The two June apples I have tasted were Stripe June and Big Red June and these are also a little bland especially when compared to many later ripening apples. I put in several scions of Pristine and Williams Pride this years and they are growing out well so I might get a little sample next year. Looks like the Hollow log ripens around the end of June so it might be a better tasting earlier option. Bill
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I hate to stray too far from the original topic, which was June apples, but since so many have mentioned Pristineā¦Itās a star in my orchard. Pristine, Lodi and Ginger Gold are really the only trees that I have which could be called āearly applesā and Pristineās really been a winner. Aside from the fact that itās a fair eating apple and keeps for a while, itās also been a really reliable cropper for me. Iāve had Pristine apples when no other variety in my orchard (I have about 30 apple varieties) produced fruit and Pristine crops very heavily here. In fact, Iām quite sure that my apples would benefit from some hand-thinning, but I tend to be lazy and I hate the thought of thinning apples when I really only get a good season about one year in three because of our horrid winter and spring weather.
Just wanted to give another ātwo thumbs upā report on Pristine for those who may be considering it.
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Glad you posted because Iām in the process of choosing my early apple varieties. I have Pristine and Williams Pride. I might add Ginger Goal which I know is another good early apple.
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Me too! After two 27 degree nights, my Pristine trees are loaded. Perhaps 5-10X more fruit than other trees even after a hard thinning. I also have Ginger Gold and Williams Pride. Ginger Gold seems to handle the heat a little better than Williams Pride, but it gets more Fireblight.
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I love June apples one of my favorites growing up.
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There are not many apples that I donāt like also. Some I like better than others but they are all good to me. These June apples fill a time slot that only a few others can compare with. I picked two more of the Big Red June yesterday and these were good tasting with the right balance of sweet/tart for me. The trend I am seeing is that these apples are unripe one day, ripe the next two days and then over ripe the next (might be a bigger window than this). With such a small opportunity to get that good apple I can see why many would not want these but for me I will keep a few limbs just for a few to fill this early slot.
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Pristine are just about ripe. Its year 4 and Iām finally starting to get some more apples off the tall spindle trees.
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Thanks for posting Rick. Although we are a good distance apart be both appear to be in zone 7b so this could be when they would ripen here. I hope to have a few Pristine apples from this years grafts to sample next year. Looks to be a large apple also. Bill
What rootstock are you using? Thanks, Bill
You got it going on Rick, those are some nice looking trees. Do you use drip irrigation? Based on the red blush, looks like they are about ready to pick.
B9 on everything. Not very vigorous in my climate and Iām having a problem getting the trees to the top wire
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I like B9 but I use it mostly as an interstem. Thanks, Bill
We have been spending money on this stuff for too many years! Pristine are looking better than most variety. Drip on everything - 1 GPH emitters. Not really enough water but the best I can do with my household well. Picked some today, but they were not as ripe as I expected. Just a little too tart to eat. Hope they reach the lemon yellow color by Friday,
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Ate some June Apples yesterday not as good as I remembered but still good.
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I share your opinion. If I had a better early apple I would switch over.
Just curious no oneās mentioned Anna. It ripens the end of June here after blossoming late January. It has to be pollinated by Shell of Alabama (lower photo) or Dorset Golden or else it stays really skinny. It makes for fair eating, but absolutely killer apple pies; even John Clements from UMass Fruit Advisor was impressed with the pie when he was out here. You can smell it baking two blocks away.
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I have Anna limbs grafted but I have only had one apple and it was mushy (pretty sure I waited past itās prime to pick). From what I have read it is a very good apple. I donāt have Dorsett but I do have some very early crabs that I hope will do my cross pollinating.
Theyāre best when the seeds still have a white tip. After that theyāre bland and mushy.
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I like dorset golden. Itās tasty and reliable producer. Itās basically a june apple for me although I picked a bushel couple days ago (which emptied the tree for the season). My anna is way behind the DG. I wont get a ripe apple from that tree until 3 weeks or more.
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