What is the differences between Fuji apple varieties?

General Fruit Growing
21

Photos can only help so much, there can be a lot of variation in appearance based on growing conditions and climate. I had fruit from a single tree look fairly different in two consecutive years, see nectarines photos below:

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This is the closest stock photo to the original Fuji that I used to pick from a Maryland orchard:

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22

Beni Shogun is an early Fuji sport, ripen almost a month before the original Fuji. It should be ready for harvest within the next couple weeks in your zone 7a. If it’s ripen at the end of October, it’s probably the regular Fuji.
I also bought a Beni Shogun Fuji on G11 from Cummins last year. Hopefully it will fruit some next year.

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23

Published ripening dates usually correspond to the minimum ripeness that can attract customers; I.e. minimum ripeness necessary to sell. I like to leave my fruits a few extra weeks so they build high level of sugar and flavor. I will pick one around mid October to test it.

Today I picked Rising Sun Fuji at a local orchard, it was pretty good. Not as flavorful as original Fuji, but sweet enough and similar texture. Good candidate for late September/early October apple. I also picked what the owner believe was Buckeye Gala, and it was very good, much better than another Gala that he had. It was as dark in color as a Red Delicious, but had the shape and taste of Gala.

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24

I picked two Fujis from my tree on Oct 21 and another two today (Oct 27), the first two were sweet tart, to me are good, but not great. One of the two picked today was very sweet (20 brix), slight tartness and to me is perfect, it is hard to believe that one extra week makes such big difference…

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Note how red this one is; the original Fuji does not get that red. They have acquired that color since late September/early October. I believe what I have is Beni Shogun Fuji, not the original.

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25

Thanks for the report. Now I know when to pick them next year. Glad we got a good one.

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26

The wikipedia page for Fuji has a table for patented sports. Varieties are often marketed under trademark names. For example:

  • September Wonder Fuji is a registered trademark for the Fiero sport.
  • Daybreak Fuji is an unregistered trademark for the Rankin Red sport.
  • Rising Sun Fuji is a registered trademark for the unpatented Earlired cultivar, which was discovered by Chuck Gilmer of Augusta, MI. Here is link to the original description provided to the USPTO during the application process.

FYI, this mostly a note to my future self. :wink:

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