Chance Seedlings - Yet to be discovered in your backyard.

[Appleman]

My passion for hunting whitetails and a quest to produce the most productive apple tree plots possible led to the discovery of a very unique apple. The "Franklin Cider" as it is called has been observed and evaluated for more than 10 years. I had the good fortune to capture the interest of Stark Bro's and Cummins Nursery who are now growing this variety. My management plan is to plant 25 of these in my 100 tree wildlife orchard situated deep onto our property along the border with Quebec.
As an experienced grower, I recognize this cultivar to have all the desirable attributes for my project. That said, I would like to share a You-tube video called : "The Harvesting of a Vermont Cider Apple".

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...E38821DE8D715A50BD21E38821DE8D715A5&FORM=VIRE

There are interesting finds yet to be discovered in your backyard!

 

[Turkey Creek]

Making it rain in Vermont! :)

 

[buckvelvet]

I guess the only hangup i have is how do you know its a chance seedling unless you grow it yourself.

Like the trees i have were planted in the 1880s, were they a know variety then? Were they just 'seedlings'?

Whose to say they werent a known variety when planter or your franklin cider tree wasnt a known at some point a 100 years ago. I know there are apple identification handbooks but thats not 100% ya know? Does science really have something to prove its not a previously known variety?

Please dont take this as me being negative. Im honestly really curious about this type of thing.


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[yoderjac]

I looked at it a while back. Seemed to have some interesting characteristics. If you would like to send out some scions, I'm sure a good number of folks here would be glad to try it and post feed back...:D

 

[Maya]

Appleman, do you have any FCA's that you are selling this spring not spoken for? I would be interested in buying 5. I'll come up and give you a hand dispensing trees. I'm taking a few days off around April 15.

 

[Appleman]

My passion for hunting whitetails and a quest to produce the most productive apple tree plots possible led to the discovery of a very unique apple. The "Franklin Cider" as it is called has been observed and evaluated for more than 10 years. I had the good fortune to capture the interest of Stark Bro's and Cummins Nursery who are now growing this variety. My management plan is to plant 25 of these in my 100 tree wildlife orchard situated deep onto our property along the border with Quebec.
As an experienced grower, I recognize this cultivar to have all the desirable attributes for my project. That said, I would like to share a You-tube video called : "The Harvesting of a Vermont Cider Apple".

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=harvesting vermont cider apple&view=detail&mid=0BD21E38821DE8D715A50BD21E38821DE8D715A5&FORM=VIRE

There are interesting finds yet to be discovered in your backyard!

I guess the only hangup i have is how do you know its a chance seedling unless you grow it yourself.

Like the trees i have were planted in the 1880s, were they a know variety then? Were they just 'seedlings'?

Whose to say they werent a known variety when planter or your franklin cider tree wasnt a known at some point a 100 years ago. I know there are apple identification handbooks but thats not 100% ya know? Does science really have something to prove its not a previously known variety?

Please dont take this as me being negative. Im honestly really curious about this type of thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The "Franklin Cider" has been on site inspected by Dr Terry Bradshaw Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist with the University of Vermont. He has inspected the tree and has determined by age of tree and development formation of the root system this native tree is a "chance seedling". As all chance seedlings have it, the parents are of unknown parentage and would be safe to say all trees of such make are the prodigy of apples first brought to North America by the early settlers. The parent tree is estimated to be less than 60 years old with a multiple trunk emanating from the base root system which is indicative of growth by seed alone. Raw component analysis and profile have been extensively tested and determined sugars, acids, tannins/polyphenols to be unique to the Franklin Cider. Here is a good read about the Franklin Cider: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/751050-december-2016/57

 

[Appleman]

Appleman, do you have any FCA's that you are selling this spring not spoken for? I would be interested in buying 5. I'll come up and give you a hand dispensing trees. I'm taking a few days off around April 15.

Maya, I have 700 Franklin Cider on order for spring planting 2017. I am almost sold out of all varieties for this year, but still have 5 Franklin Cider for my good friend in Florence. Just give me a call to set it up.

 

[Maya]

Thanks Bill! I'll give you a call this weekend.

 

[Appleman]

The "Franklin Cider" has been on site inspected by Dr Terry Bradshaw Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist with the University of Vermont. He has inspected the tree and has determined by age of tree and development formation of the root system this native tree is a "chance seedling". As all chance seedlings have it, the parents are of unknown parentage and would be safe to say all trees of such make are the prodigy of apples first brought to North America by the early settlers. The parent tree is estimated to be less than 60 years old with a multiple trunk emanating from the base root system which is indicative of growth by seed alone. Raw component analysis and profile have been extensively tested and determined sugars, acids, tannins/polyphenols to be unique to the Franklin Cider. Here is a good read about the Franklin Cider: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/751050-december-2016/57

There appears to be a problem downloading this read. Just copy and click on your http: Or featured in: http://www.growingproduce.com/fruits/apples-pears/chance-seedling-nets-new-bittersharp-apple/

 

[Appleman]

I looked at it a while back. Seemed to have some interesting characteristics. If you would like to send out some scions, I'm sure a good number of folks here would be glad to try it and post feed back...:D

The "Franklin Cider" is a patented variety and bound by an exclusive growers agreement with the grower, Stark Bro's, forbidding me from releasing budwood to a third party. Cummins Nursery has been granted a sub-licensing agreement and is currently offering the "Franklin Cider". Adams County has requested sub-licensing but uncertain of the status at this time. https://www.millernurseries.com/about/news/article/new-apples-2017

 

[Appleman]

The good reasons why I plan to add 25 Franklin Cider trees to my apple tree plot program?



- Proven Winter-hardy in zone 3a
- Apple and Leaf resistant to Scab and Cedar Apple Rust.
- 10 years in a row of observant excellent annual cropping.
- One of the best growers at the nursery reported by Stark Bros head production officer.
- Apples uniform size of 1.75 inch diameter, grows in large clusters, brix (sugar) 17.5 to 19.5 (high sugar, much favored by whitetails on our property.
- excellent pollinator for Honeycrisp. (mid-bloom).
- apples hang well until January and February. Uniform drop starts when fully ripen around the first week of October in northern Vermont.
- apple skin is russet and appears to be resistant to insect damage to the apple itself. Only two early cover sprays were used with little evidence of insect damage at time of harvest.
- Very Juicy! Documented by local cidery to produce 2.75 to 3.00 gallons of juice per bushel.
- excellent for blending both sweet and hard cider.

Summary: My management plant is to grow this variety in my wildlife plantings to provided added hunting opportunity for late season rifle and muzzle loading season here in Vermont.

 

[DrDirtNap]

Any idea on how would this variety perform in the South in zone 7 ? What about fireblight resistance ?


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[Appleman]

I believe the tree will do quite well in the south since it has been growing at the Stark Nursery in Louisiana, Missouri site for 2 years. The "Franklin Cider" is said to be an excellent grower by their staff. They are located in USDA Zone 6a. There is little data on Fireblight since the parent tree located here in Northern Vermont is in an area where Fireblight outbreaks are rare. Production in the deep south is still an unknown as it will take a few fruiting years in that region of the country to determine if chilling hours is a factor. These are the only caveats I can think of.

 

[chummer]

Has Cummins offered them yet? I don't see them on their list. They do look like a perfect tree for my area.

 

[sandbur]

Are they fairly confident on the CAR resistance?

What is the table quality of this apple?

 

[buckvelvet]

Was it quite a ways removed from your 'apple plot' planting Bill? What I mean is do they think the FCA is a self fertile type, a diploid, triploid, etc...

 

[buckvelvet]

The "Franklin Cider" has been on site inspected by Dr Terry Bradshaw Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist with the University of Vermont. He has inspected the tree and has determined by age of tree and development formation of the root system this native tree is a "chance seedling". As all chance seedlings have it, the parents are of unknown parentage and would be safe to say all trees of such make are the prodigy of apples first brought to North America by the early settlers. The parent tree is estimated to be less than 60 years old with a multiple trunk emanating from the base root system which is indicative of growth by seed alone. Raw component analysis and profile have been extensively tested and determined sugars, acids, tannins/polyphenols to be unique to the Franklin Cider. Here is a good read about the Franklin Cider: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/751050-december-2016/57

Like I said Bill, I'm not a pessimist at all by nature, i was merely curious of the process to determine such things. I too am curious to add such a variety to my orchard for spring 2018 here in W MI. Since this is patented how can I acquire such a thing? I would of coarse want it on B118 or Antonovka. I am curious about 4 varieties that I have, one of which grew at the house where I grew up and the other 3 are at a farm my wifes grandma grew up at that my orchard is now installed at. 3 of them are again planted in the 1880s, the one at my original house is somewhere between 80-100 years old.

Whats the best way to get something like that tested to see if they are a known variety or not? I of coarse have no access to such a scientist nor am I looking to sell these trees i'm just interested in what they are.

 

[H20fwler]

Late hang time, disease resistant, fast growing.....sign me up!

I will have to try a few of those out when they are available.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Appleman - Congrats on the patent for your Franklin Cider apple !! I watched the link and the " harvesting " method. All the info you've provided has me interested in this apple as well. I'd buy several of them for sure !! Thanks for posting all the info.

 

[Appleman]

Has Cummins offered them yet? I don't see them on their list. They do look like a perfect tree for my area.

Yes, but believe are sold out for 2017. http://shop.cumminsnursery.com/shop/apple-trees/franklin

Late hang time, disease resistant, fast growing.....sign me up!

I will have to try a few of those out when they are available.

Has Cummins offered them yet? I don't see them on their list. They do look like a perfect tree for my area.

I checked with my friends at Cummins and informed me they are sold out. I called up Starks and asked for what's available for 2018 on B118. Currently they have 3836 left in inventory.
There is a Minimum order of 50 trees at the Stark Bros Wholesale Division. I would advise you to pull together a 50 tree order with friends who are interested to get the best price rather then calling the retail side of the house. The number to call is Phone: 800.435.8733.