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Blueberries |
The ManyTracks Orchard Norkent Apple
Haralson x Rescue ~ AgCanada 1960's
Grafted 2017 on wild seedling rootstock in orchard First fruit 2020 ~ winterkilled 2021
2nd graft on Bulero wild seedling tree 2017
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Akero |
Hoholik |
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Per reports: A very hardy and juicy orange striped yellow medium-big size apple. Tastes similar to an apple-pear, often compared to the Golden Delicious. Skin is moderately thick and sometimes russet. great juices, it is an excellent apple to eat fresh and to cook with. Must mature on the tree to develop its full flavors. Keeps for approx 3 months in storage. Tree sturdy, with a strong framework, bears at a young age, cross between the Haralson and Rescue. Appears to be a seedling from tens of thousands sent across the Prairies from an AgCanada program in the 1960's. We got our first taste in 2020 on the small seedling rootstock, and found it to be crisp, juicy and delicious. A beautiful apple. It kept about a month. Unfortunately, the young tree winterkilled that winter. Both grafts grew vigorously; the one on Bulero needing pruning after only a few years. 2021 Sadly, the young Norkent didn't make it through the winter. I'm guessing it was a little too vigorous with growth, and I should have picked off the blossoms and not let it so much fruit. Or that wild rootstock just wasn't that hardy? Or... I don't know why it died, but in the future I will let young trees make good wood before allowing them to set and ripen a crop, as hard as that is. Thankfully, I still have a healthy vigorous Norkent graft growing on the much older wild Bulero seedling tree, with no signs of blossom or fruit yet so I'm not worried about letting it fruit too early. The tree is plenty old and large enough to handle a good crop when it decides to begin (the base tree has fruited for many years, a very nice small dark red apple). I really look forward to fruit when it does, having tasted how very good it is 2020
October
30 -- Apples! --
2019 - Very good growth on both. #2 - Liking Bulero fruit more so will go toward half/half Norkent and original. 2018 - (1) Vigorous growth, 14-19", heavy ant/aphids so tanglefooted. Form is good. Scaffolds already. Have left one bottom rootstock branch - looks like crab. Rough looking leaves but overall good. (2) Vigorous growth, 10-16", many branches. Slowly cutting out top of Bulero to let Norkent replace at least half of tree. Bottom branches original to (hopefully) satisfy deer. 2017 - (#1) grafted to a sturdy, older 3 yr old seedling, probably crab. Vigorous growth (5-9-16") but had significant leaf damage (a lot on many trees), insect related I think. Scion from Bob Purvis. (#2) grafted to Bulero wild (fruiting) tree, above bottom limbs (to eventually replace top of tree). Very good growth. Copyright © Susan Robishaw |
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May
31 -- The pear and plum blossoms came and went at a record rate this
year,
likely due to the unusual heat. Thankfully the pollinators were busy
during peak time. And the first tree to blossom was an unexpected
surprise. In all of the grandeur of spring I suddenly realized there was a small apple tree
in the new section that was in full bloom, and fully clothed, too. What
a surprise. This apple, grafted only 3 years ago, didn't start out with
just the usual few blooms of a young tree, it decided to go all out and
no question about it! Not only that, it was the very first apple to
bloom, with only a scattering of other trees starting. He was making
sure he got the full attention. And he certainly did. Now normally a 3
year old is too young to let bear fruit. But the wild rootstock is
strong and vigorous, and the variety grafted on is strong and vigorous
(a great combination). It's a hardy Canadian bred variety named Norkent
that I've read great reviews of though have never tasted - maybe this
year! If the blossoms produce fruit then I'll let it keep some, maybe 4
or 6. I really should nip off some of the blossoms but I'm still in
amazement, and admiring, this precocious young tree. I've been pointing
him out as an example to some of my other, older, larger, and yet to
bloom trees. See what you could do?! Oh well, they each have their own
timeline, and my urging isn't going to change that. 
p,
juicy and delicious. We both really liked this apple. Now each apple
variety has its peak time period for the best fresh eating and Norkent
was great for a good month. I was hoping for longer (and it may be
longer as the tree matures and in a not-so-hot year). But in early
October I realized it was losing its special flavor zing, though still
firm and juicy. And by the 25th it was tasting a bit blah though still
sweet and firm and juicy. But it was time to make sauce of the last of
the crop which, mixed with some damaged Haralsons, it did quite well. 
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