Apple Varieties

[sdi...@wavecable.com]

Hello, 

I am asking for any advice about which varieties of cider apples to plant to balance out the cultivars that are planted in my orchard.  The orchard has:  Vilberies, Brown Snout, Harry Masters Jersey, Chisel Jersey, Dabinette, Yarlington Mill, Porters Perfection, Harrison, and a few Virginia Crabs.  The varieties are planted in the same proportion except the crabs.  I fear too much tannin.  Any suggestions?  I live in the Pacific Northwest.

Thank you for any advice in advance.

Suzanne

[rhand...@rockisland.com]

For the most part except for Vilberies your orchard is not over tannic. You might consider adding varieties like Golden Russet and Coxes Orange Pippen to the mix, they do well in the Northwest. Your main problem will be to ensure that you are vigilant for Apple Anthracnose which is very hard to control and real problem in the maritime Northwest

--
--
Visit our website: http://www.ciderworkshop.com
 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Cider Workshop" Google Group.
By joining the Cider Workshop, you agree to abide by our principles. Please see http://www.ciderworkshop.com/resources_principles.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cider Workshop" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cider-worksho...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/1310687367.17312173.1663518859428.JavaMail.zimbra%40wavecable.com.

[Wes Cherry]

Russets, Ashmeads kernel or Karmijn de Sonneville.   KDS has amazing aroma that plays well with bittersweets.

-'//es Cherry

Dragon's Head Cider

Vashon Island, Wa US

www.dragonsheadcider.com

On Sep 18, 2022, at 10:18 AM, rhand...@rockisland.com wrote:



To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/09c101d8cb82%24a0582d70%24e1088850%24%40rockisland.com.

[sdiesen]

Thank you for your suggestions and, yes, the canker is heartbreaking., along with meadow voles and flooding.  .  This year Bordeu Mixture, Neem, and BT will be on the menu.  I stupidly picked off caterpillar casings and deposited them on the ground and now will additionally be applying some insect glue in the spring.  It is all worth it for their beauty - and good cider.

Suzanne

 

---

From: Wes <w...@dragonsheadcider.com>
To: cider-workshop <cider-w...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Sunday, 18 September 2022 10:27 AM PDT
Subject: Re: [Cider Workshop] Apple Varieties

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/CFFA69E5-A74F-4387-BC9E-A687E0DF8B3B%40dragonsheadcider.com.

[Lisa Pedersen]

Hi All!

I have been picking the caterpillar nests off our trees all summer and have been tossing them to the ground thinking I am doing the right thing. Suzanne, you said you thought this was not a good thing. Aren’t I killing them once they are picked off?

Lisa from Orcas Island.

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 18, 2022, at 10:34 AM, sdiesen <sdi...@wavecable.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/397452904.17343775.1663522481918.JavaMail.zimbra%40wavecable.com.

[Wes Cherry]

I carry a plumbers torch and incinerate the buggers on the ground to make sure.

-'//es Cherry

Dragon's Head Cider

Vashon Island, Wa US

www.dragonsheadcider.com

On Sep 18, 2022, at 11:13 AM, Lisa Pedersen <lisamari...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All!

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/F4FD6AA1-2D26-47CC-864D-0B50BC4C1371%40gmail.com.

[sdiesen]

They will not die if you just throw them on the ground.  You should pick them off and put them in a plastic bag and dispose of them  y burning, salt water, etc.  They will continue Tolliver and invade.  I am applying Tanglefoot. an insect glue, and hope it works.  Fingers 🤞. 

Suzanne.

 

---

From: Lisa <lisamari...@gmail.com>
To: cider-workshop <cider-w...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Sunday, 18 September 2022 11:13 AM PDT

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/F4FD6AA1-2D26-47CC-864D-0B50BC4C1371%40gmail.com.

[Charles Claus]

As someone who lives on the West Coast and deals with anthracnose canker and the threat of anthracnose canker at this point I simply avoid Cox Orange Pippin everything which has Cox Orange Pippin in its lineage.  There are still lots of other great apples that are much easier to grow.  

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/397452904.17343775.1663522481918.JavaMail.zimbra%40wavecable.com.

[Stephen Buffington]

Thanks Charles, I was just going to add that comment about Cox. Everything else suggested is great, I would add Liberty (annual, disease free and good blender) and Northen Spy (to coferment with Dabinett and Vilberie). 

We could all add a bunch more info and varieties but I would want to know what your soil was like and what kind of cider you want to make? I think the varieties you listed would make a fairly balanced English farmhouse cider in Somerset UK with rich soil, high Calcium levels and cooler climate. At my place on Vashon WA it would give a very tough drink and take 2 years and 15+g/liter sugar to even think about enjoying it. 

If I wanted to make an “English” style cider I would use about 60-70% of your blend, a bottle conditioned, balanced blend probably 40-50%, though a lot of personal preference comes in here.   As Wes mentioned you should consider more aromatic varieties and of course more acid. At my place your blend would be pH 4.0-4.3, depending on the year. Timing becomes important as you look at coferments too. And do you want some to eat/bake?

Adding all of those factors together you can’t go wrong with Liberty, Ashmeads, Golden Russet and Northern spy (in ripening order). I consider Liberty and Golden Russet practically anthacnose immune. 

Not as important with your particular situation but it does make me sad that you don’t have any Kingston Black, the most delicious and useful English cider apple (fighting words?😃) and the great aromatics and certain something that many French cider varieties have. Yes you have Vilberie, but since half of the cider makers I know don’t like how it tastes (I love it) and it’s a pretty miserable tree to manage I’m not really counting that. 

I wish you luck and I think you are smart to ask these questions now. I also would reiterate to really think about the style of cider you want to make and go from there. There are a lot of great cider makers you could visit and ciders to try that can help you figure that out. Cheers,

Stephen Buffington

Shawnee Hill Farm

206.941.6353

On Sep 18, 2022, at 11:27 AM, Charles Claus <charle...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cider-workshop/CAEXfJpEuctL%2BtXuBQu26_VVOKwVZO5SC%3DDbiVM_NFxuBJFCGPg%40mail.gmail.com.