Franklin growing nice and clean

[Appleman]

Since my last update Two additional nurseries have requested Licensing to propagate and sell the Franklin Cider tree. I have decided to limit Licensing to the seven who have signed on so not to compromise sales opportunity for these nurseries. The two additional are Fedco in Maine and Moshers in Michigan. The Franklin will also come August be part of a test lab experiment at the Cornell Geneva research lab to evaluate the potential use of the Franklin as a Fireblight resistant rootstock. Stay tuned the best is still yet to come. (Pic taken yesterday of 3rd leaf Franklin displaying fruit set)

 

[James P. Bipps]

What does a Franklin Cider apple taste like?

 

[Appleman]

What does a Franklin Cider apple taste like?

Franklin Cider apple has a nice sweet flavor topped off with excellent astringency. These properties of high sugar, high acidity, and high tannins makes it the perfect variety when used in a blend to make a heritage dry cider. I myself enjoy eating some in the fall.

 

[Diesel5610]

Hoping to get a few first apples next year on mine, been waiting anxiously for the trees to get there. The trees are on B118 and are growing great!

 

[CrazyEd]

I checked on 1 of 2 Franklin trees I have. This one had about a dozen small apples. I didn't check the stainless steel tag on it but I think it was planted 2 season ago. Tree from Cummins.

Picked some Kerr, Centennial, Frostbite, and Sansa. Sansa is one tasty apple, it had been a while since I had one and forgot how good they are.

 

[sandbur]

I checked on 1 of 2 Franklin trees I have. This one had about a dozen small apples. I didn't check the stainless steel tag on it but I think it was planted 2 season ago. Tree from Cummins.

Picked some Kerr, Centennial, Frostbite, and Sansa. Sansa is one tasty apple, it had been a while since I had one and forgot how good they are.

Is that Franklin showing some disease?


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[CrazyEd]

Is that Franklin showing some disease?
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Could be, I didn't spray any of my trees this year. I don't have time, it's bad for the environment, and I have so many trees there is always plenty of edible fruit. Liberty and some of the other usual suspects with high disease resistance are clean as a whistle. We have had a lot of precipitation this year.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Ed - What other DR varieties do you have growing there? Got any Sundance, Galarina, Priscilla, or Crimson Topaz??

 

[CrazyEd]

Ed - What other DR varieties do you have growing there? Got any Sundance, Galarina, Priscilla, or Crimson Topaz??

I have probably 75 different varieties. Liberty, Enterprise, Pristine, Florina, Freedom, Galarina, Goldrush, Williams Pride, Wolf River and a lot of other crabs apples & apple crabs.

 

[H20fwler]

I checked on 1 of 2 Franklin trees I have. This one had about a dozen small apples. I didn't check the stainless steel tag on it but I think it was planted 2 season ago. Tree from Cummins.

Picked some Kerr, Centennial, Frostbite, and Sansa. Sansa is one tasty apple, it had been a while since I had one and forgot how good they are.

The Sansa's look great! I'm going to have to try a couple of those, I'm always looking for good DR low maintenance tree's I can ad.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Ed & others - If you want a really great tasting apple for eating that's also DR, get hold of some Crimson Topaz. Our CT at camp aren't bearing yet - too young - but a local orchard has them. WOW !! My family couldn't eat them fast enough once tried, and my wife took several to work and the people there wanted to know what they were and where to get them. They lose their zing after 3 or 4 weeks in an unheated garage - maybe proper storage would help the flavor last longer. But fresh picked, they're incredible. Complex flavor.

This is a Franklin thread, but since a few other apples were mentioned, I had to toss Crimson Topaz out there for another good eater to try.

 

[Apple Junkie]

Dang. After that review Bows, I just had to go out and buy a tree for 2020. I am planting this one right next to the cabin so I can pack a few for lunch as I head off for the day. The deer can have what is left after the season.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

A.J. ^^^^ - My wife only likes Macintosh apples. These do not remind me of Macintosh. So for her to rave and eat them like they were candy & her co-workers did the same, told me they ought to be more well-known. They're a balance of sweet & tart, crisp, juicy, and have some notes of pear in them. I love 'em, but it's hard for me to describe the flavor accurately. After my family tried them, I had to go back to the orchard & get another 1/2 bushel !! Every one was eaten. Being DR doesn't hurt.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

So far so good here
Little scabby, but a good grower
Some insect pressure early but that stopped once we got a little heat.
1st Leaf, home orchard
View attachment 24776
View attachment 24777

Quick update as we move into fall.
Overall happy with this franklins progress.
Good growth, like the limb structure/angles.
Early pruning to shape showed no ill effects over the summer. Will be doing more in the future.

Edit: should add, no fungicide/insecticide/articfiacal fert

 

[Telemark]

I think I will have to plant a Crimson Topaz at my parents' house in Ohio. It sounds amazing, and that's the only place I think I could plant one. What is the hardiness on those trees?

I'm already sold on Franklin. Seems to be a good cider and deer apple.

 

[sandbur]

I think I will have to plant a Crimson Topaz at my parents' house in Ohio. It sounds amazing, and that's the only place I think I could plant one. What is the hardiness on those trees?

I'm already sold on Franklin. Seems to be a good cider and deer apple.

Have you tried the fruit?


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[Telemark]

Haven't tried either. Don't have that luxury unless I grow my own.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Telemark - I can't find a hardiness zone recommendation for Crimson Topaz in any of my archives of apple info. The origin of this variety is in the Czech Republic, which gets it's share of cold winters. I've read of them being picked in mid-October in Mass. so they get plenty of cold there too. They're growing great at my camp on a mountain top in northern Pa. where our winters get down to -15 and we have constant breeze. I think you'd be safe to try Crimson Topaz in Ohio.

Crimson Topaz is a red sport of Topaz - also from the Czech Republic. Good resistance to scab & mildew. A vigorous grower and precocious. Said to keep up to 2 months in cold storage. It's a DELICIOUS eater !!!

 

[Appleman]

It's harvest time for the Franklin parent tree. This marks 13 years in a row bearing a heavy crop. I expect to get around 30 bushels. It tested 18.5 brix about a week ago.

 

[Charles Clear]

That is incredible!