The following are the varieties in our fruit garden:
Akane
Located E3, T12, Planted 2009)
Akane was developed at the Morioka Experimental Station, Japan, 1937. A cross between Jonathan and Worcester Pearmain. Sometimes known as Tokyo Rose. The Akane apple tree produces an outstanding red dessert apple; also great for drying. The Akane apple is school box sized, bright red with crisp juicy sweet/sharp flesh and the sprightly flavor of Jonathan. Hangs well on the tree and is a better keeper than most early fall varieties. The Akane apple tree is winter hardy, precocious (early bearing) tree that should be thinned well to reach a good size. The Akane does best with consistent thinning for good size. It is among the most reliable producers in our region, setting a large crop almost every year.
Bardsey
(Located E3 U12, Planted 2024)
This amazing apple comes from the windswept Bardsey Island off the coast of Wales. The tree grows in an area right next to a house where it is protected from sea winds and salt spray. The tree flowers early in the season; the fruit is pink striped over a yellow base and is picked in Wales in late September andstored until November. These characteristics make it a candidate to do well in maritime climates in the U.S.
Bardsey Island has long been associated with religious activity. Pre-Roman Celts visited the Island to pray and often to die on this most western isle, and during early Christian times Bardsey was a place of pilgrimage. Three trips to Bardsey Island were said to equal a pilgrimage to Rome. Anybody buried on Bardsey was said to be guaranteed eternal salvation. Because of this, some people today think the Bardsey Apple could be connected to the mystical power of the island. Raintree worked with Permacultural landscaper Bruce Weiskotten to introduce this apple to American gardeners. A royalty on each apple sold will be returned to the apple’s developers on Bardsey Island. The fruit appears to be scab free while growing in a very scabby orchard in North Wales.
Chehalis
(Located E3 T14, Planted 2011)
An excellent choice for organic growers who like a very large, sweet, yellow apple. This old favorite was discovered north of Chehalis WA, near Oakville by the Lonberg family in 1937. It was a “sport” of Golden Delicious in looks and flavor, but it is larger and crisper and is scab immune. Reliable, highly productive trees are very resistant to scab and partly resistant to mildew. Fruit ripens late in September.
Enterprise
(Located E2, U8, Planted 2009)
From the disease resistant program PRI of Purdue, Rutgers and Illinois, Enterprise apples are glossy red with yellow highlights, and have an excellent sprightly flavor! They ripen late in the apple season and are fantastic keepers with a taste that improves and matures in storage. Enterprise is a productive, fast-growing tree with a vigorous, spreading habit. Completely immune to apple scab, and very resistant to fireblight, cedar apple rust, and mildew, Enterprise apples are proven winners and heavy producers in most of the United States.
Florina
(Located E3, S13, Planted 2009)
A disease resistant apple bred in France. It has purple/red skin and aromatic creamy yellow flesh. A medium to large size apple ripe in October and prized for fresh eating and cooking. It is a good keeper.
Freedom
(Located E2, T8, Planted 2009)
Developed from the New York Fruit Testing in about 1960, it has McIntosh, Golden Delicious and the scab immune Malus floribunda among its parents. Freedom is a medium to large round, bright red apple with sweet/tart creamy white flesh. It ripens in late September and trees are vigorous , precocious and disease resistant.
Hudson’s Golden Gem
(Located E3, V13 Planted 2024)
It was discovered as a fence row seedling at the Hudson Nursery in Tangent, Oregon, about 1931. Because of its brownish color and elongated shape, it was originally marketed as a pear. One of the tastiest russetted apples, the flesh is crisp and sweet, and the flavor is nutty and refreshing. It is productive, annual bearing and somewhat scab – and mildew – resistant. Chill hour requires are estimated between 800-1000. The medium-sized fruit will hang on the tree well into winter. Good keeper. Ripens late October. It has been among the most sought after apples at the WSU fruit garden for many decades.
Liberty
(Located E2, S9, Planted 2016)
Dark, polished red skin and intense, sprightly flavor make this medium size, elongated apple a favorite. Trees that were bred at New York Fruit Testing in the 1970’s and is still among the most reliable and popular resistant cultivars. It has high scab and mildew resistance and thrives in the Pacific Northwest and throughout most of the nation. Every year, a large crop ripens on this spreading tree late midseason, in early October in the PNW. It over sets so needs thinning.
