sansbury
Member
Cheers all, found the forum while Googling various topics related to cider making and decided to join 
I live in New England and split my time between Boston and the Berkshires where I have a couple acres to play in the dirt and do other things that tend to result in warning letters from condo associations. I've been planting some heirloom apple trees over the past few years that are just starting to produce a little bit and hoping for a decent haul next season. I've pressed my first couple gallons this year from local orchard apples to start learning the process.
For those curious, I've planted Northern Spy, Golden Russet, and Cox's Orange Pippin so far. I have a grafted Rhode Island Greening to plant for next season (if it makes it), and I've been considering trying to put in one or two more of something more cider-specific like a Dabinett or a multipurpose like Baldwin or Ashmead's Kernel. The Cox's has fruited heavily the past two years and I've thinned it hard while it establishes, but the apples from that are A+, even if they keep for about 48 hours after picking. The Spy and Golden Russet haven't flowered heavily yet, but they're a bit younger and on bigger rootstock so I expect they might take a little longer. I also have two feral crabapples on the property which I have been tempted to try top-grafting something interesting on, though I suppose the crabapples themselves could be useful too.
I've also been trying to get some wine grapes established, though between the Japanese beetles and Whitetail deer I haven't had as much luck with them yet.
I live in New England and split my time between Boston and the Berkshires where I have a couple acres to play in the dirt and do other things that tend to result in warning letters from condo associations. I've been planting some heirloom apple trees over the past few years that are just starting to produce a little bit and hoping for a decent haul next season. I've pressed my first couple gallons this year from local orchard apples to start learning the process.
For those curious, I've planted Northern Spy, Golden Russet, and Cox's Orange Pippin so far. I have a grafted Rhode Island Greening to plant for next season (if it makes it), and I've been considering trying to put in one or two more of something more cider-specific like a Dabinett or a multipurpose like Baldwin or Ashmead's Kernel. The Cox's has fruited heavily the past two years and I've thinned it hard while it establishes, but the apples from that are A+, even if they keep for about 48 hours after picking. The Spy and Golden Russet haven't flowered heavily yet, but they're a bit younger and on bigger rootstock so I expect they might take a little longer. I also have two feral crabapples on the property which I have been tempted to try top-grafting something interesting on, though I suppose the crabapples themselves could be useful too.
I've also been trying to get some wine grapes established, though between the Japanese beetles and Whitetail deer I haven't had as much luck with them yet.
