Apple varieties I can't do without!

General Fruit Growing
41

Not heard of that one! Will have to check it out :+1:

42

I have a Novaspy, a supposed improved disease resistant NS. It will soon be fifth leaf, and hasn’t fruited yet, but hoping for some this year.

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43

Thanks for that info. I had not heard of that variety either but will check it out. I do have their catalog.

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44

Here’s more info on Northern Spy apple.

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45

Two good people sent me MonArk scions this year, and it wasn’t even on my wish list. So, hope to find out what you’re talking about in 2 or 3 years.

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46

I knew someone on this forum mentioned winter sweet. Finally found it. You know a source for a tree that i can buy? I havent quite mastered grafting yet. Thank you sir.

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47

Happy to see this topic revived.
I don’t have very many cultivars but… favs are
Pristine
Bramley seedling.
cosmic crisp… just planted.
I am adding Rhode Island Greening and Calville Blance (recommended by marknmt and a few others) this year

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48

Big Horse Creek Farm is the only orchard that I can find that grows Winter Sweet (not to be confused with Winter Sweet Paradise a totally different apple), and they have quit selling trees only selling scion now. :frowning: This might be the year for you to learn to graft. :slight_smile:

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49

Highdesert - I 2nd gryphase’s idea of learning to graft.

I have only been doing a couple here and there for a few years but I would say I have been at least 90% successful. Much easier to be successful than I thought before trying it.

My challenge for Spring of 2021 is trying to do an interstem or two all in the same year rather than interstem on rootstock on year and then grafting on the scion wood the following year.

mary

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50

Go for it, it’s only marginally more difficult. I do scion onto interstem piece first and get it wrapped and secured firmly. Then interstem onto rootstock immediately after.

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51

In order of ripening and all scab-free for PNW:

Williams’ Pride - mid August -sweet, smooth
Rubinette- late August - fruity aroma, crisp
Pristine- early Sept - sweet, crisp
Akane -mid Sept - fruity aroma, crisp
Spartan - early Oct -sweet/tart, crisp
Belmac - mid Oct - sweet. crisp
Hudson’s Golden Gem - early Nov -sweet, smooth

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52

christine… Interesting… I am in Vancouver, WA 8b. My pristine ripens late July - early Aug… Just before or with my daughters willams pride. (also vancouver). Her Rubinette is usually mid to late sept.

53

Wdingus - thanks for the encouragement! I am going to be orderding some M111 and some Geneva to use as interstems. I figure if it doesn’t work… re-do next year! Great cheap fun!

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54

Well i guess ill be ordering some scions from big horse and trying my hand at it. You all have inspired me haha. Plus i see some very rare varieties on their master list. Hopefully some will be available in a couple weeks when they put up their 2021 scion list.

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55

I already have more young apple trees than I know what to do with…but am thinking of order a few rare scions from them myself…while they are still in business at all.
(A lot of mom and pop places
don’t continue if there’s not a younger
generation that can or will take up
the endeavor.)

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56

Quite a difference with the Rubinette! I’m about 240 miles north, on Guemes Island, near Anacortes… so all my dates should be way later than yours. Perhaps my Rubinette is mislabeled. In any case, it’s my favorite. To my taste buds kind of has a licorice aftertaste! I picked it (whatever it is) August 22nd this year.

57

Tonite we had a yellow opal apple. It was dense and really sweet. Wondering if anyone might have a scion on that. I see its a cross of yellow delicious.

Thanks!
G

58

Christine… my daughter’s karmijn came from a scion from the Home orchard society scion exchange. All the scions in containers right next to each other. Her rubinette could have easily been a scion that someone put back into the wrong container… the important thing is that you both LOVE YOUR rubinette! lol.

59

Highdesert - Glad to hear that! It is pretty much the only way to get exactly what you want unless you have a club nearby or a friend who will “build a tree” for you.

60

Regina,
Opal is one of those “Club apples”. No scion for general gardeners like us.

This article was written in 2014. By now, there are several more club apples on the market. I would call Cosmic Crisp a club apple, the apple exclusively for people of Washington state.