"How 'Bout Them Apples?"

Just placed my spring order today with Seedsavers in Decorah, Iowa. In addition to the many seeds to be sown this season, I ordered five varieties of apple trees which will be grafted onto semi-dwarf stock by the good people at Seedsavers, and sent out in the spring of 2016. I plan to plant at least three of these trees in the parking strip between the sidewalk and the street (after I cut down the two maples that will become firewood). In a few years, apples should be available for picking by passersby.

Apple Tree, Blacktwig 0058 (Paragon). Tennessee, c.1830. Round fruit that is medium to large in size. Flesh is yellow, juicy, aromatic and of very good quality for dessert, kitchen and cider. Ripens late fall; stores well.

Apple Tree, Brown Sweet 0060 New York, 1905. Large, ovate to oblong conic fruit. Flesh is fine textured, rather tender, juicy, very sweet with very good quality. Adds sweetness to cider and also excellent for kitchen use. Ripens mid to late September through October.

Apple Tree, Knobbed Russet 0049CG Sussex, England, 1820. Completely unique, medium size, round to round-oblate fruit that more resembles a bad potato than an apple. Skin is orange yellow with rough scaly grey and black russet welts and knobs. Flesh is greenish yellow, crisp, fine textured, somewhat dry and has amazing intense sweet/subacid flavor. Ripens October.

Apple Tree, Monarch 0076 Essex, England, 1918 introduction. Large, flattish shaped apple. Flesh is crisp, tender, white, subacid to sweet. It has been a very reliable, annual bearer and an excellent pie apple at Heritage Farm. Ripens early September - October.

Apple Tree, Woodard 0095 Origin and history unknown. Large, apple similar in shape and flavor to Golden Delicious. White flesh is juicy and has delicious sweet/tart flavor. Not the Illinois Woodard. Ripens mid-September - October.