Warm Climate Cider Apple Varieties

[Giuseppe Casti]

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for cider apple varieties that can stand mediterranean climate, could anyone from Australia or California suggest me which are the best ones grown there?

Currently, I have grafted about 1 ha with the following varieties to do trials:

Kingston Black, Stoke Red, Yarlington Mill, Dabinett

Frequin Rouge, Binet Rouge, Domaines, Douce Moen

If you have experience of any other variety that do better, please let me know.

Thank you all,

Giuseppe

[greg l.]

I've posted on here before the success I've had with Egremont Russet. The russet skin helps to protect against sunburn and the flavor is very rich.

Greg

[Richard Reeves]

Giuseppe:

I average 600 chill hours/65 chill portions at my location and can report the following (note this is a young orchard (third leaf) and juice quality is still an unknown, this is just tree performance):

Of the European bittersweets: Leafing out, growing and fruiting normally are:

Porter's Perfection

Major

Probably suitable but not convinced yet (leafing out in timely fashion but questionable vigor and leaf volume):

Medalle d' Or

Leafing very, very late but then looking normal (leaves and flowers along the full length of branches):

Harry Master's Jersey

Miserable and to be top-worked to different varieties (listed in order: least to most dormant/insufficient chill):

Vilberie

Dabinett

Yarlington Mill (Cornell/Geneva Yarlington Mill)

Michelen

Brown's Apple

American cider varieties leafing out, growing and fruiting normally:

Virginia Hewe's Crab

Harrison

Wickson Crab

Younger (second leaf) trees I'm less sure about but willing to speculate:

Looking suitable:

Goldrush

Nelson County Crab

Puget Spice

Not leafing out as well as I'd like but will give one more year at least:

Campfield New Jersey

Kingston Black

These are just the cider types. I have an additional 18 dessert types (mostly American Heirlooms, all 2-year trees) I can report on if you are curious.

Hope this helps, Richard Reeves   Lake County, California

[Giuseppe Casti]

Richard,
thank you so much for the very detailed report! In this early phase is important to me to compare similar experiences.

Actually, we have almost same chill hours, maybe about 800 hours/year, if you consider temperatures below 7°C.

That has never been a problem for dessert apples we grown in our orchard (Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, Red Chief) that are vigorous, heavy cropper with juice high in sugar.

Next autumn I should collect first juice results.

Regards,

Giuseppe

[Chris Wheeler]

Mr Reeves,

Since it's been a few years, I would be interested to know how these varieties turned out. Can you tell me how hot it gets in your area? I am in Georgia where it gets to 100 degrees at least a couple days a year and I want to start an orchard. I am trying to find low-chill varieties that can also take the heat.

Thank you!

Chris