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Apples
Blueberries |
The ManyTracks Orchard
Hoholik Apple
unknown
parentage ~ parent tree over 100 years old Grafted 2014 on Antonovka rootstock. First fruit 2023
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Akero |
Hoholik |
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The farm was an early one of a local family. A nephew of the original farmer said the tree was old when he was a child, and he was born in 1924. We figure it is over 100 years old. Unfortunately, the tree tipped over in 2019 so they had to cut it down. We don't know if it was a named variety or a seedling. It seemed similar to a Golden Delicious, or maybe Grimes Golden, but there is no way to really know. There are so many early apples that we no longer know, and planting apple trees was common here. The next spring we cut a few scions from that tree to graft in our orchard. I decided to name my grafted tree after the original family -- Hoholik.
2023 -
Pruned off one of large low limbs (will do others in coming years) plus a
few uppers to open up canopy. A very well behaved tree with nice structure and
as tall as I'll let it get (10-12'). And
finally - Blossoms! Even better, while many other apple blooms were full
open when we got the all too common late May freeze (mid 20's) Hoholik's
blossoms were still tight bud which bodes well for getting safely through these
freezes. A week later I tried one and the seeds were only half brown - not quite ripe. It was firm, a little juice, light sweet-tart but with some flavor. It seemed very much a storage apple that needs time to reach its peak. I waited a month, Nov. 18 we ate another - nice! Sweeter, more juice and nice flavor, dense-crunchy but not hard or tough, seeds brown. It was also strongly aromatic when i cut into it. Strangely the smell that came to mind was nail polish remover! But not in a bad way. It also has a very pleasing sweet aftertaste. We ate another the next day. It's hard to hold off when the apples are good, but I do want to save a few to see how they fare later. So far this apple was worth the wait. Dec. 25 - Still firm, nice sweet flavor, maybe a little "dry", same sweet aftertaste. March 1 ate last stored apple, the largest. Still in good shape but very little flavor. Looks like this one should be eaten by end of year. 2022 - Still looking good. Cut out handful of large uprights, minor other pruning, healthy, almost as tall as I want it to be (10 feet). Still no fruit. 2021 - Little pruning, good strong growth, healthy, no fruit. Looks good. 2020 - Mid April cut off 3 lowest branches, plus a little other crosses. Looking good, great form, looks like spurs so maybe next year for fruit? 2019 - 4/15 cut out large mid-center limb + one low one. Looking good, healthy, good growth.
2017 - Tied some lower branches down. Moderate to a lot leaf blight/insect but growing well. 7 1/2" h. Some good waist high scaffolds; looks like some fruit buds forming. Next year start taking off some lower branches. 2016 - (#1) Pruned off some low branches, cut back top ones (lowest scaffolds) to shorter than leader. Good growth. Maybe have 3 scaffolds. Tied 2 down more horizontal (later in summer). Some browning/yellowing of leaves but overall looking good.
2014 -
May 25 grafted 1st scion onto an old Fedco Antonovka rootstock (from died Charotte tree, pltd 2005). Moved
it to south of garden, se of water hydrant.
Grafted 2nd scion onto an east small branch of Splitter wild tree. LATER NOTE:
see Tebo. Turns out it wasn't a Hoholik. We had also grafted a scion cut from an
old orchard tree on the adjacent old Tebo homestead. When it fruited it was
obviously not from the Hoholik tree, being well splashed and overlaid with red.
I won't know if above graft on own rootstock is indeed Hoholik until it fruits
(hasn't yet, 2022). I sure hope it is! The buds look different on the two so
it's likely. |
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