Summer Sweet Paradise
AppleSummer Sweet Paradise
Origin / History
Originated in Pennsylvania (Downing, Thomas); Elliott gives Columbia County, Pennsylvania.
Tree
Very vigorous, spreading, productive (Downing). Shoots spreading; leaves sharply serrate (Thomas). Elliott gives it as an abundant, early bearer with spreading shoots.
Fruit
Size: Large; "quite large" (Downing).
Form: Round to roundish oblong, sometimes remotely oblong; regular; slightly flattened at both ends.
Stem: Short, strong, rather thick, three-quarters of an inch long (Thomas).
Cavity: Moderately deep to deep, even; often russeted (Elliott, "oft russeted").
Calyx: Segments coarse, partially closed (Elliott).
Basin: Deep, large, distinct.
Skin: Rather thick; pale green, yellow in the sun or sometimes faintly tinged with yellow in the sun; dark russet marblings (Elliott).
Dots: Numerous, large, dark gray, very distinctly marked.
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white (Elliott); tender, crisp, juicy to very juicy, sweet, rich, aromatic. Elliott calls the quality "very good"; Downing, "Good to very good."
Core and seeds: Core small. Seeds ovate, pointed (Elliott).
Season
August to September, ripening at the first of autumn; Elliott gives September, and Downing alone begins in August.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas states that Summer Sweet Paradise is totally distinct from the Dwarf Paradise, used for stocks, which bears a small, poor, sweet, summer fruit.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1864–1913) from Illinois, Oregon
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell Prairie, Marion County, OR (Marion Co., Ogn.) — 1864
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Summer Sweet Paradise.
From Columbia Co., Pa. Tree, abundant, early bearer, spreading shoots. Fruit, large, roundish oblong, flattened at ends ; pale green, yellow in sun, dark russet marblings and gray dots ; stem, short ; cavity, deep, oft russeted ; calyx, with coarse segments partially closed ; basin, deep ; core, small ; seeds, ovate pointed ; flesh, yellowish white, crisp, juicy, sweet ; "very good." September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Summer Sweet Paradise.
Originated in Pennsylvania. Tree very vigorous, spreading, productive.
Fruit quite large, round and regular in its form, a little flattened at both ends. Skin rather thick, pale green, sometimes faintly tinged with yellow in the sun, and very distinctly marked with numerous large dark gray dots. Stalk strong, and set in an even, moderately deep hollow. Flesh tender, crisp, very juicy, sweet, rich, aromatic. Good to very good. Ripe in August and September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Summer Sweet Paradise. Large, roundish, sometimes remotely oblong, and slightly flattened at the ends, regular; pale green; stalk rather thick, three-quarters of an inch long; basin large, distinct; flesh tender, sweet, rich, aromatic. Ripens first of autumn. Shoots spreading, leaves sharply serrate. Origin, Pennsylvania. This is totally distinct from the Dwarf Paradise, used for stocks, which bears a small, poor, sweet, summer fruit.