In east central, sk, by the, “gov’t” map z3b, I figure we’re at Best z3a.
Growing 4 apples, norkent(tough as nails), mn447(doing well), williams pride(with winter protection, surviving and producing but have lost a couple trees) and sweet 16.
Winter protection first 2 yrs(tied up, wrapped in burlap, small square bales to protect the graft); this year some pretty serious winter injury on the sweet 16’s. They’re flowering, but they took a hit, and last winter wasn’t overly hard. (4th yr, most times we winter protect for 3 yrs then they’re on their own to live or die)
Have some space in daughters orchard, MP favorite so far is williams pride but frankly we’re zone pushing and expect losses. Nothing against norkent, real nice apple pear flavor, But, the hide is thick. Not sour, but don’t like the mouth feel; peeled, great apple.
Haven’t seen a 447 to ripeness yet, shows promise.
The sweet 16’s I’m thinking they may be a saleable apple, but if they won’t make it here, ………
Understand this project is daughters orchard, what we grow needs to be saleable and fairly reliable.
I have 3 Sweet 16 trees on M.111 and it’s yet to bloom (grafted in 2018 or ‘19). I think it would have bloomed this spring, but I pruned it hard because it’s so upright and I hadn’t pulled branches down like I should have. It’s been hardy for me in Z4a, no winter kill. I think we got down to -26F. My biggest hesitation with this tree is the reported licorice flavor, I’m not sure how attractive that would be in the general apple market.
I have two Sweet 16 that made it through their first winter. One is on B118 and the other on Siberian Crab rootstock. We’ll see how they’re doing in 4 or 5 years. We hit -40 last winter, as per usual.
It’s the only apple I grafted last year that didn’t make through the Winter here in zone 7a, but that was probably just bad luck. Isn’t it a UMN release?
Licorice gets a bad rap. Basil can be pretty licoricey, and people usually like it. Depends on if it’s mouth numbing and mediciney, I think usually turns people off it.
I was in our hobby orchard just north of Winnipeg (Z3) today. I looked at the two Sweet 16 grafts I did last spring. Neither put on a lot of growth last year. One topworked on September Ruby had significant die-back this spring, to just a couple inches above the graft. The other was on Norkent and that one was hardy to the tip. What I take away from that is in a rural area on the Canadian prairies, you are likely to see damage some winters with Sweet 16. And last winter was a cold one here with a winter minimum of -35C (-31F) with plenty of -20 F and colder temps. That is the coldest in several winters.
I plan to graft William’s Pride in the unprotected part of the orchard soon. Good to know that you have had some success keeping it alive. Another PRI apple (Crimson Crisp) that I am trying unprotected didn’t fare as well. Grafted in the top of a September Ruby last spring, had good growth last summer but stone dead this spring.
Might work better to topwork the Sweet 16 on a hardy variety like Norkent. That way if the Sweet 16 dies altogether, there is a good chance the main tree will survive and you can regraft and be back in production on Sweet 16 in a few years. But yeah, it is a lot of work.
The licorice/anise note is real but it’s pretty subtle on a fully ripe fruit — more of a background complexity than something that dominates. Worth tasting at a farmers market or u-pick before committing if you’re growing for a general market though.
Making it up as I go, lol. Have plastic tree protectors at base, weed whip around trees, takes little time to do.
Used to till the, “rows” and hand hoe the, “runs”; watered by hand with garden hoses(hauled water in tanks). Put in a dugout so can water with impact sprinklers and last spring seeded to white clover. No more tilling or hoeing.(or hauling water)
I had Sweet 16 here in north central Sask. zone 2a and it lasted 10 years but succumbed to fire blight, my new tree has just reached 8 feet and is blossoming this year. I was not overly thrilled with the apple though. But I have done many apple trials. Here is what is still surviving for me with no winter protection, no burlap etc.
Honey Gold- I gave one to my sister in Winnipeg and it produced for years ( fire blight took it out) but it is hands down a great apple for southern Manitoba, my tree is small and has yet to bloom as I had to re-graft it when the mice girdled the tree. It does experience some dieback in my area.
Sweet 16- little die back
Chestnut- little die back but not enough to be a bother
Trailman -hardy
Norkent- hardy
Kerr -hardy
Sept. Ruby -hardy
Goodland- hardy
Wickson Crab yet to blossom it is young but again no die back yet.
State Fair- first year blossoming for me, no die back in any winter yet and I am looking forward to tasting the apple
Wealthy- again no die back and this year is the first time I will be able to taste it
In my unheated greenhouse,( so it does reach -40C or lower if that happens, but these are definitely wind protected and they have yet to blossom as they are too young)
Golden Russet- no die back
Cortland- no die back
