North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ed & Pat Fackler <rocmdw@aye.net>]

dwalsh/wchase wrote:

> When your apples 'crack', does the skin separate and allow you to see the 
> flesh
> below?     Do moulds then cause the cracks to decay?
>
> The 'cracks' I get in HGG are not as above.   There is no splitting of the 
> skin,
> no baring of flesh. (I will pay more attention to them next year when the 
> apples
> are really small).

>
>
> I think the HGG cracks are fairly unique and are not actually 'cracks'.  The
> result is a deformed apple with big ridges and furrows, but no broken skin.

     My response----------

     Derry, the so-called cracks in HGG occur just when the fruit is being 
formed
(immediately after petal fall) and I think the reason is simply interaction of
moisture (on fruit) with sunlight.  Also the skin on many, if not most 
russets is
brittle and often very thin.
     Since the baby apples are in rapid growth and related cell division, 
there is an
equally rapid healing.  Therefore the "cracks" look as you've described.  
I've never
seen this in other varieties, only HGG.
     Re: characters, here HGG is shy or developing fruit buds (pink, onward) 
are
frost sensative, hence it is generally a lite cropper.  Flavor is what Lon has
described, or a very rich pear-like (some anyway), size is generlly good (due 
to lite
crop).  Leaves on HGG are georgeous, brilliantly dark emerald green, and very 
long.
     The tree is easily managed with good branch angles.

     Hope this helps.

ed


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