Um, I don't think I would want to talk you out of it. I'm getting to the same point -- why keep it if it's not productive.

What you might consider on some of these is grafting small bits of them onto other, more productive trees so that you don't entirely lose the variety should you change your mind some day.

Dennis, there are others I will be moving around, but its a lot of work tracking and babying grafts so its gotta be really good to even save. In the end its easier to get more wood in a few years. For these guys I am going to be giving all of the trees worth digging up to a local nonprofit, so I will be able to get wood if I need it.

Scott

What are you keeping to pollinate White Gold?

Scott:

If you've never had a good Flavor King and it sets fruit, can't you figure a way to hold off the rot? This is by far my most flavorful plum/pluot.

It's a shame that you have to pull fuji and flavor king. Those two are winners in my locale. I brought in FK this year that were unbelievable.

My Puget Gold was full of scab, even in a full sun spot. Its getting mowed down or grafted over.

I did get some Flavor Kings a few years ago and they indeed were excellent. It also sets really well so the only problem is the rot. Maybe I will give it a "stay" for another year, I am going to do more brown rot control next year.

Re: Fuji, I have had some really good Fujis some years but not every year - sometimes they are super sweet and honeyed and other times they taste like the blah grocery store version. If I can thin out enough stuff around it maybe I will be able to keep it.

Scott

For me there is only one apple better than fuji, and that's pink lady. There is no better fruit period than a dead ripe favor king pluot. I don't know what brown rot is, but I would cut it out or eat around it on a FK.

Mrclint, there isn't even a spot of good to cut out of the bad - brown rot gets it all.

I was out in the orchard looking things over this weekend and it looks like I will be able to save the Fuji since it is next to the Gala I am removing. For the FK I will need to decide between it and Canadian White Blenheim apricot.

Scott

Scott:

That would be the easiest decision ever, at least for me. CWB is overly vigorous, doesn't set fruit, and what does set is mediocre. I whacked it after 3 crops. Flavor King is world class in my view and most everyone else I've heard from. I won't go so far as to say the best fruit ever. A select few nectarines properly grown hold that spot for my conditions. But FK is worth a real effort, YMMV.

That sounds like my CWB except the fruit is very good. If you are having the same problems with vigor and fruit set I think its time to toast it. I also have Zard and Lasgerdi and those two cots are similar (including lack of productivity sigh) and are not yet on the chopping block -- I have found some cots just need more years before they start bearing well. My Shekar Pareh I was all set to hack but in about year 7 it started regular decent production. The CWB is older than it however, its from 2003, so its had its chance.

Scott

Scott,always enjoy your posts and learn from them. As for your Mirabelles, I'm about to select one from Raintree this winter. Which is the sweetest and best producer, since you grow all three of the ones I am looking at. Wish I could have one of your trees! Many thanks.

Mrs G, I have gotten too little fruit off my plants to notice the difference. They are right in the middle of the spot with the bad rot so they tend to all rot every year. I was in fact hoping someone would chime in here as to which one is the best, I don't think I can keep all three.

Scott

Darn

Scott-

Did you end up chopping some trees? What did you choose to keep/toss?

Hi Frank, I chopped down a few but I decided to add another row to my front orchard since the sun is better there. I am going to move as many pears as I can to that new spot so they can spread out a bit more, and also will move some apples. That said, looking at the list above I am still planning on removing most of them. Someone locally wants any tree I can successfully dig up, so I am waiting until all the leaves have dropped to get to work on this project.

Scott