I grow Milo Gibson with a conventional spray program although I miss a few sprays at the orchard where it’s planted. I’m still getting to know the variety, but it seems to have some scab susceptibility. I don’t think rootstock choice affects disease resistance. If you’re not going to spray, the best thing you can do is focus on pruning for maximum sunlight and airflow penetration.
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I bought a 1/2 peck of ‘Crimson Topaz’ from Champlain Orchards a couple of weeks ago, and was somewhat impressed by the flavor. There’s almost a jackfruit or bubble gum quality to them that is noticeable but not overbearing. Pretty good apples for March too.
I bought some Calville Blanc d’ Hiver around New Years and indeed @alan, they got pretty soft even sitting in the 35 degree mudroom for a few weeks. My daughter and I made a pie with them finally though and it was excellent. Great flavor and they did hold their shape even though soft and borderline mealy.
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You never really know with the heirlooms unit you try. Golden russet takes some FB strikes here but seem resilient. BTW there are two types of golden russet. I’m sure mine is the American type. It’s very similar to Roxbury. Another flavor bomb that doesn’t have to many issues for me here is Bogo Belle de Boskoop. More of a cooker because of their size.
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I have not had a Spigold. I can’t think of a Golden D Cross that doesn’t have good flavor. I have never had a great apple off Northern Spy here. It might not like our summers.
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Sorry that you have not had a good Northern Spy apple. It is one of the best apples I have in my orchard. I am in SW Ohio. We still get a lot of hot and humid days here and it still does well here.
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Worth a try to find out, Mike. Spigold is one of our favorites here; it’s a big apple that’s much better than you expect it to be. Don’t know how well it keeps, as we just Hoover them all up.
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My eyes lit up first time I ate one of my Spigolds; could not imagine an apple tasting any better. It’s worth the wait!
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the few apple grafts I did this year included ZR, because of your post! also a claygate pearmain, and a small piece of a Milo Gibson and a bud of Roxbury russet.
I haven’t found hunge anywhere over the ordering season so maybe next year! that cheesy nutty flavor is what I like, and russets
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You wont regret grafting those!
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I noticed in the ASN bags there are a fair amount of cider apples and perry pears.
I decided to keep some Wild Serbian Pyroblaster pear to see how it is as a rootstock. Supposed to make huge trees.
I have limited space for cider apples and only planned on cider sweets/subacid types that were eaters and/or cookers too.
When I get time I will research what they sent. There are at least 6 cider apple varieties. I need to seperate what will be lower chill types to put them in the grafting class group.
Still going to have a ton of scions that will not fruit here though. Most are 800-1200 hour types.
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This fall, check in with Big Horse Creek Farm. They reliably carry Hunge scionwood.
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thank you!
Hope they come back next season. If you noticed this year they did not have many of their trees available this season. Between the hurricane and ill health they definitely decreased operations.
I’m doing Roxbury and Claygate this year as well…couldn’t find Milo Gibson in stock when I was purchasing scion, but that may be on the wishlist next year. Although based on Mike’s scab obs maybe I’ll reconsider.
I’m adding some New England (somewhat) disease resistant heirlooms this year…Roxbury, Black Oxford, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Northfield Beauty, and some scions from old VT trees from Buzz Ferver.
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We grow Frostbite, and it’s very distinctive. I think of the flavor as "malty."the first time i tasted it, it felt so odd. But now it’s one oc our favorites. Crunchy and a good keeper, too.
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Just grafted Black Oxford. Basically to compare it with Arkansas Black. Trees of Antiquity claims Black Oxford is low chill. Taking a leap of faith there.
Also doing a Baldwin. And I want a Milden to plant with it. As there was some market interchangability back in the day.
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Seems counter intuitive that an apple from Maine would be low chill 
but it is an early bloomer so there may be some truth to that. I find here in northern Arizona that the early bloomers are generally low chill. Do you grow Yellow Hamilton? Larry from Southern Heritage Orchard swears by it. It also seems to leaf out and bloom quite early and he states it’s definitely low chill and excels in the hot humid south.
No. I have Chickasaw from him that is doing well. Going to get Umfress from him next.
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Walden Heights up near here in VT has a good selection with scion available.
https://waldenheightsnursery.com/product-category/plants/apple-tree/
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I haven’t had the chance to try it yet but I just grafted it in this year along with sweet 16. Here is to hoping.
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