Tasting Seedling Apples, Thanksgiving 2022

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[@gitgud6310]

imagine tasting your new apples and finding that perfect miracle variety

[@SkillCult]

I imagine that a lot lol. I've done pretty well already I guess. but always want to know what's around the next corner.

[@Pay-It_Forward]

Awesome video

[@David-kd5mf]

If you don't like an apple it's probably reliable subconscious taste intuition. Maybe the apple has too much iron in it or some other mineral or compound. I remember watching or listening to a Joseph lofthouse interview where he talked about developing his high beta carotine corn. He said when he eats it it makes him happy. He tends to select for beta carotene type flavors in breeding squash as well.

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

That's a very interesting variable for breeding. Makes sense though, I reckon.

[@LVSpeedweLL]

6:11 Ice Princess name change “Clean Intrigue” …. What fun, thanks for bringing us on the taste test ramble. Apple 135, I like the gold Autumn leaves on it, lovely in the landscape. 🤔Wondering if some of the ripening issues of thick skin, tannic taste and slower to ripen are being influenced by changes in our Sun; seeing thicker skins in Avocado and Orange and ripening issues. Mmm gonna be a yummy pie! 🍏🍎🥧

[@SkillCult]

This is a pretty low quality apple year I would say. I think you might be right. we hit 112 this year and maybe even more intense sunlight than usual with less fire haze. that apple will probably get a name related to clarity or clearness of flavor. Been bouncing around some ideas. I still want to fruit it at least one more season.

[@nonsquid]

Your season for apples trees with leaves starts so early and lasts so late. I have apple tree season envy. All my trees have been barren of leaves or fruit for more than a month. Your William's Pride scions are by far the most vigorous growth, productive scions on the orchard. Bite Me is all about growth, with promised fruit next year.

[@SkillCult]

I don't think it will take too long for BITE ME! to come into bearing and then it's very consistent. William's pride is a great grower here too

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

You would never convince me that I would enjoy watching someone test taste apples, yet everytime you do one of these videos, I happily watch it all the way through. How do you recommend starting on a journey like this? I think I'm in a similar climate to you (I'm about 60 miles east of Sacramento at a little over 4000 ft elevation) what would be 3 or 4 must have apples to try out? We already have a small orchard that's about 30 years old with your typical kind of boring store bought apple varieties. Thanks for all you do. Been following you for years now

[@SkillCult]

I'm in the coastal ranges at 1800 feet, so it's pretty different. but you are not so cold that you can't just grow everything and see if it works. Late hanging apples aren't going to work probably, but you can harvest some early and ripen in storage. That would have to be trial and error.

[@SkillCult]

King David for sure, gold rush for storage, golden russet, Sweet 16, williams' pride, the best of mine so far are probably cherub, amberwine, cherry crush, I'm forgetting some lol.

[@RobertBratsch_MN]

If you already have some mature tree you could top graft some new varieties. Steven has a lot of grafting educational videos.

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

@@RobertBratsch_MN I've seen those and would be interested in trying it. Only thing holding me back is that my grandma plated those trees like 35 years ago and I'm not sure if I'm willing to turn them into frankentrees or I'd rather just let them be and start fresh

[@effieinglish]

@@SkillCult Ah, I thought it looked like California. Didn't know we could do much with apples here. I've only seen crabs, but I like crabs. I've much to learn. Really enjoying your channel that only found today.

[@baddriversofcolga]

You talking about the clean aftertaste goes along with why I don't like Gala (at least from the grocery store anyway). It has a slight aftertaste that I don't find pleasant. I mean, I don't find them that good to begin with, but I find Fujis are somewhat similar but without the aftertaste so I find them preferable. In any case I still very much look forward to tasting some of the more interesting varieties including yours once my grafts and seeds mature of course.

[@nineallday000]

Thanks for uploading this on thanksgiving! What a relief to have something fun to watch here tonight!

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

Right!?!?!

[@jeffreydustin5303]

your apple videos are relaxing, informative, and fun.

[@mdl17576]

It's been fascinating watching your breeding project develop over the years. Very thankful you've shared it! I was excited to see some pink Fleshed expressed in Sugarwood. The tree I grafted from your scionwood has some fruit buds on it, so crossing my fingers I'll get a taste next year. Thanks for putting an update on Triceratops in your last tasting video. Even though it wasn't as good as last year, if you released that one I'd still bid or buy. Compared to Europe, the US doesn't have that many cider only bittersweet and bittersharp apples. Even though not your main goal, expanding the catalog of American cider apples is a welcome byproduct of your work.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, I think we can super easily expand those cider apples just by going back to the well with more primitive genes in breeding in general. But Grenadine throws lots of tannin. Triceratops might still pan out. I need to start keeping better track of those with cider potential. I'm not going to trial them out, but ya'll cider people can do that.

[@petekooshian5595]

I live in Michigan and my favorite apple ever is a small one that grew from a few trees on a commercial property as the rootstock for ornamental Hawthorne trees. They're absolutely delicious and they have that perfect umami that hits just right but I wouldn't describe them as savory necessarily. They're both sweet, tart, AND have that umami quality. The tree bears very heavy for a completely neglected one. I do find damage on the fruits, but nothing that affects yield or flavor. My guess is that it's maybe a descendant of a Jonagold or Jonathan apple? That's based on appearance alone though. I'm going to air layer a few saplings this next year to have my own!

[@SkillCult]

Let me know how air layering goes. I'm still hoping to set up a few this fall as an experiment. If we can dial that in, it's a great way to make new trees! I think a lot of America's apple diversity came from exactly that scenario, overgrown rootstocks.

[@wtfrankian]

that Grenadine x Goldrush looks like a tomato! Amazing!

[@paulmontagna3996]

Have you heard of Monty's Surprise apple? Discoverd in New Zealand as a chance seedling, possibly the most nutritious apple on earth, and highly disease resistance. Its finally available in the US, Burnt Ridge Nursery in WA has it. Thought you might wanna hear about that one!

[@SkillCult]

I think so. Sounds interesting.

[@DavidH13094]

Happy Thanksgiving

[@projectmalus]

Thanks for the awesome video. Looks like I have the right Golden Russet, it was the first graft I did and I had an apple this year :) One of my go to nurseries here in Canada is Silver Creek in Ontario, and they have a few red fleshed items for sale this year. One was a red fleshed pear called Summer Blood with "notes of cinnamon" sold out now and some red fleshed "feral" apples, which means wild I guess. Nice to see. I bought Roxbury Russet, Egremont Russet, Ashmead's Kernal, Lord Lambourne, and Winter Banana to try grafting pears onto. Onwards!

[@projectmalus]

@@carlandrews5810 Just the one variety, Winter Banana, which apparently is possible. My grammar was confusing, sorry.

[@xxfaction6xx]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[@SkillCult]

Same to you!

[@dougatfuto5]

every time I watch one of your videos I decide to plant more fruit trees in the spring.

[@SkillCult]

Sorry, and you're welcome :)

[@abcabc39]

Razor Russet is one of many Golden Delicious russet sports. Some others being Sargeant Russet Golden Delicious, Hooples Antique Gold, and Colvis Spice

[@SkillCult]

I have razor and hooples, but never too impressed by either. I didn't know clovis was one though.

[@bayareasparky9180]

Happy Thanksgiving Steven! I'm thanful for you and all you do.

[@SkillCult]

Thanks sparky :)

[@randynorman8071]

Happy Thanksgiving. Give us your pie recipe haha

[@DevaJones03]

i second this

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

@@DevaJones03 I third that!!

[@SkillCult]

I still need to dial some stuff in. I never measure anything except for dough, so it's hit and miss. Someday though, I hope to feel confident putting something out there.

[@randynorman8071]

@@SkillCult I enjoy watching your cooking videos too. The eggplant salsa very good

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

Some promising contenders there!! That has to be the most you've tasted in a video lol. I am going to make sure I get some Golden Russet this time around. They are always sold out. Guess I need to go up a tier or two on Patreon! Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy that pie!

[@SkillCult]

I was cranking through them lol. Yes, get GR. Hopefully I'll have quite a few this year. I have some new branches grafted. Haven't seen any bears this year, so mabye the other tree will have a lot.

[@remip6539]

Good morning from France 👍

[@infocat13]

I am san Francisco thinking of guerilla farming trees

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

We do with pawpaw so far...apple and pear to come...its really fun and rewarding 🤘

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, we need more of that. there is also guerilla grafting onto all those useless ornamentals everywhere...

[@deetea7016]

I understand if you don't want to share but I would love to know what pie recipie you use? Those pies could win awards. Happy holidays.

[@SkillCult]

Still need to dial that in before I have much to offer. Use enough sugar, blends are better than single varietal. My problem is I never follow recipes lol.

[@deetea7016]

I like it.

[@davidkehr4730]

On the trees that have some that are red and some that don't develope the redness, are the two on the same branch or does one branch produce the desired apples and another branch produce the less desirable apples?

[@SkillCult]

I have not noticed that. i think it is more random. In some cases, I could see this phenomenon actually producing two good, but very different apples, which might be awesome. but in most cases, i think the first fruits will be lower quality. we'll see. I'm almost curious enough to pursue it... almost.

[@thestrangegreenman]

Where do you go for a scion exchange? I've started growing seedling apples and I think pomology is a fantastic pursuit!

[@SkillCult]

Do a search for your region or a big city nearby and scion exchange. If you're lucky, there will be one. If not consider the North American Scion Exchange and other fruit forums. Or start one :)

[@Firesocks08]

14:38 nice red-flesh example

[@SkillCult]

When that one is really ripe it's even more pink, it's same as Vanilla Pink, bright neon pink.

[@DevaJones03]

happy thanksgiving!!!! make sure you have my slice ready when i drop by LOL

[@SkillCult]

Sure thing :) I want to dial in my pie game. My mom sent me an awesome pie crust video that looks like a total game changer. she said the crust turned out great, unfortunately I missed thanksgiving. I met my friend at her mechanic to lend her money to pick up her car and when I went to leave, my car wouldn't start! So I had to leave it. Went to borrow my ex's truck Thursday morning and the clutch wasn't working and they had just used it! I took the hint and just slept all day. I was completely exhausted anyway. check out this chick though, she's like the pie guru. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2LJe2Z9qNKEeMk

[@Adamu98]

I want to have early and late season apples. Which ones you recommend.

[@SkillCult]

It would depend on where you live, because in some areas you can't grow the super late ones. I would definitely try chestnut crab, centennial and william's pride for early. There are tons of early/mids, mids and late/mids to choose from. Gold Rush is a good keeper that is harvested in October or so and ripened in storage. If you watch a lot of my old content, you can learn about some apples you might want to grow. there is a playlist on my channel page of fruit tasting and reviews.

[@sandyarizona3471]

If you ever open up your secret orchard, I bet people like me would pay to come tour and taste test each tree , as in wine tasting tours in north California. Do it!!

[@SkillCult]

timing would be an issue. but I could see that working if you planned for it.

[@jeffhuntley2921]

Do you sell cuttings?

[@SkillCult]

Yes. Follow my blog to find out about releases, or join us on patreon. Patrons get first choice of seeds and scions. The newest stuff that I have very few scions of, is all auctioned on figbid, but as soon as I have more scions, I put them on the website.

[@jeffhuntley2921]

@@SkillCult awesome. I’ll find your website. Thanks

[@jeffhuntley2921]

@@SkillCult I got on your email list. Appreciate the knowledge:)

[@mikew735]

I know nothing about these things but can an apple tree survive american north eastern winters? its not too bad some cold for about 3 monthes but nothing below 5-10 degrees often. I live in south western pennsylvania, right on the line with west virginia, could I plant a few trees and keep them going? i used to have cherry trees but a blight(or something else I mistook for a sickness) took them, I miss taking care of them and then getting good fruit in return. if given thank you for your time, all the best. Edit: after reading for a while about it and looking around online it looks like, while time/work intensive it could be incredibly rewarding, I'm ready to either fail utterly or become overwhelmed come mid february-march I believe I'm going to buy 2-3 apple trees and plant them, i have a good lightly slanted hillside, my only question is can I buy a breed that is pink/reddish and good for eating as is like the ones you show in the vid? thank you for wonderful videos and some inspiration.

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

Have you learned to graft? If so, he sells a good bit of scionwood around February or March. That's the fastest and easiest way to get a red fleshed apple if that's what you desire. But buying a few trees and getting them planted is surely a step in the right direction!

[@mikew735]

@@3FeathersFarmstead tyvm for your time, I had no idea about the scions, ill find his site/marketplace and save it for the future, ill start with baby steps and go with 2 standard trees and if i can keep them going ill try to take it further, thank you again and all the best to you!

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

@@mikew735 It's really not that hard. I am originally from upstate NY and have never had any problem keeping a tree alive there or down here in GA. Keeping the deer off of them is a different story 😂

[@davidkehr4730]

I live in northern Indiana and have apple trees that aren't adversely effected by the cold weather.

[@mikew735]

@@3FeathersFarmstead fair, tytyty

[@jeffreydustin5303]

dum dum roolz

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

😂 alwaze heed the dum dum roolz

[@SkillCult]

they're everywhere...