FOR THE SOUTHEAST-Apples

UPDATED FEB. 27, 2009

BRAEBURN  Outstanding quality in this New Zealand introduction -- but late-maturing. High quality; good keeper.  Very precocious and productive;  somewhat lazy tree. Early midseason bloom.  Rather low chilling requirement.  Quite susceptible to fire blight.

FUJI This could be the most important variety for the Carolinas and Virginia.  This Nagano strain finishes to a brilliant red.    See under "Main Crop".  

GRANNY SMITH The  green apple--the apple that made Australia famous!!  Truly good quality if allowed to ripen (unlike those wooden Grannies you find in the supermarket).  When fully ripened on the tree (about 3 weeks after Delicious), the side exposed to sun will take on a faint pink blush -- the "champagne Granny".  An excellent processor, now being planted rather heavily in the Mid-Atlantic states.     

HARDY CUMBERLAND  The climate of the Mid-South is more challenging than generally recognized.  Hardy Cumberland is tolerant of both climate and the diseases endemic in the great region from  the Southern Appalachians across the Cumberland Plateau.  Dark red, firm, good storage.

HAWAIILarge yellow fruit with exotic flavor.  Low chilling.      

* Pink Lady®Brand Cripps Pink Variety   This could be THE apple for those of you south of the Mason-Dixon line.  Dad and Mother have eaten PINK LADY down in Australia, where it was bred, and they think it's a winner (please don't judge Pink Lady by the supermarket product from the Pacific Northwest!!..  It's a large apple with a pink blush over a yellow undertone.  No russetting.  It has a creamy crisp flesh that resists browning when cut.  It has a sweet-tart taste similar to but generally rated much better than Granny Smith.  PINK LADY's very late maturity date --10-15 days after Granny Smith-- could give the Southern grower a very high quality apple that nobody else can grow.  I sincerely hope that you give this apple a try.  Get in on the beginning of a new exciting variety.   Very susceptible to fire blight, susceptible to C.A.R.    Royalty $1 per tree.     PPAF       

SUMMER RAMBO (RedSumBo)  Jonathan-type late summer apple; originated in France in the 1700s.  Greenish-yellow, red-striped. Fruit larger than Jonathan.  Flavor rich, sprightly.  Good for eating out of hand, for drying, for all culinary purposes.  Precocious and productive.  Semi-compact tree.   

*Sundowner® brand Cripps 2 Variety  Yet another winner from the Western Australian breeding program.  A sister of  PINK LADY.  Very, very late to ripen, 3-4 weeks after Granny Smith.   Very high quality eating apple -- my Dad says better than PINK LADY, but not as pretty -- sweet but tart.  Crimson skin color over green background.  This variety crops heavily every year, so care must be given to thin.  For those of you in the South, Sundowner warrants a try.   Royalty $1 per tree.    PPAF