Haralson is a dern good apple, but my crop of one was not a particularly good one this year. It was on the tough side -a little leathery-skinned, in fact- but that was its greatest failing. But inside it was much better, particularly if you like sweet, subacid apples. I would have been OK with a little more sharpness, but this apple has really good flavor, juice, crispness and crunch that it’s enjoyable as it is. I was surprised when I cut into it that it had bled red under the skin and from the calyx. It was striking to look at. (I may have let it hang too long, which could account for some of my comments.) Haralson is a Wealthy/Malinda cross. I don’t know Malinda, but Wealthy is quite a good apple.
I have enjoyed good vigor from my Montana Red, but I’ll be working the branches over to something else. It’s not distinctive nor particularly tasty. Seemed bland and just tolerable, but not good. Save your energy, at least here in Western Montana, a mere 125 miles from where it was bred. I’ll be putting Esopus Spitzenberg or some other well-regarded classic in it’s place if somebody is kind enough to share. Heck, I might even spring a few bucks and buy a stick!
