The Adams Orchard
The orchard has many dwarf and semi-dwarf trees.
Sequence of Keepers, Chez Adams
The Adams have a sequence of how they eat their keeper apples: The first are Spartans. After they're done, the Ida Red and the Wageners last through February. Next come the Melroses, Jonagolds, and Mutzus, which go through March, and then on into May. The Gold Rush and Enterprise come in later in March, and last through June. Finally, the Jonathans can be eaten until the strawberries are ready. Year-round fruit!
Wagener Apple, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. This tree is just off their porch. It's on an unknown, semi-dwarfing rootstock. They tried grafting a Gravenstein onto that rootstock, which didn't work well, so then they replaced it with Wagener, a winter keeper. It is a prolific biennial bearer, very reliable. It has a reasonable resistance to anthracnose, and doesn't scab much.
"Barn" Gravenstein, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. There are several Gravensteins in the orchard. The most flavorsome comes from the big tree by the barn, and so they've been grafting from that tree. The tree here was grafted only five years ago. It's on Malling 7 rootstock, which is dwarfing. An Earlygold tree used to be there, which they removed and grafted the Gravenstein on top of that. The Earlygold wood makes it more resistant to anthracnose.
The lone fruit left on the tree was still green-yellow, with netted russeting near the calyx, and a few dashes of red color. The stem was bulbous. Inside, the star was very wide, and had only a couple of vestigal brown seeds.
The lone fruit left on the tree was still green-yellow, with netted russeting near the calyx, and a few dashes of red color. The stem was bulbous. Inside, the star was very wide, and had only a couple of vestigal brown seeds.
Ida Red, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. The Ida Red is a Newton Pippin x Jonathan cross. Ida Red is an intermediate keeper, susceptible to antracnose. It's a multipurpose apple, good for dessert, salad, and cider. Pick after a frost or near-frost for best flavor. Ida Reds add tartness to cider. This apple keeps to February.
Liberty, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. This Liberty apple is grafted onto Malling 22, a super-dwarf rootstock. It doesn't scab, is super vigorous. The apple has a bloom that makes it look deep violet in spots. When cut up, the flesh is slow to oxidize. The central star is open. It tastes mild, winy, sweet. The crunch is soft without being mushy. Juicy.
Enterprise, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. Enterprise bears every year. It's a strong tree, anthracnose averse. Codling moths like red apples, but the Enterprise calyx is tight and the moths can't get in. The apples taste better a month after picking. The fruit lasts a long time.
Sweet 16, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. Sweet 16 is susceptible to anthracnose, but survives it. The fruit has a slight anise flavor which puts some people off, keeps well. Is a favorite of Julie, Rolf, and Jason.
Gold Rush, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. This Gold Rush was grafted onto a Fuji, which had no character, just sweetness. It doesn't scab, keeps until June, and the flavor improves with storage. It's snappy to the end of June, and then withers instead of rots. The calyx is tight, so codling moths can't get in. Cut up on Oct 15, 2011, the interior star was open, the seeds were not yet ripe-brown, and the flesh was slow to oxidize.
Karmijn, Adams Orchard
Oct 12, 2011. Karmijn is prone to anthracnose. It has an open calyx and is therefore vulnerable to codling moths. Tastes better after a month of storage. Tart, a good addition to sweet cider.
Jonathan
Most modern apple crosses include Jonathans. The variety doesn't scab, keeps to June, and even though it does get mildew, it survives. No picture of Jonathan yet.