Here’s our Black Limbertwig that arrived bareroot 5 days ago from Trees of Antiquity. I’ve potted it in this #15 tub, using 1 part all-purpose sand and 2 parts Kelloggs Patio Mix by volume plus about a half inch of 1/4" Sequoia Orchid Bark on top to slow down moisture evaporation from the soil. Later this Spring I plan to use some of the branches as scions to top-work our White Winter Pearmain.
Grabbed one of those from @39thparallel back in 2021. Placed it in the ground last March. Seemed pretty vigorous if I recall. Mine started a bit smaller than yours
Nice! I did not realize it was a warm climate variety.
@39thparallel
Apples (M. domestica) were once thought to be dependent on chill hours. This was disproved 2 decades ago. Propagation nurseries have since changed their labels.
According to Ron Joyner at Big Horse Creek Farm, his customers have grown BLT from mountain to swamp, from frigid to hot.
Steve, based on taste reports I have considered growing this apple off-and on over the decades. I got the itch again last summer when @Luisport was sharing his new apples and ordered it.
4/20. Today I grafted central leader scions from the potted Black Limbertwig to what is now White Winter Pearmain interstem on M-111. I had some trouble with the WWP bark being thin and tight so we’ll see how this attempt goes.
I used a Due Buoi left-handed grafting knife to trim the cuttings and then wrapped them with perforated buddy tape from One Green World. While I was at it I cut tiny slices in the tape over nodes when needed.
The tree I cut initially with a #18 saws-all blade and then used a Felco Victorinix grafting knife to work the bark. It was tough going. More often than not I was peeling wood instead of cambium.
Next I compared my scions to the prepared stump and found they were too thick and ended up trimming them more. Finally I got the scions in place and used two laps of Parafilm #12 to hold them in place. This was followed by many criss-cross sections of buddy tape across the top to protect the fresh cut wood. Afterwards I again wrapped the trunk with parafilm and then tightly with 3M Linerless Electrical Rubber Tape. I also put pieces of it across the top to block sunlight.
BLT was one of the varieties I wanted to try here (Southern Middle TN) Zone 7a.
I got some scion wood thru trade… it was a bit on the small side but I grafted 3 and all of them are looking great. Hope I get to try one in a few years.
Does anyone know if this variety is triploid? I tried popping the anthers off of some flowers from this variety, but when I dried them out… no pollen.
BLT is diploid to best of my knowledge.