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nafex - [NAFEX] Red Fleshed apples

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  • From: "Martha L. Davis" <martha_davis@earthlink.net>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Red Fleshed apples
  • Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 18:13:56 -0700 (GMT-07:00)

I have gotten more interested in red fleshed apples and it has been a few
years since I have seen much discussion on them maybe it is is time for
another go round.

Many places say that the coloring is climate dependent. Ed said less color as
they go south. I assume that is temperature based rather than day-length
based. A lot of them seem to be fairly tart to sweet tart, some (many?) too
tart for fresh eating. Ed said that Pink Pearl and Hidden Rose were the ones
he had experience with that had detectable sugars. A description of the
Niedzwetzkyana Crab pie got my attention. Supposedly like cherry pie but
whether that was color or flavor or both I don't know. I have also heard it
is 3 inches in diameter too large to be called crab. I have also hear that
it is a good tannin source for cider.

I have been poking around in books and on the web. Here is something of a
variety list which I don't have much experience with. I have tasted Pink
Pearl twice. Once as grown in California it was OK another time when grown
in Indiana it thought it was bitter. I tried Grenadine at the California
tasting a few years ago and that was good but not outstanding. Not something
I would think about without the color. Based on what I have dug up some are
very hardy zone 3 some zone 6 some who knows. A fair number appear to bloom
early &/or get scab.

Has anyone experience with any of these? I am especially interested in
Hardiness many of the California ones list zone 6. I'd like zone 4. I m also
especially interested in which ones are worth eating fresh or really good for
cooking as opposed to, I might as well make sauce because what else can I do
with it.

Alamata, Burford Red Flesh, Bill's red flesh(aka Scarlet Surprise) Hidden
Rose (AKA Aerlie Red Flesh), Firecracker, Geneva crab, Giant Russian may be
the same as Russian Giant Crab, Grenadine, Niedzwetzkyana, Pink Pearmain(AKA
Pink Sparkle), Pink Pairfait, Mott's Pink, Pink Parfait (Motts), (I'm not
sure if these three are the same), Pink Princess (same as Jansen's Pink Lady
not same as Cripp's Pink Pink Lady), Pink Old Lady, Purple Passion, Raven,
Red Field, Thornberry, Rubiyat, Winter Red fleshed. I haven't included many
of the ones that seem to be pale pink or pink stained.

Martha

Zone 4 high elevation New Mexico Cool summers with a short season







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