Subject: [NAFEX] russet apple cultivar descriptions
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 08:17:21 -0800 (PST)
I've been searching the web for apple cultivar descriptions, and I see a lot of disagreement. Particularly over ripening/harvest dates, also disease susceptabilities, and particularly in the sweet russets group. I understand that a cultivar will ripen differently in different zones and even in different soils, but this shouldn't cause 4-6 weeks difference in neighboring zones! Also I know diseases are more & less severe in different local/seasonal climates and from year to year. But overall, evaluations should come to similar conclusions. Is there so much disagreement over the russet group because, for too many growers, a russet is a russet?
I'm trying to find scion from anything in the sweet russet group, z4 hardy, Sept or early Oct ripening, productive in lighter/droughty soil, and disease resistant. Prefer a "grower friendly" tree which doesn't require thinning; biennial bearing OK. Fruit which stores/keeps would be nice. Is there such a cultivar?