Fellenberg, I believe, is considered similar to Italian, but as I said, I never have grown it. It tends to be rated a moderate cropper. I consider Italian here less than a moderate bearer so I'm guessing Fellenberg would likely be same. There's a lot of tricks I use to accelerate bearing so I'm not sure if Fellenberg actually can't be speeded up significantly. I consider Castleton a very flavorful prune plum but what makes it stand out is its reliability- it tends to set fruit in clusters almost like grapes. Some years other plums set little or no fruit but Castleton always seems to have a crop at all sites. It is also a natural semi-dwarf with a wonderful spreading branch habit. My favorite prune plum is Valor because it is very big and has that rich super-sweet quality and it can ripen from the last week of August here until the first hard frost. That is an extremely long picking time even for a prune plum. The reason I recommend Castleton over Valor is because of its consistency at many sites I manage. The funny thing is that at some sites plums are generally much more reliable than other sites for reasons I've never been able to decipher. That means that to really know what is best at your site you'd have to try several varieties and find out yourself but if you're just going to try one I think Castleton is your best bet. ACN carries it but you'd better order ASAP because the commercial growers are sucking it up.

You didn't mention what nearby loaded fruit trees are. Are any of them European plums providing cross pollination? Self-fertility is relative and even varieties that are heralded is such are often marginally so. I actually find Italian plums to be unreliable croppers here in southeastern NY, even when surrounded by compatible pollinators. Some sites get moderate production but on my own property I've one that has never given me a decent crop. I just keep it to help pollinate a Valor that I originally planted in the same hole.

Hi! I have an Italian Plum and it has taken seven years to finally have an excellent crop and that will be this summer. I am so looking forward to it. Last year I only got 24 plums. The tree has just gone through 'June Drop' and it is still loaded with a lot of plums; too many to count :) European Plums seem to take time to set fruit. I have a total of five European plums on purpose. Cross pollination always helps. Even though the Italian plum is 'self pollinating', extra pollen never seems to hurt. Mrs. G PS my 'Bavay' is too young to set fruit, but I really look forward to that delicious green plum.

"Currant seeds are bigger than raspberry seeds." I guess I better get some new eye glasses! Red currant? Really? I don't have any black currants. OK, well I guess my strainer can work! It does keep some of the pulp out, I still want the mill. I never really compared size, The currant seeds never bothered me, but the raspberry seeds do. Maybe just because you have a lot more of them. So it made me think currant seed was smaller. I would actually like to do something with the seed. Both currant and raspberry seeds are really good for you! I guess I could make oil, but I have no idea how to do that!?