Continuing the discussion from Goldrush apples appear to have escaped the dreaded PC:
How did sieversii do? How do they taste?
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@BobVance I would love to hear any further updates of your Sieversii apple experience. I just ordered a #13 from Cummins to graft and am very excited to test these out! Mostly, how have they done with disease/pests and how are they fresh eating? Cummins now has about 8 different kinds.
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I grafted #4, #5, and #13 to use in breeding. So far I have only tasted #5. It just has a generic green jolly rancher flavor with no complexity. It is fine for fresh eating if you like a tart apple, but not compelling. I don’t have much for disease/pests so I can’t comment on that, other than the birds seemed to like them. #4 is flowering this year so I can report back later.
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The possibility of growing apple trees entirely without spray is what gets me most excited to grow fruit! This Malus Sieversii species, as well as learning about their origin, is where I want to begin. I have one species, #13, from Cummins grafted and I am hoping to breed these and plant seeds and transition to these apples ONLY on my property. I have placed a request from the USDA for 12 more varieties but their website (at checkout) says they do not provide them for backyard use, but only for college-level studying. I sent a request anyways, pleading my case. @39thparallel I think you have mentioned ordering from the USDA before…any advice? I wonder if @SkillCult would be interested in this as well, they even have some red flesh variety M. Sieversii.
The two videos im attaching are excellent, even though one is in french (?) and the other has poor sound quality, you can get the gist and see how amazing a real fruit forest looks over in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
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Does anyone have other sources for obtaining scion wood from these trees in the U.S.?
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I thought I had read on the Geneva G.R.I.N. website they had pounds of wild collected seed for dispersal, from their expedition years ago?
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if you know a way to hunt those down, please share
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I got some sieversii scions for breeding years ago from Geneva before their big fireblight outbreak. I got to taste one last year for the first time. I must have accidently deleted the video of me reviewing it, so I don’t remember which one it was. It was pretty sweet, low acid, generic red apple flavor (plenty of it), and the worst mealy texture I’ve ever experienced. I would definitely eat it and not complain, but I would always make a comment about the texture, lol. If you want scions of what I’ve got send me a message next fall/early winter.
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I think you’re onto something there. The fruit would solve the disease issues themselves with more natural selection. I’ll be grafting a few more interesting Russian apples. The gene pool of American apples is super stagnant mostly originating from Reinette Franche
Botner had the Kazakhstan apples. I would contact Temperate Orchard Conservancy Nick Botners Apple Collection - General Fruit Growing - Growing Fruit
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I’ve got three Kazak varieties here from GRIN. I believe they were all grown out at U of MN from seed obtained in Kazakhstan.
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Well now, looking back at my notes, when I tasted my first sieversii apple last year it was likely way overripe, which would explain the bad texture. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on when they ripen this year.
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I sent them a message, i’ll see what they say. Thanks for the reference
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Be prepared to be patient with TOC. Its all volunteer to the best of my knowledge. They have always gotten back to me, but sometimes it takes a while
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I thought anyone interested in the Sieversii apples that Cummins offers scions for would appreciate what I found on the USDA ARS website for each variety in regards to pictures:
PI 613991 #2
PI 613989 #9
PI 613994 #12
hybr. PI 613984 #8
hybr. PI 613985 #6
hybr. PI 613987 #5
hybr. PI 613988 #4
hybr. PI 613978 #13
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Almost done cross pollinating for the year. So far I have done:
#4 x Macoun
Cox’s Orange Pippin x #4
Cox’s Orange Pippin x #5
Cherry Crush x #4
Cherry Crush x #5
Pink Parfait x #5
I should have more seeds than I can plant, so if anyone is interested they will be available in the fall.
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Have you been able to try #4 and #5 and can comment on eating experience and disease resistance?
See my comment earlier in the thread: Sieversii malus - #3 by Bryant
England’s Orchard and Nursery has Kazak apples listed in the scion wood collection.
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Cummins Nursery has recently posted a few tasting videos on youtube:
Sieversii #8 (PI 613984) Apple Tasting
Sieversii #2 (PI 613991) Apple Tasting
Sieversii #9 (PI 613989) Apple Tasting
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Kind of anti-climactic haha
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