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Post by smsmith on Sept 27, 2017 19:51:37 GMT -6
Just so folks know, Fireside and Connell Red are essentially the same apple. Connell Red is just a redder sport of Fireside. If you're looking for one and can't find it, but can find the other...go for it.
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Post by Sandbur on Sept 28, 2017 6:40:27 GMT -6
I had a Connell Red when I first planted apple trees and did not know hwo to care for them. If died between first and second leaf during that winter when we had record cold. My neighbors had their propane tanks freeze. My tank was covered with snow and did not freeze. Honey Crisp also perished.
I have again planted some zone 4 trees like Liberty, but have stayed away from Connell Red.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Sept 29, 2017 8:44:50 GMT -6
Anyone know much about Spartan or Hewes??
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Post by smsmith on Sept 29, 2017 9:26:11 GMT -6
Anyone know much about Spartan or Hewes?? Spartan is similar to McIntosh IMO. Nicely fragrant, balanced sweet/tart, juicy....a nice apple but nothing exceptional. Spartan is not zone 3 hardy and is probably borderline in 4a. I have one growing and it has done fine the last two winters (but they were comparatively mild winters). I personally wouldn't plant a whole bunch of them until I saw how they do long term. Hewes is a crabapple, also known as Virginia crab. I haven't grown it, but it gets great reviews as a cider apple. No idea on the hardiness....same deal as Spartan. Worth trying on a limited scale.
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Post by nhmountains on Sept 29, 2017 19:15:04 GMT -6
I had some Hewes crabs a couple weeks ago. I thought they were good eating. The Scott Farm uses them in cider blends too.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Sept 30, 2017 6:04:14 GMT -6
Anyone know much about Spartan or Hewes?? Spartan is similar to McIntosh IMO. Nicely fragrant, balanced sweet/tart, juicy....a nice apple but nothing exceptional. Spartan is not zone 3 hardy and is probably borderline in 4a. I have one growing and it has done fine the last two winters (but they were comparatively mild winters). I personally wouldn't plant a whole bunch of them until I saw how they do long term. Hewes is a crabapple, also known as Virginia crab. I haven't grown it, but it gets great reviews as a cider apple. No idea on the hardiness....same deal as Spartan. Worth trying on a limited basis I'll try that Spartan on my farm in Pope County. So far so good out there, never had any winter kill... cross fingers
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Post by smsmith on Sept 30, 2017 7:25:25 GMT -6
I'm thinking a tree north of Sauk Centre that I've watched since moving here is a Spartan. Heavy crops (every other year) of smallish, dark red, almost purple fruit that hang into November/early December.
If it is, that tree has survived plenty of winters. It has to be at least 20 years old.
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Post by Sandbur on Sept 30, 2017 10:35:49 GMT -6
I'm thinking a tree north of Sauk Centre that I've watched since moving here is a Spartan. Heavy crops (every other year) of smallish, dark red, almost purple fruit that hang into November/early December. If it is, that tree has survived plenty of winters. It has to be at least 20 years old. Hmmm. cider tree?
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Post by Sandbur on Sept 30, 2017 10:46:43 GMT -6
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Post by Sandbur on Sept 30, 2017 10:48:07 GMT -6
this describes spartan as a large apple.
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Post by smsmith on Sept 30, 2017 17:59:42 GMT -6
this describes spartan as a large apple. ....and as a smaller apple after suffering winter damage in the late 70s
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Post by Sandbur on Oct 1, 2017 5:28:20 GMT -6
I'm thinking a tree north of Sauk Centre that I've watched since moving here is a Spartan. Heavy crops (every other year) of smallish, dark red, almost purple fruit that hang into November/early December. If it is, that tree has survived plenty of winters. It has to be at least 20 years old. Kerr?
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Post by smsmith on Oct 1, 2017 7:34:45 GMT -6
I'm thinking a tree north of Sauk Centre that I've watched since moving here is a Spartan. Heavy crops (every other year) of smallish, dark red, almost purple fruit that hang into November/early December. If it is, that tree has survived plenty of winters. It has to be at least 20 years old. Kerr? Possible, but the fruit look too large for the Kerr I've seen. They are also darker purple. The fruit are small apples, not crabs. I'd guess average size to be 2 1/2" or so. Tough to say for sure when I'm driving past at 30 mph
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Post by Sandbur on Oct 1, 2017 12:53:08 GMT -6
Possible, but the fruit look too large for the Kerr I've seen. They are also darker purple. The fruit are small apples, not crabs. I'd guess average size to be 2 1/2" or so. Tough to say for sure when I'm driving past at 30 mph 30mph is a gawking, old aged speedster!
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Post by smsmith on Oct 1, 2017 15:59:37 GMT -6
Possible, but the fruit look too large for the Kerr I've seen. They are also darker purple. The fruit are small apples, not crabs. I'd guess average size to be 2 1/2" or so. Tough to say for sure when I'm driving past at 30 mph 30mph is a gawking, old aged speedster! That's what the Todd County Sheriff's Dept. told me
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