Cultivar 310: Romeo

Romeo is described in prairie sources as a dwarf sour cherry and is listed among the recommended varieties for northern Manitoba. Manitoba guidance places it in the University of Saskatchewan dwarf sour cherry group and recommends it for trial in very cold prairie conditions. It also notes that this group had shown good winter hardiness across the Prairies. [S4]

The strongest cultivar specific notes here come from University of Saskatchewan comparison observations, not from a full standalone profile. In those comparisons, Romeo is described as a milder fresh eating cherry than some related selections, and some evaluators considered it the best in flavor. [S3] The same comparison notes also suggest that Romeo was not among the hardiest selections at that site. Carmine Jewel was observed to be hardier, and Romeo showed about 15 percent dieback per tree in the winter of 2008 to 2009. [S2] [S3]

For season and handling, the Manitoba guide does not give a Romeo only fruit description. Its dwarf sour cherry section says these cherries flower in May or June, ripen in mid August or early September, and keep only a couple of days in the refrigerator. It recommends harvesting when the fruit is bright to dark red and slightly soft, then refrigerating, freezing, canning, or eating after pitting. Romeo is included in that recommended variety list, so these notes give useful growing context even though they apply to the crop group rather than to Romeo alone. [S4]

One source in the packet describes a different fruit also named Romeo: a 1911 Ottawa apple crab, a seedling of Salome, hardy at Morden and valued for winter display. That record does not match the University of Saskatchewan cherry material and should be treated as a same name cultivar conflict, not as evidence about Romeo cherry. [S1]

The main uncertainty is that this packet does not include a full Romeo release note or a dedicated cultivar sheet. It supports Romeo as a University of Saskatchewan associated dwarf sour cherry with favorable flavor remarks and some winter injury in 2008 to 2009, but it does not establish details such as direct parentage, exact release history, or a fuller fruit description. [S2] [S3] [S4]

Summary source basis

• S1: TreeFruitsGrownInPrairieOrchards WRLeslie 1946 HQ
• S2: Carmine Jewel Notes: Based on observations from 2004 to 2009
• S3: Juliet Notes: Based on observations in 2008 & 2009
• S4: Fruit Crops for Northern Manitoba

This summary currently draws chiefly from TreeFruitsGrownInPrairieOrchards WRLeslie 1946 HQ, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“No additional individual cultivar-specific trait, pedigree, or yield descriptors are provided on this page.”
— ^[4]

“Tree hardy at Morden.”
— ^[5]

“Skin thick and tough; flesh deep yellow, firm, crisp, briskly sub-acid, slightly astringent.”
— ^[5]

“Listed as a recommended variety of Dwarf Sour Cherry.”
— ^[4]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Romeo (formerly 7-7-5.8) Many believe Romeo is the best tasting, and I (Bob) agree. It start producing at a younger age than the others.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Romeo (formerly 7-7-5.8) Many believe Romeo is the best tasting, and I (Bob) agree. It start producing at a younger age than the others.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Romeo (formerly 7-7-5.8) Many believe Romeo is the best tasting, and I (Bob) agree. It start producing at a younger age than the others.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Romeo (formerly 7-7-5.8) Many believe Romeo is the best tasting, and I (Bob) agree. It start producing at a younger age than the others.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context