Does anyone here grow Roman Stem and have an opinion on it? I don’t find any mention of it in a growing fruit search.
I admit to being first attracted to it by its unusual name, but descriptions in both old and new resources haven’t convinced me it is remarkable enough to acquire as a bareroot tree or scionwood. Reports indicate it is a fine, average apple, even very good. Its fruit has been described as mild and rich in flavor (both?), and its tree as a hardy and prolific. It was “superseded by others” apparently because the fruit is small and not especially attractive (pale yellow with russeting).
I’d like to hear from someone with actual experience with it.
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I now have two Roman Stem trees using scionwood from the Temperate Orchard Conservancy received in 2022. Within a few years I should have answers to my own question.
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Our first and only Roman Stem apple. It has only been two years since I grafted it. The variety got its name from the fleshy protuberance near stalk. It is occasionally missing, so we were glad our first one was characteristic. Several old pomological books have called its rich, pleasant flavor very good, excellent, or even best. It first appeared in New Jersey in 1817 of unknown origin. S.A. Beach in Apples of New York wrote that it spread south and west but was never much grown in New York State. It is practically unknown now because it was not suited for commercial purposes. Too small. Too drab. Not an especially good keeper. It is supposed to be juicy, but we’ll have to wait until mid-October to give it a taste test.
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