The great value in topworking

[H20fwler]

No more love for the Franklin cider? Seems like a few are cutting their losses on them? What's the deal? I have a few growing. They have a handful of apples on them this year. Was hoping for a good wildlife tree and maybe dabble in the cider world at some point. Thoughts?

Saw another top worked a pristine? That's been a great apple for me here in Missouri.

I put four in that I grafted to M111 maybe three or four years ago. They are around seven foot tall but nothing to brag about at all. I've gotten a few apples; I don't care for the taste.
I'm going to be getting into the cider game in a few years too so maybe they will take off and be useful. I've got plenty of other trees and plenty of room, so they aren't hurting anything. I am disappointed after all the hype though.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

No more love for the Franklin cider? Seems like a few are cutting their losses on them? What's the deal? I have a few growing. They have a handful of apples on them this year. Was hoping for a good wildlife tree and maybe dabble in the cider world at some point. Thoughts?

Saw another top worked a pristine? That's been a great apple for me here in Missouri.

Our camp Franklin Ciders are growing well, but lost one completely - cage & all. I think it got yanked as logging took place when they drug logs out to a landing. The others are good trees, IMO - at least for deer.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I put four in that I grafted to M111 maybe three or four years ago. They are around seven foot tall but nothing to brag about at all. I've gotten a few apples; I don't care for the taste.
I'm going to be getting into the cider game in a few years too so maybe they will take off and be useful. I've got plenty of other trees and plenty of room, so they aren't hurting anything. I am disappointed after all the hype though.

I haven't tasted any FC at camp. Might be no good for people .... deer seem to like them when they hit the ground. I wouldn't say they were as popular as some other apple & crab varieties for deer though. We bought ours from Cummins, before Stark bought the rights to FC. Ours are on B-118 rootstock, and haven't started to lean .......... yet. If they lean - out they go. I'll replace with Blue Hill stuff.

 

[Telemark]

I put four in that I grafted to M111 maybe three or four years ago. They are around seven foot tall but nothing to brag about at all. I've gotten a few apples; I don't care for the taste.
I'm going to be getting into the cider game in a few years too so maybe they will take off and be useful. I've got plenty of other trees and plenty of room, so they aren't hurting anything. I am disappointed after all the hype though.

I think it's only meant for blending. I planted one and don't plan to have more. The cider brewing websites I've been on recommend 10%-25% Franklin Cider juice depending on what other apples were used. It has extremely high acid, sugar, and tannin, so it's great for balancing other apples, especially dessert apples, but as a single varietal it would likely be undrinkable.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I have half a dozen Franklin's growing in Minnesota and they are a great wildlife tree. They produce annually and the fruit drops from late fall through mid winter.

The fruit tastes bad and it is pretty ugly, but the deer don't care. I'll be planting more in the future as a late season draw.