Some rarer fruits here in upstate New York are now reaching ripeness at the orchard, so we’d like to share some pictures of what is possible after 3 winters in Zone 5a:
Aronia Melanocarpa – We have a whole row of trees full of fruit this August. This Viking and Nero cross-species produces berries that are not as bitter as the wild indigenous aronia, which produce smaller berries and surround our property. These aronia are as large as blueberries and are similar in texture and juiceness, perfect for liqueur and delicious right off of the tree without the need for bletting.
Chinese Mayhaw (Crataegus pinnatifida) – This is a hawthorn species, more so than a “cold tolerant mayhaw” I presume. The fruits are about halfway to ripeness, which then turn red and produce a sweet fruit. This is our first bearing year for these trees, and we will experiment with a very small liqueur run with them. Cedar apple rust affected the trees last year, but copper solution helped a lot this year,
Golden Azarole (Crataegus azarolus) – This is another hawthorn relative, producing yellow fruits with an apple-like taste. Like the mayhaws, cedar apple rust affected the trees last year, but copper solution helped a lot this year.
Giant Medlar – No problem growing these trees here in the Mohawk Valley – Lots of interesting-shaped fruits which taste like apple sauce. They are harvested in the late fall after the first frost, and then bletted until soft. We should have enough this year to make a medlar liqueur product for 2020, stay tuned!
Pineapple Quince – This tree is an exception, as this tree was planted this year. It was successfully pollinated and six nice fruits are hanging on into mid-August, past the brutal heat and drying winds of July.
