Fireside apple questions

General Fruit Growing
1

Is anyone growing the Fireside apple and can give some reviews about how it is to grow, taste, keeping abilities, and uses?
Thank you.

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2

I would be interested in information about this apple as well. I was able to taste it this fall and found it quite tasty, if unremarkable with a nice texture. And the big size is a plus as well…

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3

I’m growing one Fireside tree on M26. It was a bare-root transplant from Maple Valley Orchards in 2007. Tree is very vigorous. Paradoxically it tends toward a weepy growth habit, and crop load really bends the branches. It is biennial in spite of rigorous pruning and thinning every year. I take a lot of wood out of the top and the bottom of the tree. I imagine I over do it.

Fruit is late. I bring it in just before first hard freeze: 11 Nov 2011, 2 Nov 2012, 8 Nov 2013, 31 Oct 2014, 13 Nov 2015, 31 Oct 2017, 28 Oct 2019, 29 Oct 2020, 26 Oct 2021, 19 Oct 2022. In alternate years, I can store about a half-bushel from this tree, which means, I suppose, that it is not so productive for its size.

Fruit is large, dense, crisp, juicy, red over green with faintly greenish flesh. This apple is fairly sweet with a conventional appley taste. Suitable for cooking and eating out of hand. Keeps well.

Along with Northern Spy and others, this apple contributes to the late end of harvest, and remains in cold storage for casual use through the winter. I find it valuable and worth the effort.

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4

That’s the information that is helpful. Basically " Is it worth the effort to have it in my orchard" or is it one that is a waste of space and time to mess with. So right now sounds like it is a on the “maybe” list.

5

Seems to me I had it on my tree once years ago and finally replaced it with something!

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6

I have Fireside on G.890 and G.210 and Connell Red on M.106 and G.222. (Connell Red is a sport of Fireside, or a seedling of it.) I agree with Chucks description of the trees form, mine seem to mimic what he has described. My trees have not been precocious, but the older ones are very close to bearing fruit, so Chuck’s experience is helpful to me.

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