Malus domestica (All trees grafted to Bud.118 rootstock) Bud.118 rootstock is known for being very cold hardy and precocious while growing to about 3/4 the size of seedling trees. Well rooted and long lived, no need for tree support. **Special Note: We only offer small first year grafted trees (known as whips) through our mail order business (larger trees available locally). To protect the young graft and avoid costly shipping surcharges we often have to head back our taller grafted trees before shipping. Cultivar Bloom Time Ripening Window Primary Uses Baldwin Early–Midseason Late fall; keeps until spring Fresh eating, cooking, hard cider, storage Black Oxford Midseason Late fall; keeps into spring Dessert, cider, storage Blue Pearmain Midseason Mid–late fall; keeps until midwinter Pies, baked apples, sauce, dessert Canadian Strawberry Midseason Early fall; keeps ~1 month Dessert, early cider Centennial (crab) Early Late Aug–early Sept; short storage Fresh eating, jelly/canning, pollinator Chestnut (crab) Early–mid Late Aug–mid Sept; short storage Fresh eating, dessert-quality crab, cider blend Clark's Crab Midseason Late season (~Nov) Jelly, cider, ornamental/wildlife Fallawater Midseason Late fall; keeps until midwinter Fresh eating, baking Fameuse (Snow Apple) Mid–Late Early–mid fall; keeps into early winter Dessert, cider Fletcher Sweet Midseason Mid fall; short keeper Fresh eating, applesauce Golden Russet Early–mid Mid–late fall; keeps all winter into spring Dessert, drying, premium cider (“champagne of cider”) Gray Pearmain Midseason Mid–late Oct; keeps into winter/spring Dessert, juice/cider Grimes Golden Mid–Late Mid fall; fair keeper Fresh eating, pies, sauce, cider Hatchet Mountain (crab) Not documented — likely mid Not documented — likely fall Culinary crab (jelly), ornamental (red-veined foliage) Hurlbut Early Mid fall; keeps until early winter Dessert, sauce Keepsake Late Late fall; keeps into late spring/summer Dessert, long storage, cider King David Midseason Late fall; fair keeper Dessert, cider King of Tompkins County Midseason Mid–late fall; keeps until midwinter Fresh eating, pies, cider Liberty Early–mid Late Sept–early Oct; keeps 1–3 months Fresh eating, cider, sauce — very disease-resistant McIntosh Midseason Early–mid fall; keeps until early winter Dessert, sauce Milo Gibson Midseason Mid-late Oct; keeps until New Year Dessert — distinctive licorice/anise flavor Northern Spy Late Oct–Nov; keeps 3–5 months Fresh eating, pies, sauce, cider, long storage St. Edmunds (Russet) Early–mid Late Sept; not a keeper Dessert, fresh eating only Starkey Early–mid Late Oct; good keeper in northern climates Fresh eating, cider, sauce, pies Sweet 16 Mid–late Mid–late Sept; keeps until midwinter Fresh eating, pies, sauce Williams Pride Early–mid (extended) Early–mid Aug; short storage (~6 wks) Fresh eating, sauce/cider — disease-resistant summer apple Cultivar Descriptions (For more information and photos we recommend heading to the Maine Heritage Orchard and Out on a Limb Apples websites). Baldwin Discovered in Massachusetts about 1740. Discovered on the Butters Farm by a surveyor planning the Middlesex Canal. Baldwin was the standard all-purpose variety in New England in the mid 1800's up until the test winter of 1934 when the majority of trees died and were replanted with the hardier Mcintosh. Large, round, red, thick skinned fruit. Hard crisp juicy yellow flesh makes an excellent fresh eating and cooking apple. Keeps till spring. Makes great hard cider. Very vigorous healthy trees. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4) Black Oxford Maine heirloom famous for its deep purplish-black skin and striking appearance. Medium-sized round fruit with crisp, firm, juicy flesh that is mildly sweet with a hint of spice. Excellent dessert apple, also used for cider. Keeps exceptionally well, often into spring. Tree is hardy, vigorous, and very productive. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Blue Pearmain Thought to be from Middlesex County Massachusetts grown since the 1700s. Moderately juicy flesh, firm, dense and slightly crisp, sweet with a bit of a tart background flavor. Incredibly beautiful large purple-red fruit is covered with a distinct dusty blue bloom giving it its name. Great all around heirloom variety, making great pies, baked apples and sauces. Keeps in the root cellar until midwinter. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Canadian Strawberry Beautiful superb-tasting dessert apple. Yellow skin mottled with red-orange. Very good early season cider. Vigorous, beautiful, healthy growing tree. Fruit keeps for about a month. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Centennial (crab) University of Minnesota release, 1957. Cross of Dolgo and Wealthy. One of the finest dessert crabapples available. Medium-sized bright red fruit with yellow flesh. Crisp, juicy, and sweet with very low astringency — good enough to eat fresh off the tree. Excellent for jelly and canning. Short keeper. Tree is vigorous, productive, and an excellent pollinator for other varieties. Blooms early. (Zone 3) Chestnut (crab) University of Minnesota release, 1946. Cross of Malinda and a crabapple. Exceptional dessert-quality crabapple. Medium-sized bronze-red fruit with a nutty, sweet, rich flavor unlike most crabs. Excellent fresh eating, also good for cider blending. Short keeper. Tree is hardy, productive, and reliable in northern climates. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4) Clark's Crab Extremely precocious and annually bearing crabapple grown by Kansas fruit enthusiast Clark DeLisle from seed selected from feral trees in Michigan. Very grower friendly tree that puts fruit on the table. Produces abundant sweet, tart yellow-red fruit about 2" in size. Late ripener, let it hang until frost (November if possible). (zone 4) Fallawater Very large apple, sometimes over a pound. Round to oblong greenish-yellow fruit with occasional red blush. Flesh is coarse, crisp, juicy, and mildly sweet with low acidity. Good for fresh eating and baking; makes a fair keeper into mid-winter. Trees are vigorous, spreading, and consistently productive. Blooms midseason. (Zone 5) Fameuse (Snow Apple) Classic old Canadian variety with snow-white flesh. Medium-sized round fruit with bright red skin, often striped. Flesh is tender, crisp, juicy, and aromatic with a distinctive strawberry-like flavor. Excellent dessert apple, also makes fine cider. Keeps into early winter. Trees are hardy and productive, somewhat prone to scab. Blooms mid-to-late. (Zone 4) Fletcher Sweet Unknown parentage. Jonathan Fletcher Farm, Lincolnville, Maine, 19th century. We acquired our scionwood from a very old tree on the Hardy Farms apple orchard in Hope, Maine. Very popular apple in Midcoast Maine in the late 1800's to early 1900's and was often displayed at the local fairs. Medium solid green fruit looks similar to Tolman Sweet. Very white flesh. Refreshing, mild, incredibly juicy and very crisp. Makes a great applesauce. (Zone 4) Golden Russet Old American variety, likely originating in New York or New England in the early 1800s. Medium-sized golden-bronze russeted fruit. Flesh is firm, crisp, very juicy, and exceptionally sweet with a rich, nutty flavor. One of the premier cider apples — often called the “champagne of cider” for its high sugar content and complex flavor. Also excellent for fresh eating and drying. Keeps all winter and into spring. Tree is vigorous and productive. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4) Gray Pearmain Rare New England heirloom of uncertain origin. Medium to large fruit with greenish-yellow skin covered in gray-brown russet. Flesh is firm, fine-textured, juicy, and sweet with a rich, aromatic flavor. Excellent dessert apple, also good for juice and cider. Keeps well into winter and spring. Tree is hardy and moderately vigorous. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Grimes Golden Tart citrusy crisp medium yellow fruit with occasional russeting. Good all around apple. Great fresh eating, pies, sauce and cider. Thought to be a parent of Golden Delicious. Productive precocious tree. Blooms mid-late season. (Zone 4) Hatchet Mountain (crab) Maine heirloom crabapple named for Hatchet Mountain in Hope, Maine, discovered by John Bunker. Bloom time and ripening not well documented. Striking ornamental foliage with distinctive red veining. Small fruit used primarily for jelly making. A true Maine rarity, valued as much for its beauty as its culinary use. Tree is hardy and vigorous. (Zone 4) Hurlbut High-quality fall dessert variety. Firm, tender, crisp, very juicy, mildly subacid. Also makes a good mild pink sauce. Small-to-medium red striped roundish fruit. Often has a russet stem splash making it look like a small Wolf River. Large vigorous trees. Keeps until early winter. Blooms early. (Zone 4) Keepsake Cross of Frostbite and Northern Spy released by the University of Minnesota in 1979. One of the best of all winter storage varieties. Keeps until July in the root cellar. Fine-textured flesh is hard, crisp, juicy and sweet but should be stored for a while to bring out the full flavor potential. Medium sized red fruit. Tree loves New England. Somewhat resistant to scab. Blooms late. (Zone 4) King David Chance seedling discovered in Washington County, Arkansas in 1893. Stark Brothers Nursery intro, 1904. King David is a highly flavored apple of the highest dessert quality. Fine juicy flesh is firm yet tender and distinctly yellow. Medium-sized fruit is very dark red, nearly black. The tree is vigorous, bearing young and regularly. Scab susceptible. (Zone 4) King of Tompkins County (Tompkins King) Large handsome red-striped apple with yellow ground color. Flesh is tender, juicy, and aromatic with balanced sweet-subacid flavor. Good for fresh eating, pies, and cider. Keeps until mid-winter. Tree is vigorous, upright, and bears well, though not highly hardy in very cold climates. Blooms midseason. (Zone 5) Liberty NYSAES (Geneva) release, 1978. Cross of Macoun and a disease-resistant complex hybrid. One of the most disease-resistant apples available — highly resistant to scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and mildew. Medium-sized red fruit with yellow-green ground color. Flesh is crisp, juicy, and mildly sweet-tart. Good for fresh eating, cider, and sauce. Keeps 1–3 months. Tree is vigorous, productive, and nearly maintenance-free. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4) McIntosh Famous Canadian variety, parent of many modern apples. Medium round fruit with red blush and stripes over green. Flesh is tender, crisp, and very juicy with a distinctive spicy wine-like flavor. Excellent for fresh eating and sauce, though softens quickly when stored. Keeps until early winter. Trees are hardy, productive, and adaptable. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Milo Gibson Medium to large fruit ripening mid-to-late October. Distinctive and unusual flavor profile — sweet with a pronounced licorice or anise character unlike any other apple. Excellent fresh eating dessert apple. Keeps until the New Year. Tree is hardy and moderately vigorous. Blooms midseason. (Zone 4) Northern Spy Originated in East Bloomfield, New York around 1800. One of the most celebrated all-purpose apples in New England. Large, round fruit with bright red skin striped over yellow-green. Flesh is firm, crisp, very juicy, and richly flavored with a balanced sweet-tart character. Outstanding for fresh eating, pies, sauce, and cider. One of the best long-storage varieties, keeping 3–5 months. Tree is very vigorous but slow to bear — worth the wait. Blooms late. (Zone 4) St. Edmunds (Russet) English russet variety introduced in the late 1800s. One of the earliest russets to ripen, ready in late September. Medium-sized golden-brown russeted fruit. Flesh is firm, crisp, very juicy, and exceptionally sweet with a rich, nutty flavor. Best eaten fresh directly from the tree — not a keeper. Tree is moderately vigorous and productive. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 5) Starkey Maine heirloom originating in Starks, Maine in the early 1800s. Medium to large yellow-green fruit with a red blush. Flesh is firm, crisp, juicy, and mildly sweet with good flavor. Versatile apple — good for fresh eating, cider, sauce, and pies. A reliable keeper in northern climates, holding well into late October and beyond. Tree is hardy, vigorous, and productive. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4) Sweet 16 University of Minnesota release, 1977. Cross of Macoun and Honeygold. Medium to large red-striped fruit. Flesh is firm, crisp, very juicy, and exceptionally sweet with a distinctive vanilla-cherry flavor. Excellent for fresh eating, pies, and sauce. Keeps until midwinter. Tree is hardy, productive, and reliable in northern climates. Blooms mid-to-late season. (Zone 3) Williams Pride NYSAES (Geneva) release, 1988. One of the best early-season disease-resistant apples available. Medium-sized deep red fruit ripening in early to mid August. Flesh is firm, crisp, juicy, and sweet with good flavor for such an early apple. Excellent for fresh eating and sauce; also good for cider. Short storage of about 6 weeks. Highly resistant to scab, fire blight, and cedar apple rust. Tree is vigorous and productive. Blooms early to midseason. (Zone 4)
