This has been tough to figure out.
I’ve been waffling back and forth on what to do.
I’m grafting over Kidd’s Orange Red on G11 onto the top of my G30 Jonamac and giving that tree to my parents in a couple of years. So, I’ll have a spot for a tree after digging it up. Its just not doing that well.
Fruit is OK, but not that dissimilar from Gala to me. Seems to be a curcullio magnet. Will keep it going on the top of the Jonamac, which needs the top restructured after having a split in the wood this year.
I have a G935 rootstock ready to be grafted and I’ve had a hard time narrowing the list down to 1.
Goal is to graft this spring.
I live on the border of 5a and 5b zones in Upstate NY. I’d prefer a diploid if possible.
My soil is sandy, light and my fruit size a little small. I have to water my trees in dry spells to get decent fruit size.
What I have now minus Kidd’s:
Jonamac (Diploid)
Orleans Reinette (Triploid)
Pomme Grise (Diploid)
Reine des Reinettes (Diploid)
Belle de Boskoop (Triploid)
What has been rattling around as options:
Reinette Grise could be the original Pomme Grise? Derek Mills says its not a productive tree. Both him and Dan Bussey agree its tasty though. Diploid.
https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1018300
Zabergau Reinette Quality seems variable, but solid in the south, what about the north? Triploid.
https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1012481
Harrison Tried this during one of Burford’s last Monticello taste tests, really was the star for me, even fresh. Honestly, compared to the north I thought most of the apples were garbage at Monticello. We had the samples on Columbus day weekend. Harrison is a small apple, probably would be a thinning project, Diploid.
https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1901606
My yard gets shady in September and beyond, so my apples are usually better flavored than orchards around here since the fruit stays cool, but I do seem to have some minor rot struggles in rainy autumns.
I’d like to have all apples off my trees by 3rd week in October which is 1 week after Red Delicious here.
Not sure how apples that do well in Virginia/Atlantic area would do here in New York.
I wouldnt dare try something like GoldRush here.
Advice? They all intrigue me.
Thanks!
-Eric