Not really necessary to think about just yet, but I can’t help myself. I have 7 espalier apples against my back fence, which I intend to multi-graft some of the upper rungs on. Since I spend entirely too much time fiddling my grandiose plans on this subject, I have a spreadsheet with all the varieties I’d like to have represented, their various pros and cons, vigor, etc.
I find myself lacking data on some of the varieties and also would love to hear anyone’s reports on them, especially anyone growing small scale in New England.
My guidelines thus far are to favor varieties that are relatively easier to grow and relatively resistance to disease. Of course I have to break this rule on multiple counts to go after favored varieties.
Thus far my biggest problem has been cedar apple rust, but it is early days yet and anyway I’m not sure I have CAR bad enough to really damage fruit production or tree health. I want to stick to organic treatments, if any, though I realize I live in a part of the country where that may not be feasible. The only outfit I’ve heard of growing apples organically in New England is Michael Philips’ place in New Hampshire. Everyone else seems to do IPM. On the other hand you see trees in people’s yards which make plenty of slightly blemished apples without them doing anything at all to the tree.
So what is on the menu for next spring is grafting on some new varieties to the third rung of my trellis on three of the trees. Thus I need to select three varieties (I’m aiming to preserve symmetry within a tree by having the same variety on both sides of a single rung). Pretty sure I’m going to put King David on one based on good reviews here on both taste and growing convenience, which leaves two slots. If there are high vigor varieties I’m going to do, I’d rather get them in at rung 3, leaving higher rungs for less vigorous types.
What I’m looking at:
Canadian Strawberry
This variety is talked up pretty good by John Bunker in the Fedco catalog, but no one else has any information on it. Has anyone here grown it? How vigorous? Problems? Is it as tasty as the Fedco catalog says?
Baldwin
I like these apples a lot when I’ve had them commercially grown, and they have a local heritage. OrangePippin reports that they take greater than average growing skill and are susceptible to CAR, which gives me some reservations. Anyone have an experience to share on growability? It is reported to be high vigor so if I’m going to use it, I’d like it to be lower rather than higher.
Karmijn de Sonnaville
Sounds like a tasty cox type apple. Listed as high vigor, so I’d rather put it on this year if I’m going to use it.
Knobbed Russet
This apple looks so crazy I want to grow some. No idea how hard it is to grow or what it’s vigor is.
Calville Blanc d’Hiver
There was a good thread on this one already at this forum which I’ve read through; thanks for that.
Hoople’s Antique Gold
Never heard of this one before, but saw it near the top of Scott’s list so I’m interested. Anyone grow it in New England?
Redfield
CAR or other issues? I got some scion from Fedco year before last to practice grafting on wild trees and they seemed kind of small diameter. I’ve had this apple before and it is pretty good for pies and cider, not bad eating, and I do want one red flesh variety.
Pitmaston Pine Apple
Looks interesting, Scott’s list rated it well.