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Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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Posted by
hoosierquilt z10a/23 Vista Calif (
My Page) on
Fri, Jun 8, 12 at 14:10
| I'm going to give both of these a try and see if I have enough chill hours for both of them, along with a Lapins as a cross-pollinator for the Royal Rainier. I came across a very interesting article about Royal Rainier, mainly written for commercial growers about the variability of this cultivar when grown in various places. If I can find it again, I'll post a link to the article. But, I'm wondering if anyone is growing these varieties, and can offer up their experience with any of the three of them, but especially the Royal Rainier. Thanks in advance.
Patty S. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| You know my opinion on the Royal Rainier. If you find the article I would like to read it. My Lapins is just a baby but is happy and leafing out very well. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Home grower, you're the reason, actually, I'm going to give the Royal Rainier a try :-) That, and Fruitnut's 2011 Sweet Cherry Report, which was very helpful. Of course Fruitnut has a controlled climate going on, and my trees are out in the open, so that was the concern. I did find the article, so see the link, below. Where are you, exactly, in S. Calif? Your climate must be just right for Royal Rainier. After Tom's assistance in identifying my chill hours, which were much higher than what folks usually think of for Vista (which was no surprise to me at all, I knew we were pushing 700 ch here, we have some unusual weather conditions here in our wee little valley with an ocean breeze), so hoping all 3 of these cherry varieties will do well for me. I have the Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson on Mazzard, not my favorite rootstock as I'll have to prune significantly to keep these trees under control, except maybe the Craig's, since it is supposed to be naturally dwarfed. The Lapins is on Colt, which does well here in my area, and is supposed to keep the trees a little dwarfed, but I still have to significantly prune my Minnie Royal and Royal Lee, which grow like weeds. Now, to find some space to squeeze these all in. I'm finally running out of room! Patty S. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Good Fruit Grower - Variety Variation
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Patty S. Thanks for that link, very interesting. My limited experience with Royal Rainier has been very good. I have even less experience with Craig's Crimson. I had a few fruit several years ago and have another tree now. I do have three cherries that give me that sulfurous taste: Regina, Royal Edie, and Royal Helen. Terry at DWN brags highly of the later two. So I know what that article is talking about. I'd never plant another cherry on Mazzard. Partly because the tree gets too big but mostly because it takes several years longer to fruit than the dwarfing, precocious rootstocks. I've been very pleased with Gisela 5 and DWN new 3CR178. They are perfect for my greenhouse spaced about 3ft by 6ft and held to 6-7ft tall. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| I know. Sigh. I may end up trying to SOFT order Royal Rainier on Colt or better yet, 3CR178. I like New Root 1 (3CF18) because of it's much more dwarfing capabilities. I don't have any real significant soil issues, so not so much worried about soil compatibilities, but even on Colt here, I doubt I'm getting any dwarfing. If I am, I can only imagine a cherry tree here on Mazzard, my Felcos are shuddering at the thought. I have pruned over 6' of new growth total off my Minnie Royal and Royal Lee last year and this year. The only benefit I see on Colt for me is that I actually got a few fruits this year, and I planted my MR and RL last spring, so this is really their first year. That is exactly what I want - fruit trees under 8' with minimal topping. I'm a horrible pruner. I have no idea why I have "Pruning Phobia" for goodness sake. I prune the hell out of my roses and the concept is basically identical. Now, if I can just find a 'Sandra Rose' cherry on 3CR178, I'll be in heaven. Highly unlikely, though, as this is a commercial variety and usually only on Mazzard or Mahaleb. Fowler's Nursery up near Carla doesn't have any grafted for next year, unfortunately. I would be MORE than willing to graft my own but it's a patented variety, boo. Patty S. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Patty: You can probably find Sandra Rose on Gisela 5 from Van Well or another WA nursery this next winter. I'll be looking for Sandra Rose, Cowiche, Van, those others we talked about, and probably a few more. I'm replanting half my greenhouse this winter. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| How weird, Steve. I just emailed Van Wells. My gosh, that's a huge undertaking for you. Wow. Gisela 5 or Krmsyk 6 would be other options. Can't wait to hear your line up for 2013. Let us know. Your results are so helpful to all the rest of us because of your "neutral" growing environment. And, you'll have to share more photos of your green house. I am always in awe. My green house is 8 x 12, lol!! And, I still haven't gotten the screening up to keep it under 130 degrees in the summer. Patty S. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Patty, Thanks for the link, it was an interesting read.It's cool my pictures helped influence you. I am up in the North part of Canyon Country, about 30 miles North of Downtown LA. We get hot summers 100+ for a few weeks and can get down below freezing a couple days per year. Chris |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Okay, north of Santa Clarita, on the way to the Lancaster/Palmdale area. Very pretty up there. I would think cherries would do well there for sure. We'll see how these Royal Rainier do for me. Just wish they were not on Mazzard, but I'll see what I can get this bare root season, and if I can replace them on something more dwarfing, I'll pull them out and give them to my neighbor. Patty S. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| My Royals are on Colt. My local nursery got them from Dave Wilson Nursery. I know they have a special order program that works with many local nurseries. One listed In San Diego:
Walter Andersen Nursery
3642 Enterprise Street
San Diego, CA 92110 |
Here is a link that might be useful: Look in where to buy our trees.
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Yup, know about the SOFT program. I'll probably not choose Colt, but go with something more dwarfing due yo space limitations. Patty S. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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Hi all,
How did your cherries do this year?
I'm thinking about planting 2-3 trees - possibly
Royal Lee, Mini Royal, Stella, and Craigs Crimson.
I'm also debating whether to go with dwarfing (ZD, newroot or gisela 5) rootstock or stick with semi-dwarf. Is there any downside to dwarfing rootstock for cherries?
thanks! |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| I didn't have any Royal Rainier or Craig's Crimson this year, hopefully next. Did have a decent crop finally of Royal Lee and Minnie Royal and they were fantastic. If I were to do it again, I would DEFINITELY go with a dwarfing rootstock, as cherries grow like weeds here in S. Calif. Not sure in your milder and cooler climate up in SF, but even on Colt, they are really full sized trees for me. I have to do significant pruning every year to keep them sized down. They got very big this year, I have to summer and winter prune. I'm franking a little terrified of my cherries on Mazzard! Patty S. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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- Posted by fruitnut z7b-8a,4500ft SW TX (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 21, 13 at 20:33
| I had a good crop of both Craig's Crimson and Royal Rainier this year. Both were good but nothing special. The more cherries I eat the more I think the better varieties are all about the same. Not the kind of differences you see in fruits like apples, pears, pluot, and apricot. My trees on G5 and Z dwarf or whatever they call it now are miniature, 4-6ft tall, except for one. The downside is they can way overset resulting in small inferior fruit. To combat that they need heavy pruning and possibly thinning of the fruit. I plan to thin off about half the flower buds this winter. That's a lot easier than thinning fruit. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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I kinda disagree with you fruitnut, but it might be the environment? Certain cherries taste a lot better than others around here. Locally grown Rainiers are exceptional.
Good dark cherries are great too, but have a completely different taste. Also I would not describe them as nothing special. They taste so good you can't stop eating them, just about the perfect fruit. Meaty, dense, filled with flavor. What I really like about them is the firmness and hardness, yet fully ripe. Much firmer than peaches. Almost like an apple. except a lot better!
Certain firmer cultivars come out great here. It might be location? Or what good cultivars taste like here? Or my tastes compared to yours? |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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- Posted by fruitnut z7b-8a,4500ft SW TX (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 22, 13 at 9:03
| Gee Drew what are you doing eating sweet fruit?? Cherries do seem to be location sensitive. Some that do great in one area can take on a sulfurous taste in another location. My cherries hit 25-32+ brix, the sweetest fruit I grow. But for my taste not the best flavor. The best nectarine, pluot, and apricot have better and more varied flavor. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| It is the one sweet fruit I really like. I really have not tasted a good pluot. being unable to find any decent for sale. Hopefully my tree will produce something better than what I had so far. I am at least enjoying berries this year. I had ton's and ton's of them, and no problem using them all either. Next year should be doubled the amount. I do really like the small fruit best. I added a huge strawberry patch and more black raspberries are coming for next year. |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Patty Any guesses on how tall the Minnie Royal/Royal Lee on colt would get with out pruning in your yard? I plan to plant on the low side of a retaining wall so I can pick from up top...but want to make sure that is not the roof or they do not clear the 4 foot fence. (Hoping for something in the 10-12 foot tall range) |
RE: Opinions on Royal Rainier and Craig's Crimson Cherries
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| Gosh, I would be scared to not prune it to find out, lol! Probably 25'. It is probably 10-12' right now. I have to try to bring it back down to reachable height for me (and I'm only 5'4" and a smidge). You should have no issues at all. Colt makes it very precocious. Patty S. |
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