- Low Chill Hours: Requires 400–500 chill hours, perfect for SoCal’s mild winters, ensuring consistent fruiting.
- Exceptional Taste: Promises sweet-tart, juicy fruit with a complex flavor, a hit for family gatherings.
- Potted Versatility: Thrives in containers like our 25-gallon pot, ideal for urban spaces and easy frost protection.
- High Yield Potential: Produces abundant fruit as it matures, enhancing your food forest’s bounty.
- Heat Tolerance: Handles SoCal’s warm summers, needing less water than traditional lawns.
Our Flavor Finale Pluot, a new addition thriving in a 25-gallon pot in our Santa Clarita backyard, is a promising star in our urban food forest. This plum-apricot hybrid has already produced fruit, though we’ve removed it to help our young tree grow strong. Its deep purple skin and vibrant red flesh promise a sweet-tart delight, making it a standout choice for Southern California gardens, with expectations of bountiful harvests as it matures.
What Makes the Flavor Finale Pluot Special?
The Flavor Finale Pluot is celebrated for its rich, sweet flavor with a tangy apricot zing, blending the best of plums and apricots. Though we haven’t tasted our fruit yet, its juicy, firm flesh is ideal for fresh eating or culinary creations. The tree’s compact growth and late-season ripening add charm and versatility to any backyard.
Why It’s Perfect for SoCal Backyards
Growing Tips for Success
Plant your Flavor Finale in well-draining soil (mix with perlite or sand in pots) and place in full sun for optimal growth. Water deeply once a week in summer, reducing in winter to prevent root rot. Use organic mulch like compost or worm castings, as we do, to retain moisture and enrich soil. Prune in late winter to shape and boost fruit production, and consider summer pruning to keep the tree smaller for compact spaces. Pair with a pollinator like a Santa Rosa plum to enhance fruit set, and protect young trees from rare frosts by moving the pot indoors.