some apple varieties on the farm

The Honey Crisp is a modern variety of apple developed in the 1960's, the leaves, more than other varieties near it on the farm, are quite delectable to leaf eating insects. It is quite sweet but cannot even come close to the sweetness of our Honey Cider apple.






                                                                                         

The Redfree is another modern variety developed about the same time as the Honey Cider. It's supposed to be free from susceptibility to many of the common apple diseases. No complaints, it's a nice apple.

                                                              

The Hidden Rose apples are magically beautiful  with equally beautiful deep pink apple blossoms. There is a picture of the blossoms in an earlier blog post. It is one of several varieties of red fleshed apples on the farm.  I can attest that it makes gorgeous pies,  applesauce and juice. I mixed some sweeter apples into some apple sauce this year for flavor. It is a trademarked tree that was developed from the parent tree in the 1980's that was found in Oregon.

The Redfield variety has been around for a while, since 1938, and is mainly a cider apple. Its dry and tart with very dark red skin unlike the Hidden Rose. It doesn't seem to be bothered by pests or disease much which is a plus. It's flesh is more red  than the Hidden Rose, the Hidden Rose being deep pink, it seems to share the same tart, dry characteristics.

The Hudson's Golden Gem is a russet. It's flesh a creamy color, sweet and different, almost with a hint of spice. So sadly this tree which is above the barn was hit by a runaway tractor this fall and suffered some damage . We hope it will survive, if not we will make sure to get some scion wood. It's a 1930's variety and the parent tree found in Oregon.