PERSIMMONS(Perceptions Change Slowly) Fuyu (Jiro) Persimmon (#1 seller)   There has been confusion on persimmons. Our United States American persimmon was not very edible so the market production of fruit was slow and the public showed no interest to sample. Japan and China grew the persimmon and the Japanese sold them in Europe. By the time these arrived in California, the names were mixed and new crosses and rootstock confusion. Orange County Nursery became the…

GOLDEN NECTAR PLUM The Golden Nectar Plum is patent #4977, granted January 25, 1983. The plum is a seedling from a Mariposa Plum orchard in Exeter.  The Golden Nectar was discovered by Bill Hengst.  This gold plum is the most unusual to be introduced.  First the parent is an all red skin and flesh Japanese plum.  There is no resemblance to the parent tree. The L. E. Cooke Co was fortunate to learn about this…

Danica™ Althea – Danica™ Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacus 'Variegata' Stunning picotee flowers in abundance during the summer. Like a white carnation dipped in red ink. Dark green foliage. Fast growing to 8-10 ft high x 6-8 ft wide. Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Adaptable to most well drained soils. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 5. This plant is special in many ways. From first leaf in spring to late October (Central California)…

JULY GOLDEN APPLE(Malus domestica) July Golden Apple Grant Merrill introduced many fruit varieties at the California Research Station in Red Bluff, CA.  He retired and moved to Visalia and gave a new apple tree he was researching to a neighbor of ours.  They were to grow it and he would review it later.  Unfortunately he passed away. This variety was a Golden Delicious apple that produced large quality apples in July.  His review was to…

SPUR APPLES(Malus domestica) Granny Smith Spur Apple   I believe the homeowners harvest the best apples from the Spur types, especially in the warm/hot Central Valley climates and hot Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas areas which have the winter chill hours.  Most well known apples do not do well in our hot climates but Spur types will because of how the foliage protects the fruit on the inner spur wood. The public or nursery personnel…

GALAXY PEACH Saucer peaches have a long history. Galaxy was a new introduction from David Ramming, USDA - Fresno in 2003. It has Armking x Firebright x Sunfre and numbered crosses not released. We sold Australian Saucer peach prior to 1955 which was very similar to Stark's Donut (Saturn) Peach. The nickname Donut Peach made for good sales even today. Galaxy is a much larger Donut or Saucer peach. Donut, Saucer, Saturn peaches are freestone.…

ITALIAN EVERBEARING FIG The L. E. Cooke Co Italian Everbearing Fig came from George Roeding, Jr. of Niles, California. In 1901 John Rock imported Riviera Fig (Italian) to Niles. It came from Thomas River and Son, London, England. The L. E. Cooke Co received it in 1970 and began production in 1975. The tree has strong dense growth. The fruit is darker than Brown Turkey and Texas Everbearing. The tree sets heavily with larger fruit…

SANTA BARBARA PEACH Approximately 1984 I received a call from Frank Mori at Kata-Shi Nursery, Goleta, California. A customer Paul Herrigal had purchased one of our Ventura Peaches (Hale type) and it had Elberta type fruit. I drove to Goleta to see the tree and fruit. Ventura fruit is round and this fruit was pointed similar to Elberta with melting soft texture of an Elberta with a good flavor and high sugar. I cut some…

Fuyu Imoto Persimmon PERSIMMONS In North America there has been confusion on persimmons. Our native American Persimmon was not very edible so the market production of fruit was slow and the public showed little interest to sample. Japan and China grew the Asian Persimmons and the Japanese sold them in Europe. By the time these Asian Persimmons arrived in California, the names were mixed, there were new crosses and also rootstock confusion. Orange County Nursery…

INCA PLUM Inca is an old plum last in production in the 1940's or 50's. It is a 1919 Luther Burbank introduction. There is an old tree in El Monte, California. A local nursery wanted the Company to grow 50 trees for him. We planted Inca in our orchard. The sales staff began to pick and bring to the office. Everyone wanted to know why we did not produce Inca. I believe it was only…