Variety and Cultural Trials
Fruit Handbook for Western Washington: Varieties and Culture Includes best performing varieties. Can also order by phone 1-800-723-1763 or online. |
Variety Evaluation
Variety evaluation examines different cultivars and selections to find those that are best suited to the cool, humid climate of the Puget Sound region. We look for high fruit quality, disease resistance, productivity, and ease of culture. Both commercial growers and home orchardists benefit from the results of these trials.
New trial varieties
Trial varieties often come from areas of the nation and the world that have similar growing conditions and disease problems. Each year we add new fruit introductions to our trials, and have done some experimental crosses to search for improved disease resistant apricots, scab immune apples, pears and ornamental crabapples, and disease resistant Asian pears. We test fruit varieties from many sources including:
- University breeding programs in the U.S. and Canada: Purdue (Indiana), Rutgers (New Jersey), Geneva (New York), Byron (Georgia), U. of Minnesota, Summerland (BC), Harrow (Ontario) and Kentville (Nova Scotia)
- Breeding programs in Europe and Asia: England, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, New Zealand and Japan
- Commercial nursery introductions
- Old varieties not previously cultivated in this area
- Promising seedlings from local hobbyists and growers (e.g. Orcas and Rescue pear, Puget Gold apricot, Schoolhouse plum)
Cultural Trials
Cultural trials are oriented to the needs of commercial growers and home orchardists in the Skagit Valley and western Washington and are designed to improve horticultural methods and materials. Past research includes chemical thinning of apples, soil fertility, improved cherry culture, rootstock and training of pears, and effective spray methods to prevent peach leaf curl. Cultural experiments involve promising varieties that show commercial potential in our area.
Apples, Crabapples, and Cider Apples
Apple Variety Trials
Disease Resistant Apple Trials
Cider Apple Test Plot
Disease Resistant Ornamental Crabapple Trial
Jonagold Test Plot – 4 Jonagold strains in a high density commercial type orchard (concluded 2002)
Jonagold nutrition studies
Thinning trials in Jonagold orchard
Apple scab trials
Pears and Asian Pears (Nashi)
Asian Pear Variety Trial
Pear Variety Trial
Bosc Pear Block – Bosc pear on various rootstocks, 4 pollinator varieties (concluded 2002)
Bosc pear production trial progress report
Stone Fruit: Cherries, Plums, Peaches & Nectarines, Apricots
Peach and Nectarine Variety Trial
Plum Variety Trial
Apricot Variety Trial
Cherry Variety Trial
Gisela Cherry Block – Various cultivars on different Gisela dwarf rootstocks, netted
Gisela rootstock trial progress report