Watauga County Cooperative Extension Apple Tree Sale 2021

Old Fashioned Heirloom Apples: Bare root plants, orchard ready, 2 yr. old transplants, approximately 4-5 ft. 15-20 ft. at maturity: Grafted which means the top part is an heirloom apple variety, the top is joined together with a root system from a variety called m-111, a semi-dwarf root system that is resistant to diseases and will keep the tree from growing as tall as the heirloom variety (35ft or more) Ø Space 15 feet apart, 4-5 years to significant fruit production, but will get some fruit sooner. Ø All apples are heirloom varieties that have a history of being grown locally in the southern Appalachians. No longer commercially grown, we are wanting to preserve our local agricultural heritage. These apples are well suited to our environment. Ø Most apple trees need another variety to cross pollinate for optimum fruit production, the neighbor’s apple trees and even seedling apple trees nearby help with this pollination. A few varieties are self-fertile. Plant apple varieties that bloom at the same time. A really early apple will not pollinate a very late apple.

APPLE, HARVEST, PHOTO DESCRIPTION HISTORY/MISCELLANEOUS USAGE Carolina Red June small to medium with smooth, dark • Thought to have originated in TN June-July red skin and is slightly conical in ap- • Sometimes blooms twice and produces a small fall pearance. The tender, fine-grained crop Fresh eating, sauce flesh is white and sometimes stained • Unlike most early season varieties which fail to de- Summer apples don’t store with red when eating. Sweet. velop a full balance of flavors in their short ripening well period, Carolina Red June has a high quality flavor Fallawater Large to very large with dull green skin • Originated in Pennsylvania around 1842. October harvest shaded with red. Flesh greenish white, • Grows well at higher altitudes in the South. coarse and mild with slightly sweet fla- • Keeps well, stores into Feb. in refrigeration Good for fresh eating, bak- vor ing, and dries well.

Golden Pippin Large, roundish fruit with a uniform • Originated as an American apple around 1880, the Late September-Oct shape. Skin is greenish-gold ripening original parentage is unknown. A distinct variety to deep gold. The flesh is yellowish, from the better known English variety, English Fresh eating, baking, juice tender and juicy with a sharp, sweet Golden Pippin intense, bright, complex. fruity fla- • Popular in Watauga County in the early 1900’s Good Keeper vor

Jarret Small to medium with red stripes with • Originating in Watauga County, North Carolina but September a strikingly full sweet flavor. Turning little known outside of northwest NC bright red as it ripens; it usually has a conical shape. The flesh is yellow, ten- dessert apple der, fine grained and juicy.

McIntosh Medium size, glossy, dark red apple, • Originated in Ontario, Canada about 1811 by a farmer September crisp and juicy white flesh, sweet fla- clearing his land; National apple of Canada vor, with refreshing • Easy to grow, stores in cold storage for 6 months Excellent for sauce and ci- acidity and nuances of spice. der, Good for fresh eating,

Old Fashioned Winesap Medium sized, dark yellow skin with • Originated New Jersey about 1800, well-known in the October/November stripes of dark red, yellow flesh is South crisp, firm, juicy, sweet. • Easy to grow even in clay, resistant to cedar apple Good for baking stays firm, rust, stores well 3 months or more cider, fresh eating, fair for sauce or butter

Roxbury Russet Medium to large with dull greenish- • It is the oldest American apple and was introduced September-October yellow to golden colored skin covered in Roxbury, Massachusetts with the arrival of the with a rough brownish-yellow russet Pilgrims. Fresh eating, cider, firm in coat, making it resistant to apple scab. • The most popular russet apple grown in the south pies The greenish-white flesh is coarse, Good Keeper firm and juicy with a pleasing, com- plex sweet/tart flavor.

Summer Rambo large and is often ribbed with unequal • This apple is of French origin. August-Sept sides. Skin is greenish yellow washed • The fruit can be picked while still green for frying, with pink and carmine on the sun ex- pies and applesauce. Firm when cooked. frying, pies and applesauce posed side. The greenish yellow flesh is tart, coarse, tender and very juicy.

Swiss Limbertwig Medium size, square and compact, • Originated 1700’s grown by Swiss settlers in Cumber- October somewhat rough to touch, red with land Mtns. some yellow, and white dots. Crisp, • Easy to grow and excellent for storing. Excellent for fresh eating, unusual sweet flavor with notes of cit- cider, firm when baked rus.

Virginia Beauty Medium to large, conical shape, dark • Originated about 1810 in Piper’s Gap Community of October harvest red to purplish skin, fine grained, ten- Carroll Co, VA by Zach Safewright. der crisp flesh, mildly sweet. • Classic mountain eating and pie apple Good for fresh eating, dry- • Easy to grow and excellent for storing ing, and cooking, firm when baked. Good keeper Winter Banana smooth, waxy, pale yellow skin and • Diploid, self-fertile apple, meaning that it not only Sept.-October pinkish-red blush, the Winter Banana pollinates itself, but also serves as a very effective is an extremely attractive apple pollinizer for other apple trees Fresh eating, dessert apple, mild, sweet flavor. highly aromatic • Late bloomer, a trait which can protect it from the cider apple with a pleasant, perfumed occasional late spring freeze

aroma that some people discern as • Precocious apple, often producing fruit in the sec-

banana ond or third year after planting.

Wolf River Large, irregular in shape, greenish yel- • Well-known in Southern Appalachians, originated September-October low color, red and carmine stripes, about 1870 along Wolf River, Wisconsin flesh coarse grained and moderately • Frost hardy and generally disease resistant Good for sauce/apple but- juicy, complex sweet/tart flavor. • Fairly easy to grow stores 1-2 months ter, fresh eating, drying

Yellow Transparent Medium size, transparent yellow skin, • Originated in Russia and imported by the USDA in Late June/July harvest (ear- tender fined grained and juicy, sweet 1870 liest apple) and tangy. • Easy to grow and disease resistant but not good for storing. Average for fresh eating. • Pick while green for best flavor Makes excellent clear apple sauce Kinnaird’s Choice Dwarf The fruit is med to large and roundish • Grafted on dwarf rootstock will mature to 10 ft. (10 ft) Geneva 202 root- with thick, tough yellow skin almost • Must be supported, root system cannot hold weight stock completely covered with deep red of fruit October when exposed to the sun. The yellow, • Will need deer protection fine-grained aromatic flesh is tender, • This Tennessee apple originated in about Fresh eating, baking, juice, crisp and juicy, mildly subacid. 1855, possibly as a cross between a Winesap and cider Limbertwig,

** Very limited only 6 avail- able

Razor Russet Dwarf (10 large, symmetrical round to some- • Grafted on dwarf rootstock will mature to 10 t. ft) what conical and uniformly golden- • Must be supported, root system cannot hold weight Geneva 202 rootstock brown. Russeted skin, which is re- of fruit Late September sistant to Apple scab. Flavor is rich • Will need deer protection and robust with a little more spiciness • Discovered as a limb mutation of Golden Delicious than Golden Delicious. in Kentucky • Very productive **Very limited only 6 available