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The ManyTracks Orchard

Collet Apple

unknown parentage, seeds from Morden Research Station, Manitoba, 1934, selected 1947

Grafted 2019 -- (#1) old Beacon sucker (inside)
First apple 2022

 (#2) buried low graft, unknown seedling (NOrch)

APPLES

Akero
Beacon
Black Oxford
Bulero
Cali
Canad.Strawb.
Carroll
Chestnut
Collet
Discovery
Dudley
Dudley Seedlg
Emma's Crab
Emma's Seedlg
Esopus Spitzenburg
Front Yard
Frostbite
Golden Russet
Goodland
Gray Pearmain
Haralson

Hoholik
Honeycrisp
Keepsake
Lilli
Mr C
Norkent
Nutting
Prairie Spy
Smokehouse
Splitter
Starkey
SweetCow
Sweet Sixteen
Tebo
Tolman
Trailman
Valentine
Wolfe
Zestar

Cider
Crabapples
Wild

"Discovered and propagated by Albert Collet and Sister Alice from Notre-Dame-de Lourdes in Manitoba. In 1934, they gathered 300 apple seeds from the Morden Research Center of Manitoba and planted them all. Of the 300 apple trees propagated, 35 survived the cold winters. Whilst visually appealing, only one was producing a delicious and big fruit in high quantity. After 13 years of testing its resistance to cold weather, in temperatures as low as -52°F), they finally released it to be propagated."

2023 - #1 - Lots of growth, healthy, ~8'^ - start more serious pruning to keep it open and remove low branches. Abundance of blossoms - 36! Nipped off most, let set 14 apples. Started dropping early September - only 5 left on tree 9/15. No much chance of letting them frost before harvest (as has been suggested for best flavor). Maybe if it was in a colder site it would calm down - this tree is nestled just south of the water tank next to a vigorous Autumn Olive.

Another drop end of September, more red color, good size, tender texture, juicy. Not overly sweet but not overly tart either. More flavor then earlier drops. A nice looking apple. Maybe not the top favorite for fresh eating but a perfectly good all round apple. Seems like it might be good cider. A few days later a bird pecked apple dropped so I picked the last two. These were the best flavored.

2022 - Two blossom sets! August 30 -- New Apple! I'm finding many of our apples look very similar, but the tastes differ which makes it fun and interesting. I really looked forward to tasting the new Collet and watched that apple carefully all season. It dropped August 30. Had some little damage (brown) around stem but otherwise looked beautiful. Nice size, 4 oz. Let it sit on counter for a week then ate. I bit disappointing. It's a nice apple, similar to a Macintosh, juicy, tart-sweet, tender. While not my favorite Steve thought it was very good. I look forward to seeing how it does down the road. The tree is healthy.

#2 - Slow growing but looking  fine.

2021 - #1 - Continues vigorous, healthy, good form. Pruned off low branch.   

 #2 -  Looks good, smaller than similarly planted Valentine in same area but doing fine.

2020 - #1 - excellent, vigorous growth ~5'^.     #2 - good growth, healthy.

2019 - ARS-NPGS scion. #1 - side graft 5/30 to old Beacon3 sucker (by windmill) @~24". Grew vigorously, top ~15", sides 7" & 10" & 3". Has lot of roots to draw from!

#2 - Bench graft 5/27 very low on seedling rootstock (dug up from center lilac area by house, roots with hairs), planted burying graft in North East Orchard.

Online notes: (konrad) annual producer and reliable at home, a little slow grower, took about 4 years to fruit but never rested one year, it is self thinning. Cooked about half is soft and the rest a bit firm. (HFT) taste some similarities with McIntosh. ranges more tart to more sweet depending on harvest time, but always well-balanced and delicious. firm and juicy, equally good eaten raw or cooked. Avoid harvesting it too early as the cold will increase its sugar content. The tree: resistance to disease, to scab, light sensitivity to fireblight.  (ARS-GRIN) greenish cream, uniformly streaked with bright medium red. Turns rose-pink when ripe, early Oct. Good cooking, excellent dessert. Resembles Godfrey. "Frost triggers release of sugars if harvested too early" per Evans. Will stand 5-10 degrees F. of frost. Keeps about 10 weeks. Minn"test" Winter ‘95-’96 (coldest on record at that time) - Apple Survival Collet in "worst" category (along with Sw Sixt & Prairie Spy.... Few "best).  T3 vigor.