”

“Jiro”

“Russian Beauty”

(Rosseyonka – hybrid)

“Saijo”

“Slate”

Persimmon, American

“Campbell”

“Early Golden”

“Florence”

“Garretson”

“Golden Supreme”

“John Rick”

“Meader”

Pomegranate

“Dwarf”

“Russian”

Quince

“Aromataya”

“Van Deman”

Stutgarter Gieshirltle
Seaberry (Sea Buckthorn)

“Hergosa”

“Leikora”

“Pollmix” male

X Sorbopyrus “Shipova”