Che Fruit / Melon Berry (Cudrania tricuspidata) DARROW

Che Fruit / Melon Berry (Cudrania tricuspidata) 'Darrow'

A premier female variety producing seedless exotic fruits with a delicate melon-papaya flavor, exceptional hardiness, and high productivity.

The 'Darrow' variety is widely considered one of the highest quality female Che fruit cultivars in the world. It brings an attractive exotic look to the garden along with delicious fruits featuring a unique flavor profile. A major advantage of this variety is its ability to produce entirely seedless crops even without a pollinator. Thanks to its high frost and disease resistance, it is an ideal choice for organic growing in temperate climates.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Parthenocarpy: Produces seedless fruit without the need for a male plant (pollinator).
• Unique Flavor: Harmoniously sweet flesh reminiscent of a mix of watermelon, cantaloupe, and papaya.
• Frost Resistance: Blooms late in June (escaping spring frosts) and the wood withstands temperatures down to -25 °C (-13 °F).
• Total Health: Exceptionally resistant to pests and diseases, requiring no chemical sprays.
• Moderate growth habit, suitable for medium and smaller gardens.

Origin and Breeding

• Origin: USA. Breeder: Dr. George M. Darrow (renowned American small fruit specialist).

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Vigor and Habit: Medium vigor, reaching a height of 3 to 4 meters. The size can be easily controlled by pruning. Young shoots have small thorns that gradually disappear as the tree matures.
• Flowering: Blooms very late, during June, providing 100% protection against late spring frosts.
• Pollination: The 'Darrow' variety produces only female flowers and is strongly parthenocarpic.

Fruit

• Appearance and Size: Round fruits (2-3 cm diameter) with a characteristic bumpy surface, resembling a giant raspberry or mulberry.
• Color and Flesh: Both the skin and the juicy flesh turn deep dark red when fully ripe.
• Taste: Delicate and harmoniously sweet, evoking ripe red melon and papaya. Tip: When grown without a pollinator, the fruits are seedless and the flavor is even more concentrated and sweet.

Resistance and Requirements

• Hardiness: Fully frost-hardy in temperate climates, withstanding temperature drops down to -25 °C (-13 °F).
• Diseases: The tree suffers from virtually no pests or diseases, making it a top plant for organic cultivation.
• Location: Requires a sunny and warm spot for the fruit to ripen properly.

Harvest and Yield

• Harvest Time: Late autumn (late October to November). Fruits ripen gradually.
• Ripeness Indicator: A ripe fruit is easy to pick, and white milky sap no longer flows from the stem point. The later the harvest, the sweeter the fruit.
• Yield Onset: Very early, usually in the 3rd year after planting.