Any Fresh Off of Tree Eating Limbertwigs?

General Fruit Growing
21

At least the following:

  • size
  • shape
  • skin color
  • flesh color
  • taste
  • keeping ability

There’s also the possibility that we’re not comparing apples to apples, so to speak: my samples of these apples may not be the same as the ones tested. Given the obscure origins of Limbertwigs, it’s not unlikely that there are multiple names for the same variety, but similarly quite possible that different varieties or sports are circulating under the same name.

In any case, the versions of these two named Limbertwigs that I’m growing here are not the same apple.

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22

I have apples developing on my red royal and myers royal grafts this year. Hope I get to try those out… and not some squirrel.

TNHunter

23

Back when I had LTs, my Myers Royal was a big honker, larger than any other LT I grew, including Red Royal, would never have said they’re the same.

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24

All three look like either Brushy or OFL. They ripen in mid November, are extremely sweet (sticky juice) and tart, the skin feels like 300 grit sandpaper, dense and not crunchy. Just to be clear, DNA work has not been completed on the Brushy and Old Fashioned, but a gent at Horne says these two are practically the same and he suspects they are.

25

Calling Turley Winesap the same as Limbertwigs calls in question the science of DNA testing apples. I have all three growing but not fruiting. The Turley has the strong framework of a Stayman and nothing like the two Limbertwigs.

26

I agree. in addition to that, there are many other issues. Labeling, curation, sport deviation. I have a young Black Twig that bore for the first time in 2024 and the apples were ripe Labor Day weekend in NW NC. The parent tree would ripen in late Sept. I was told by an apple expert 20 miles away the Black Twig does not get ripe until Oct. The point being, we all make the assumption when a scion is taken to be grafted, it is the same is the parent tree and that isn’t always the case.

The labeling issue is a problem and at least 10 apples need to be tested of a certain variety to ensure what is being tested is the real deal.

Some say the Red Limbertwig is the same as the Old Fashioned. I’ve had both purchased at the local fruit stand and they are different in size, color, flavor and the Red is softer and a lot less interesting than the OF.

27

There are a lot more fruit on the tree this year, which may have slightly reduced the brix. In order to better track which branch each fruit came from, I painted a number on them, as well as the branch. I may not ever ID them properly, but at least I can decide which one(s) to graft copies of.

Here is a pic of all the potential limbertwigs, as well as a few others I picked today.

Apple_11-02-2025
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My suspicion, based on where the fruit was on the tree is that the one in the upper left (#5) is Black or Kentucky Limbertwig.

While “B” (for bigger") on the bottom left is dense and crunchy for a normal apple, it isn’t as pronounced as the other potential limbertwigs. So, I am thinking it could be a Hauer Pippin, which is also grafted in the same general area.

The other 3 on the bottom row could be Brushy Mt Limbertwig, Kentucky Limbertwig, or Meyers Royal Limbertwig. And there were multiple grafts of several of those, many close together and given relative locations (“1.5 feet closer to center than Democrat graft on same branch”), rather than the more absolute ones I use now (like “7.2’, SSE, tilt 50 deg”).

I think I like #5 (upper left) the best, though the 3 on the bottom right are all good as well. As far as the others, the Peau D’ Ane is way too dry, but the Baker’s Delight was quite good. A bit thin/light compared to the others though. Both of my kids thought that Baker’s Delight was great though. Light texture, plenty of juice and an interesting flavor. One daughter compared it to fruit punch.

I should also mention, in relation to the thread subject, that my daughter mentioned that the limbertwig she tried (#3) was a bit green, both in color and in taste. I don’t notice either- colorblind for the color and taste seemed fine for me. I’ll have to remember to feed her some later and see if her opinion changes after some storage.

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