Are those true apricots or are they a type of plum-cot?

I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure that grafting onto the established Tilton would be fastest way to get fruit to try from your (anticipated) seedlings. Not sure how big or old it is, and how many of your seedlings you can graft onto the one tree, but sounds like a fun project. Looks like you might need to find room in the ground for that Tilton after all. :)

MG,

I got 4 Black Velvet seedlings about a foot tall. I bought a bundle of 24 wild plum seedlings from Missouri Forestry Dept last spring for about $13 and they are a 3 feet tall now. I plan to graft the 4 BV to them. Cross my fingers for a good tasting fruits in about 3-4 years.

Tony

eboone,

The breeder/grower classifies them with the apricots but they are an apricot-plum hybrid. Superior flavor when dead ripe. I think Costco was about to toss the rest because they were going soft. My family devoured them and I wish I had bought more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Apriums & Apricots

Apricot seedlings fruit at a young age. So you might save a year or two by grafting onto the right rootstock. But I've never heard that there is much difference.

The stone fruit rootstock tables I've seen don't mention differences in precocity. The tables below are the best I've seen.

Edit: It does say Citation is precocious and I can attest to that. But other rootstocks have also bore fruit the 2nd leaf for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: stone fruit rootstock comparison charts

This post was edited by fruitnut on Thu, Aug 15, 13 at 12:45

"Are those true apricots or are they a type of plum-cot?"

They are plumcots, a 50-50 cross, It's a cross between an Angelono plum x an unknown apricot.

Patented as "Sweetcot".

Itheweatherman,

Are you sure this refers to "Black Velvet"? The patent says it has "orange yellow flesh", and, "firm ripe on Jun. 28, 2003". The Black Velvets I bought were not orange inside and I presume they would ripen later than June 28th if I bought them in August at Costco.

Tony,

Well I will join you in your adventure. We'll see what we get.

The ones that I bought had orange yellow flesh as stated on the patents.

I bought mine at Costco too, and they are available early July. Probably the ones that you bought were in cold storage for too long.

ITWM,

My looks like yours with yellow inside.

MG,

Hopefully, one of us will get a good one and we will share the scions with GW members.

Tony