Pickering

Pickering was a random seedling selected by Walter Zill of Boynton Beach, FL in the 1980s, and is speculated to be a cross between Carrie and Irwin. It was named after Wayne Pickering, a long-time customer of Walter’s.
 
The fruit are oblong-oval in shape, medium-sized, turning light-yellow at maturity with light pink blush and pink ‘splotching’ on the skin. The flesh is yellow, very firm, with a minimal amount of fiber. The flavor at peak ripeness is extremely sweet with many tasting coconut undertones.
The seed is monoembryonic. Often it is cut too early resulting in only mild classic flavor; Pickering requires patience for reaching its peak flavor. 
 
The trees have a distinctive dwarf growth habit and are very easy to control. They are precocious fruiters, and highly anthracnose resistant at the floral and fruit setting stages, though the fruit themselves may be uglied by post-harvest anthracnose.
 
Pickering fruited well for us year-after-year even in fungal-infested Loxahatchee, FL without spraying. They also have good resistance to powdery mildew, bacterial spot and rot fungi. 
 
We love Pickering for all its wonderful traits and often recommend it to customers as a dooryard tree as well! Some people even grow them in pots.
 
They ripen early season from June to July. 
 
Flavor: Coconut
Country: Florida -  USA