Recommended Apple Varieties For Kentucky

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS CHAPTER FRUIT TREE SALE

The Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of SWCS has obtained cherry, peach, apple and pear trees for our winter/spring 2010 fund-raising activity. These trees will be sold for $20 each (see attached information sheet) through March. Use the attached information sheet to sell the trees. Orders need to be received by March 25, 2011. We will obtain the trees in early April, and members of the fund-raising committee will coordinate and assist with the distribution of trees to the participating SWCS members. Each member will then be responsible for distribution of trees to their respective customers. Forward orders to Cindy King at 100 E. Penn Avenue, Georgetown, KY 40324 or email to [email protected].

Tart cherries (also called pie cherry) are generally considered self-pollinating. Peaches, apples and pears generally require a second variety for pollination. These fruit trees are pollinated by insects (primarily by bees). The trees need to be close enough that pollen may be transferred from one to another. Front and back yard is fine. In a residential setting, neighbor's trees a few houses down the street will generally work OK. Over time, the trees may reach 15 feet tall or so. Tart cherries are one of the easiest fruits to grow, and generally require very little attention (except to notice that the birds are eating all the cherries). The peach tree cultivars were selected from among the cultivars evaluated/recommended by the University of Kentucky. Querina (also known as Florina) is a newer apple from France and is considered disease resistant. Asian pears are becoming very popular in Kentucky and are quite productive. In fact, thinning the fruit is generally recommended to improve size and flavor. The Olympic Asian pear has been evaluated/recommended by the University of Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society sells fruit trees as a fundraiser to support our college scholarship program and endowment fund. The Chapter annually awards three, $1,000 scholarships to students attending Kentucky colleges and majoring in natural resources, agriculture, or engineering. A portion of the funds is added to the over $25,000 Chapter endowment fund set up to make the scholarship program more self-sufficient.

If you have any questions or comments about the trees or about the fund-raising program, please contact Cindy King (502-863-2466). ANY MEMBER HAVING ACCESS TO A LOCAL NEWSLETTER OR BULLETIN BOARD MAY USE THE ATTACHED NEWS RELEASE.

FRUIT TREE SALE! The Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society is offering a limited supply of cherry, peach and apple trees for sale for $20 each through spring 2011. These are fine varieties for home and garden use, carefully selected for Kentucky growing conditions. Support the Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of SWCS and experience the joy of growing your own fruit! Select from the following varieties:

Montmorency Cherry - Bright red tart cherry with yellow flesh and clear juice. Good for canning and freezing. Popular cultivar in Kentucky for many years. Self-fertile. Ripens mid-July

Redhaven Peach - Among the best commercial cultivars. Yellow fleshed freestone peach, recommended for Kentucky. Early season, ripens in early August. Redskin Peach - Yellow fleshed freestone peach, recommended for Kentucky. Late season, ripens five to six weeks after Redhaven.

Querina Apple - Disease resistant apple from France (also known as Florina). Ripens in early October. Fruit is sweet and aromatic,SOLD OUTwith maroon-red blush over light green.

Olympic Asian Pear – Also known as Korean Giant and Hardy Giant. Large, highly russeted fruit. One of the better keepingSOLD Asian OUT Pears. Ripens late September.

Blake’s Pride European Pear – A new pear from fruit breeders at USDA’s Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, W. Va. This fruit has a sweet rich flavor and ripens mid- season (early September). Good resistance to fire blight.

Shenandoah European Pear – A new pear from fruit breeders at USDA’s Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, W. Va. Large fruit, ripens late September. Good fire blight resistance.

Bluebyrd Plum – Released by USDA in 1998, excellent European type plum for home garden use. Fruit is blue with amber flesh, medium to large in size with excellent flavor and high sugar content. Has demonstrated good resistance to black knot. Requires cross pollination. Ripens in September.

Green Gage Plum – Very popular cultivar in Europe for home gardens. Fruit is yellow-green with red mottling and has a very rich flavor. Ripens in August.

CHERRY, PEACH, APPLE, PEAR AND PLUM TREE SALE

Sponsored by the Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of the Soil & Water Conservation Society

Trees priced $20 each. SOLD TO: ADDRESS:

PHONE:

QUANTITY VARIETY TOTAL PRICE

Please make checks payable to Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter SWCS. Send orders to Martha Newby 180 Beasley Road Versailles, KY 40383

or: [email protected]

Orders must be received by March 25, 2011. SOLD BY: