Will the real Golden Russet please stand up?

[murky]

Which one did we decide it is? GRIN only lists one Golden Russet as well. Its the one I have. I assume that is the one Alan is talking about.

[AndySmith]

Same here, my scion came from Geneva. I don’t recall what the verdict was on what they have in their collection.

[scottfsmith]

I think it is the one called Golden Russet in Beach’s Apples of NY. It is called Golden Russet of Western NY / English Golden Russet in the Hoskins article above. That article makes a good move by not calling any of them “Golden Russet”, as Andy mentions that name is a generic and is one of the reasons why all the names got scrambled over the years. Rusty Coat is another generic name for a russeted apple, same problem there as well.

I think Bullock aka American Golden Russet, and English Russet, are generally considered to be two distinct varieties both from themselves and from Golden Russet of Beach and of modern commerce.

Note that there are several “Golden Russet” descriptions on nursery pages that have them mixed up still, I’m not sure if its not just the description mixed up and the apple they are selling is the Beach GR.

[JinMA]

I am growing Wheeler’s Golden Russet, which is supposed to be a sport of Beach’s Golden Russet (and is different from the Wheeler’s Russet that originated in the UK). It’s bearing fruit for the first time this year and I will be interested to see what it’s like.

The first year of fruit from our Hunt Russet was only partly russeted, much more similar to the top picture than the bottom one, but actually a little more red:

Hunt Russet *

Hunt Russet Apples | Local Apple From Concord

I’ll try to remember to take some pictures this year.

[alan]

@scottfsmith

Ashmeads it is not as complete a russet as other russets.

I grow both on the same tree and both came from Cummins. One is totally russeted every year and ripens in late Sept, the other has just a bit of russet and ripens a couple weeks later here. both are similarly flavored and textured with high acid and sugar.

Perhaps the fully russeted tree is mislabeled and I should try to grow AK from still another source. The russet version has much more acid than any other russet I’ve tasted and when fully ripe is world class.

[rossn]

@Vohd

Mine is from Trees of Antiquity and looks generally like the image it has . I would say the image that the UK National Fruit Collection has in its entry it for ‘American Golden Russet’ is a different variety from what my tree produces. I’ll try to follow up with a picture.

After reading this thread, I’m a bit fuzzy still, but it sounds like the desirable version of Golden Russett is the sweet, syrupy, which is the one preferred for cider making, and the one that is sourced to most commercial orchards.

I saw @scottfsmith’s comment in post 7 about Cummins, ToA, Grandpa’s and Fed being EGR, but I think his later comment reversed that?

My source for scionwood got their tree from Trees of Antiquity. @Vohd , can you confirm if yours from ToA is the very sweet, syrup-like apple with significant russetting?

[scottfsmith]

@rossn

I saw @scottfsmith’s comment in post 7 about Cummins, ToA, Grandpa’s and Fed being EGR, but I think his later comment reversed that?

If I did I didn’t mean to, EGR is the common sweet syrupy one in the US at least if you go by the old Apples of NY book. English Russet is a different one, it’s not English Golden Russet. American Golden Russet should be called Bullock IMHO to not get it mixed up. EGR is always called Golden Russet by nurseries in the US today.

[rossn]

Thanks for clarifying. Nothing unclear here, for sure

I think I got turned around by post 8 referencing ACN as AGR and Cummins as EGR, and then the conversation with you and Alan mentioning they’re probably the same. Sounds like if I get wood from a ToA tree, it’s the desirable one.

Thanks for straightening me out!

[roth2000]

Oh they are all desirable, just depends on what you’re looking for

[roth2000]

Do you not have a russet addiction yet, I know I do.

[Lodidian]

Still waiting for our American Golden Russet trees from Century Farms and Golden Russet tree from Schlabach’s to produce multiple fruit in the same year, so I can do a good direct comparison. Last year looked to be The Year, based on all the blossoms, but then the killer frost in May happened. This year?

[rossn]

@scottfsmith

Here is a rough breakdown of the current guess of who is selling what:

AGR:
ACN (as GR), Botner (as AGR), Fedco (as Bullock)

EGR:
Cummins (as GR), Trees of Antiquity (as GR), Grampas (as GR), Fedco (as GR)

For posterity, here is what Trees of Antiquity replied to me with about their ‘Golden Russet’:
“The golden Russet caliber that we carry traces its roots back to upstate NY in the late 1800s, potentially originating from the English Russet variety. On the other hand, the Bullock varietal we offer is the American Golden Russet. Both are distinctive in their own right, offering u Kaye flavors and qualities.”

[dannytoro1]

At Bernewolde there are 2 Golden Russets in the UK according to them. Allgrove and Clarke’s. Neither from the USA.

English Russet is just a term that gets tossed at many cultivars from the UK, usually Egremont or Rusty Leather Coat.

Golden Reinette gets tossed in the " English Golden Russet" Synonym box just for more confusion.