North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Pete Tallman" <pete_tallman@hotmail.com>]

I had the same problem of cracking with Cox Orange Pippin (mine was on 
MM106), and to some extent with its offspring Karmijn de Sonnaville. I 
originally (probably wrongly) attributed the cracking to frost damage with 
our erratic weather, so I topworked Cox over to Pitmaston Pineapple a couple 
of Springs ago. In October 2003, the Cider Digest newsletters issues 1086, 
1087, and 1088 included a thread concerning Cox Orange Pippin which caused 
me to change my mind on Cox. The note from Jim Cummins said an excess of 
Nitrogen could be the cause. I'm letting one of the suckers grow on the 
topworked Cox to see if I can get Cox it back now to try again, and I'm 
withholding fertilizer from both Cox and Karmijn to see if I can make a go 
of it again. Good looking crop on Karmijn so far this spring, but expect 
some cracking to begin soon.

I'm attaching the relevant notes from Cider Digest with permission of Dick 
Dunn, the administrator.

BTW - I have not seen Cider Digest mentioned much on this reflector. It is a 
great resource for cider makers (the fermented kind, as opposed to apple 
juice). I'm learning a lot just by listening in.   See 
http//www.talisman.com/cider. There's a mountain of material available on 
the archives.

--Pete Tallman   Colorado, Zone 5

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Subject: Cracking Cox's
From: Tim Bray <tbray@mcn.org>
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 22:56:26 -0700

Does anyone else have a problem with Cox's Orange Pippin fruit
cracking?  Most of what little fruit there was this year, was badly cracked
and unusable for cider.  Same last year, which was the first year they
fruited.  The apples crack early in summer, then continue to grow and ripen
even with the surface cracked.  The cracking usually occurs on the sunny
side, but not always.  These are 4-year trees, heavily mulched with
composted manure this year.

Anyone know what causes this, and if there is a simple
solution?  Otherwise, I think I will rework my Cox's over to something else
that does better here.  Porter's or Yarlington Mill, maybe.

I'm on the northern California coast, USDA Zone 9/10, very mild climate;
maximum summer temperatures usually about 80 F for a few days, average
daytime highs usually 65 - 70 F.  Winter lows around 28 - 30 F  for a few
nights.  Soil is a well-drained sandy loam, but poor in nitrogen (hence
the  manure).  My biggest problems are humidity (very damp climate) and not
enough winter chill for some varieties.  Other than that, this is a great
climate to live in!

Tim Bray
Albion, CA

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Subject: Cracking Cox
From: James Cummins <jnc1@localnet.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 17:53:47 -0800

re:  Tim Bray's Cracking Cox

Cracking is an unfortunate genetic attribute of Cox, but does that
really have an adverse effect on its cider potential?  Here in western
New York, we expect 30 to 50% non-cracked Cox -- but the cracked residue
goes to make the best sweet cider.  Tim, I think your manuring makes the
problem worse;  the tree has a continuing source of nitrogen all through
the growing season. The cracking problem should lessen as the trees grow
older;  don't be too hasty in reworking.

Jim Cummins, Geneva

-------------------------------

Subject: Re: Cider Digest #1086, 26 October 2003
From: Steury & Noel <steurynoel@potlatch.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 17:50:45 -0800

re: Cracked Cox

Do the cracks extend into the flesh? If so, you might check your soil
boron.  Some varieties, including Golden Russett and Cox, are very
susceptible to boron deficiency.

Tim Steury

Diane Noel, Tim Steury, and David Steury
1021 McBride Road
Potlatch, ID 83855 USA
208.875.0804

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Subject: RE: Cracking Cox
From: "Richard  & Susan Anderson" <baylonanderson@rockisland.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 12:53:07 -0800

Hold off on the nitrogen, the cracking, like bitterpit is an imbalance of
calcium and nitrogen in the leaf. This is often caused not by insufficient
calcium but to much nitrogen. We experience a similar problem in our young
orchard particularly with the Cox, Sweet Coppin and Foxwelps, by applying
the amount of nitrogen recommended by the company doing our soil testing.
Once we eliminated the addition of nitrogen the problem was cleared up. The
mystery "Foxwelps" still seem to be susceptible, but only about 5% of the
crop is affected.

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