I looked on the back of the freezer, but it was old and I couldn’t see anything about how many amps or Watts (can be converted) it uses. I just took a chance and figured that it wasn’t all that big (normal fridge sized).
I picked a bunch of Goldrush today.
Here’s the larger of the two trees (planted in 2011 on G16). I picked 8.5lbs, which was half (or a bit less) of what was on the tree. It still has a ton of leaves, though I’m not sure how effective they are in this condition.
Here’s the 2nd tree, which is smaller (2012 on G11/MM111 interstem, which tends to dwarf things for me). I picked this one clean, getting a total of 22lbs. Earlier this year, I’ve picked ~5 apples, so the total yield was almost 25 lbs.
Here’s one particularly loaded branch. I counted 11 apples on it, in a space of 2’. They totaled 5lbs. I’m sure that is an indication of insufficient thinning, as it means there was an average of just over 2" per apple (and most of them are over 2" in size).
Here’s the apples from just that one branch (the branch was ~7/16" caliper near where it meets the trunk):
3 Likes
OK…so my wife and kids picked the Goldrush the other day on 11/7. On that same day I picked one that had been recently badly pecked by a bird. I cut away the damaged section and used a portion of that piece to do a refractometer test. It was amazingly 16.9, so wow I thought 1.9 brix in 2 weeks. I thought that sounded pretty good. I peeled the apple, cut it up and shared it with my wife and kids. My kids said they liked it a lot, and I LOVED it! I will say I still don’t like the skin…it’s a bit too tough for my liking, but the flavor and texture was awesome. I sometimes like to peel apples anyway.
Tonight (just a while ago) my wife and I decided to eat one and again, I did a test. I’m a bit reluctant to report this for fear of this sounding like BS, but it measured 20.4. The 20.4 apple was from the top of the tree, but not much further up than the 16.9, both received about the same sunlight. They are amazingly good, but honestly, it really didn’t taste any different to me than the one measuring 16.9. I suppose I’d have to eat them side by side. Funny thing is when crushing for the juice to do the test with, my fingers actually got noticeably sticky from the juice.
They still have quite an acidic bite to them to my taste, but I really like them a lot. They are very juicy, but seem drier than say HC, I think due to the fact they do not give up their juice as readily, but you just keep getting more and more as you chew it.
A total of 34 lbs. minus the few we’ve eaten so far, so not too bad for a small tree, but less than 1/4 the weight harvested from Honeycrisp. but these are 1 year younger and on smaller rootstock.
I don’t know what the Hell happened last year that they were so bad, but finally I see what all the fuss is about. This last little week or so of warm weather I think saved these apples. I can’t remember now, but I think I harvested them on Halloween night last year out of necessity
This is a very good apple, and uniquely flavored and textured I think. This along with it’s superb growing habits and insect resistance I think make it a must for anyone with a long enough season for them.
I’d almost bet I got some 21’s here…I’ll probably check a good many, I’m curious to see if they gain anything in storage.
Appleseed-Please describe the Goldrush insect resistance you have seen.
Well, the fruits are simply much less prone to PC (though not immune), and essentially seem unbothered by other stinging or sucking insects. Birds also don’t bother them nearly as much because they aren’t red. Where I did have bird pecks it was in one of the red flecks GR is noted for, or in a very blushed area.
Even the foliage seemed less attractive to Rosy Apple Aphids that got after most of my other apples. Don’t get me wrong, they were there also, but in far fewer numbers.
I think the thicker, tougher skin is probably provides the apple protection, and even the foliage doesn’t seem as tender as many other varieties. The bulk of the insect resistance is with the fruit though, the foliage is otherwise targeted more or less equally to other varieties.
As an update, I just checked another GR and it measured 20 brix on the money. I don’t know where on the tree this one came from.
1 Like
Nice one, Jeff. Huzzah!
I picked more Goldrush yesterday, including some which have cracked. I cut this one up right away and it ranged from 19-22 brix. The 22 came from under the darker area (2nd pic). This one was ugly, but still tasted great.
Some of the less ripened fruit was in the 17-18 range, but is still very good. I think that leaving it to hang until now has knocked some of the acid down, as my daughter described one of the less ripe ones as sweet.
2 Likes
I ate my first gold rush last night. This is the first home grown apple I have produced. I really liked it. Not sure it was completely ripe as it was just starting to turn yellow on the sunny side. It had frosted twice so I picked all but one. The skin was a little tough so I peeled it, delicious.
4 Likes
Sounds exciting. I don’t have my hopes up too high about Goldrush from my graft ripening up here near Minneapolis, though, unless Global Warming really pulls through.
2 Likes
In storage the acid gradually fades and it eventually almost imitates Golden Delicious come spring- but crunchier even then.
1 Like
Like many here, this is probably my favorite apple tree and easily one of my favorite apples. I guess I will rate Topaz as my favorite apple and the Gold Rush as my favorite tree, since they store so amazingly well and produce so much.
John S
PDX OR
2 Likes
My Gold rush trees are tiny. ( still in pots) but they are precocious and have put out several fruits. I brought them into the greenhouse where it is quite warm. Maybe this will extend the season and get these apples super sweet.
This was my first year to have goldrush set fruit. I left them hang until November 10 when we had some cold weather( maybe low 20’s) in the forecast. The skin was still green, I suppose I should have left them longer?
2 Likes
I picked three from my tree 12/13 in Z7 MD. I had several 24 degree nights a few weeks ago. It has been below freezing for at least 10 days. The apples were still mostly green. Hadn’t yellowed much at all since I picked most of them three weeks ago. I ate one already. It was still totally fine. Would be better if I left them in the fridge for a good while but I wanted to see if it had grown mushy. To my surprise it wasn’t impacted by multiple nights in the mid 20’s.
2 Likes
Does the tree get good sun and is it pruned adequately open. I’m in z6 NY and my Goldrush were mostly golden by the first week of Nov. when I had to pick to avoid the teens. They aren’t even in full sun and lose light in the morning and later afternoon.
1 Like
My Goldrush is still not golden. It’s still partly green.
Will it ripen at all? Leaves are still green.
2 Likes
That is one ugly baby you have there. 
1 Like
Anyone know of an effective organic treatment for bitter rot? I believe that’s what affected each of my 2 or 3 Goldrush apples this year(young tree). It seemed to cause them to ripen or drop too early as well(early October). Here’s a few pics of one of them. One side looked nice while the other had those brown spots that kept growing in size.
1 Like
Your GR looked so different. If you did not say, I would have thought it was some kind of a russeted apple.
2 Likes
Yes indeed, the sooty blotch washed off but it had some CAR spots on it as well