I got some Winecrisp apples that had been through a packing line and boxed so they were all shiny and pretty looking and still cold from coming out of storage. They turned out to be the best tasting of any new to me varieties I tried this year. Good enough that I want to get a tree. Reading up on them, I found that Weaver’s Orchard in PA has them as PYO but mention that the trees are weak growers and prone to cracking in rainy seasons.
Anyone notice growth or cracking problems on their trees? Cummins has choice of B.118, G,11, G.214, and G.969. They are sold out of it on G.890 and P.18. Must be a hot seller for them with so many rootstocks offered.
I am growing a Winecrisp tree and have fruited it for a number of years. My tree is a dwarf on G16. General disease resistance is good especially to scab. This year the crop was very good- it’s a juicy sweet tart apple. They are good to excellent most years. My tree has good growth and vigor is not a problem.
I don’t find Winecrisp apples prone to cracking in my climate (central Illinois) even with heavy rains. Although maybe you are talking of cracking on the trees themselves? I haven’t observed any cracking on the trunk or branches. Or maybe the person you talked to was referring to the exfoliating bark that is commonly found on Geneva rootstocks near the graft union.
Also Winecrisp gets burr knots on the scion. So if you wanted a tree on it’s own roots I think it would be easy to do that with Winecrisp. Here is a thread that has discussion about the burr knots and some pictures of the burr knots on the Winecrisp scion of my tree .
I grow it and have posted a few photos in the past. No cracking issues here in the humid, rainy northeast. Really, no issues at all. It’s one of the most grower friendly apples I have.
I’ve been grabbing one out of the orchard to eat every morning for the past couple weeks. Amazing flavor, very complex and interesting with a good sugar/acid balance, has a similar texture to Braeburn or Goldrush that’s a bit on the jawbreaking side if eaten out of hand, but has lightened up since I started eating them. They do fall from the tree a bit easier than most late season apples as well.
I got one from Cummins on G890 last year and let it grow out in a pot for a year before going into the orchard. Also took scions from it so now have 8 more trees budded on m26 in the nursery.
The Winecrisp is on my list of varieties to plant to fill in for late season demand.
My 2 year old Winecrisp was one of the worst for getting Apple Leaf Blotch after a record setting rainy July. I sprayed everything for CAR so I can’t comment on how it would fair against that.
