| Cultivar Name: |
Shiro
|
| Type |
Plum/prune |
| Patent |
Not Patented
|
| Parentage |
‘Shiro’ was said to be a seedling of ‘Wickson’, representing “a combination of Robinson (P. munsoniana), myrobalan, and ‘Wickson’” (Howard, 1945).
|
| Species |
Prunus salicina
|
| Usage |
Scion
|
| Products |
Canning
Culinary
Fresh Market
Preserves
Shipping
|
| Chill Requirement |
500 chill hours required
|
| Yield |
High
|
| Flesh Color |
light/translucent yellow
|
| Pit |
Cling
|
| Ripening time |
Zero
weeks relative to
Santa Rosa
|
| Self Compatible |
Partially Self Compatible
|
| Pollinators |
Burbank, Early Golden, Methley, Ozark Premier, Redheart, Santa Rosa, Satsuma
|
| Description |
Japanese plum.
The cross was developed by Luther Burbank in 1889 and introduced in 1898 (Butterfield, 1938) or 1899 (Ashton, 2008). The tree medium–large, moderately vigorous, hardy, and productive. Fruit are small to medium size; skin is light to deep yellow with a pale blush and numerous very small, inconspicuous dots (Fig. 4); fruit is semitransparent, juicy, sweet, and mild; flavor lacks character, and the skin is quite tart (Hedrick, 1911). The season is mid-June (San Joaquin Valley); early July (coastal valleys); or late July (mid-Atlantic). It can be shipped but quickly breaks down after ripening. It has been widely planted, but mostly for home and local markets (Howard, 1945); it is common in the Northeast and Midwest.
The tree is spreading, hardy and very productive. May need thinning to attain good size. Consistent bearer. Thrives in full sun and well drained soil. Hardy in zones 5-9. Fine shipper.
Bears reliably in many climates, including Western Oregon and California's northern coast.
Ripens: early to mid-season. Ripens approximately 6/10.
Excellent pollinator for early Japanese cultivars. |
| References |
- Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory. Third Edition. 2001. Seed Savers Exchange, Inc.
- Sierra Gold Nurseries Variety Descriptions. Link
- UC Davis Fruit and Nut Research & Information. Link
- Dave Wilson Nursery. Link
- Growing Temperate Tree Fruit and Nut Crops
in the Home Garden and Landscape, Home Orchard UC Davis; Link
- Luther Burbank’s Plums, Hort Science; Link
|
No photos for this cultivar.
|
