Cultivar 175: Red Lake

Taxon ID: 4

Usage Facet: class=edible; edible_score=1.0; ornamental_score=0.0; inferred_from_taxon=no

Relationships: 0 | Linked Entities (visible): 0 | Evidence claims: 31 | History events: 0 | Catalog issue offerings: 0

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Evidence Badge: supported | claims=31 | sources=5 | contradictions=0

Claim Types: recommendation_context:6, description_snippet:5, taxon_context:4, productivity:3, caption_context:2, fruit_size:2, growth_habit:2, anecdote_snippet:1, breeder_reference:1, fruit_color:1, keeping_quality:1, selection_origin_reference:1, source_reference_abbreviation:1 | Open evidence summary JSON | Open citation drawer JSON

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Wiki Draft

Red Lake is a red currant. South Dakota nursery and recommendation sources list it under Ribes sativum and treat it as a hardy currant for northern gardens. [S2] [S3] A Saskatchewan bulletin describes it as a hardy, vigorous variety from Minnesota that bears large clusters of large red fruit of excellent quality. [S4]

The cited sources do not give a breeder, parentage, or release date. They do show why Red Lake remained in prairie and northern use. South Dakota extension material lists it among recommended currants and calls it productive, while a later Saskatchewan bulletin calls it moderately productive. [S1] [S2] [S4] By 1979, South Dakota nurseries were also widely offering it, which suggests it had become a standard currant for commercial and home gardens in the region. [S3]

Fruit descriptions in the packet are brief but favorable. The best account says Red Lake has large clusters of large red berries with excellent quality. [S4] Plant descriptions are also brief. It is vigorous, and sources describe it as productive to moderately productive. [S1] [S2] [S4] Hardiness is the clearest part of its historical reputation. Saskatchewan describes it as hardy, and its inclusion in South Dakota recommendation and nursery lists supports its place among northern adapted currants. [S2] [S3] [S4]

Red Lake stands out less for a preserved breeding story than for its long practical presence across the northern plains. The surviving sources present it as a dependable red currant that remained worth listing, selling, and planting under prairie conditions. [S2] [S3] [S4]

Summary source basis

This summary currently draws chiefly from hortfacts_1976_3.pdf, with 6 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Available from nursery listings 1, 2, 5, 6, 18, 21, 23, and 32.”
— ^[7]

“Red Lake is productive.”
— ^[4]

“Hardy.”
— ^[8]

“Fruit is of excellent quality.”
— ^[8]

Parentage

Direct parent cultivars

No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Lineage Links

Derived or downstream cultivar links

No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Story Highlights

Source-story quotations

RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p15
RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p15
RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p15
RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p15

Family Navigation

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context

Honey Red

Cold Hardiness

Zone assertions are structured rows. Hardiness claim text appears in evidence claims and page-linked citations.

Zone Min	Zone Max	Zone Text	Assertion Type	Outcome	Location	Confidence
No explicit zone assertion rows yet.

Media Gallery

No linked media assets.

Citation Drawer (Top Supporting Sources)

Document	Title/URL	Rights	Claims	Pages	Snippets
105	Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937	unknown	14	p15 p30	Cross-reference directs the reader to page 11.; Listed for sale as 5 plants for $1.35.; Illustrated as a red currant cluster on this advertisement page.; Presented specifically as a currant.
106	Daniels planting guide, 1950	unknown	8	p28	The catalog states it is considered the most profitable not only of currants but of all small fruits.; Fruit is described as holding on the bush without shelling or shriveling, allowing marketing when prices are highest.
139	Planting time, 1950 / Alpha Nursery	unknown	5	p6	Described as a heavy bearer.; Bunches described as loose.; Berries described as bright red.; Berries described as large.
2	South Dakota Fruit Garden (visual sample pages 9-11)	public_domain	2	p2	Red Lake is productive.; {"claims": [{"claim_text": "Red Lake is productive.", "claim_type": "description_snippet"}], "cultivar_name": "Red Lake", "evidence_snippet": "Red Lake is productive.", "page_number": 2, "parser_
143	Recommended fruit Varieties	unknown	2	p3	Included in the Currants & Gooseberry section with August harvest timing shown for the section.; Listed under Red Currants.

Citation Evidence (Page-Linked Quotes)

Document	Page	Claim Type	Claim	Quote	Match
139	p6	productivity	Described as a heavy bearer.	RED LAKE—Large berries, bunches loose, heavy bearer, bright red.	page_block:0.90
139	p6	description_snippet	Bunches described as loose.	RED LAKE—Large berries, bunches loose, heavy bearer, bright red.	page_block:0.90
139	p6	fruit_color	Berries described as bright red.	RED LAKE—Large berries, bunches loose, heavy bearer, bright red.	page_block:0.90
139	p6	fruit_size	Berries described as large.	RED LAKE—Large berries, bunches loose, heavy bearer, bright red.	page_block:0.90
139	p6	taxon_context	Listed under Currants, two-year plants.	RED LAKE—Large berries, bunches loose, heavy bearer, bright red.	page_block:0.90
143	p3	recommendation_context	Included in the Currants & Gooseberry section with August harvest timing shown for the section.	Red Currants: Red Lake, Honey Red	page_block:0.90
143	p3	taxon_context	Listed under Red Currants.	Red Currants: Red Lake, Honey Red	page_block:0.90
105	p30	source_reference_abbreviation	Cross-reference directs the reader to page 11.	RED LAKE CURRANT 5 plants, $1.35 See page 11	page_block:0.90
105	p30	recommendation_context	Listed for sale as 5 plants for $1.35.	RED LAKE CURRANT 5 plants, $1.35 See page 11	page_block:0.90
105	p30	caption_context	Illustrated as a red currant cluster on this advertisement page.	RED LAKE CURRANT 5 plants, $1.35 See page 11	page_block:0.90
105	p30	taxon_context	Presented specifically as a currant.	RED LAKE CURRANT 5 plants, $1.35 See page 11	page_block:0.90
105	p15	caption_context	Illustrated on the page with the caption Red Lake Currant.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	anecdote_snippet	F. W. Mackey of Cattaraugus County, New York wrote that the Red Lake currants sent were the finest he had ever seen and asked for 25 more for spring setting.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	recommendation_context	The entry says it is easy to grow and suited to picking and market use.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	description_snippet	Ripens early midseason but holds over a long period so it can be used or marketed as desired.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	description_snippet	Exceptionally long stems make the fruit easy to pick.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	productivity	The bushes are described as extremely productive.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	growth_habit	The bushes are described as thrifty.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	fruit_size	The berries are described as big, with bunches long and well filled to the tip.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	recommendation_context	Presented as a major advance in currant culture for the Northwest.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
105	p15	selection_origin_reference	Introduced by the State Fruit Farm.	RED LAKE. The introduction of Red Lake by the State Fruit Farm marks a big step forward in Currant culture.	page_block:0.90
106	p28	recommendation_context	The catalog states it is considered the most profitable not only of currants but of all small fruits.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	keeping_quality	Fruit is described as holding on the bush without shelling or shriveling, allowing marketing when prices are highest.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	growth_habit	Ripens early to mid-season and holds on the bush for a long time without shelling or shriveling.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	productivity	Established plantings were reported as producing from $500 to $1,000 per acre at pre-Pearl Harbor prices.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	description_snippet	Said to have rapidly superseded older varieties in both home and commercial plantings.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	recommendation_context	University authorities and growers throughout the country are said to regard it as the finest red currant yet introduced.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	breeder_reference	Described as another triumph of the Minnesota State Fruit Breeding Farm.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
106	p28	taxon_context	Presented as a red currant cultivar.	Red Lake The Country's Finest Red Currant	page_block:0.90
2	p2	description_snippet	Red Lake is productive.	Red Lake is productive.	visual_page_probe:0.90
2	p2	structured_entry_json	{"claims": [{"claim_text": "Red Lake is productive.", "claim_type": "description_snippet"}], "cultivar_name": "Red Lake", "evidence_snippet": "Red Lake is productive.", "page_numbe	Red Lake is productive.	visual_page_probe:0.90

Nursery Offering Timeline

Year	Nursery	Catalog Issue	Relation
No catalog issue offerings linked.

Linked Entities

Relation	Type	ID	Label
No linked entities at this filter level.

Evidence Claims

Type	Claim	Confidence
productivity	Described as a heavy bearer.	0.93
description_snippet	Bunches described as loose.	0.91
fruit_color	Berries described as bright red.	0.94
fruit_size	Berries described as large.	0.93
taxon_context	Listed under Currants, two-year plants.	0.96
recommendation_context	Included in the Currants & Gooseberry section with August harvest timing shown for the section.	0.94
taxon_context	Listed under Red Currants.	0.99
source_reference_abbreviation	Cross-reference directs the reader to page 11.	0.99
recommendation_context	Listed for sale as 5 plants for $1.35.	0.99
caption_context	Illustrated as a red currant cluster on this advertisement page.	0.98
taxon_context	Presented specifically as a currant.	0.99
caption_context	Illustrated on the page with the caption Red Lake Currant.	0.98
anecdote_snippet	F. W. Mackey of Cattaraugus County, New York wrote that the Red Lake currants sent were the finest he had ever seen and asked for 25 more for spring setting.	0.94
recommendation_context	The entry says it is easy to grow and suited to picking and market use.	0.91
description_snippet	Ripens early midseason but holds over a long period so it can be used or marketed as desired.	0.95
description_snippet	Exceptionally long stems make the fruit easy to pick.	0.95
productivity	The bushes are described as extremely productive.	0.96
growth_habit	The bushes are described as thrifty.	0.93
fruit_size	The berries are described as big, with bunches long and well filled to the tip.	0.97
recommendation_context	Presented as a major advance in currant culture for the Northwest.	0.95
selection_origin_reference	Introduced by the State Fruit Farm.	0.98
recommendation_context	The catalog states it is considered the most profitable not only of currants but of all small fruits.	0.81
keeping_quality	Fruit is described as holding on the bush without shelling or shriveling, allowing marketing when prices are highest.	0.90
growth_habit	Ripens early to mid-season and holds on the bush for a long time without shelling or shriveling.	0.93
productivity	Established plantings were reported as producing from $500 to $1,000 per acre at pre-Pearl Harbor prices.	0.88
description_snippet	Said to have rapidly superseded older varieties in both home and commercial plantings.	0.87
recommendation_context	University authorities and growers throughout the country are said to regard it as the finest red currant yet introduced.	0.83
breeder_reference	Described as another triumph of the Minnesota State Fruit Breeding Farm.	0.93
taxon_context	Presented as a red currant cultivar.	0.99
description_snippet	Red Lake is productive.	0.93
structured_entry_json	{"claims": [{"claim_text": "Red Lake is productive.", "claim_type": "description_snippet"}], "cultivar_name": "Red Lake", "evidence_snippet": "Red Lake is productive.", "page_number": 2, "parser_mode": "visual_narrative_	0.94

History Events

ID	Type	Year	Label
No history events.