Planting cider trees in CT

[scottyd]

I want to plant 4 trees for cider making and I'm thinking Courtland, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Whitney Crabapple. Will this make a good cider blend ?


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[richl025]

Wow. Can't really answer your question, but you have mass respect from me for long-term plannng

 

[gratus fermentatio]

If you're planting trees to make cider, why not plant real cider apples? With the exception of the crabapple, the varieties you listed are all eating/cooking varieties. Have a look at some real cider cultivars:
http://www.cumminsnursery.com/cidervar.htm

http://www.greenmantlenursery.com/fruit/apple-cider.htm

Here's a list of the varieties Farnum Hill Cider uses:
http://www.povertylaneorchards.com/the-orchard/poverty-lane-apple-varieties/

Kingston Black is a good one for a single variety cider.
Regards, GF.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Double post.

 

[scottyd]

Thanks for the heads up.


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[scottyd]

I thinking about calville blanc, golden russet, spitzenburg, whitney crab and golden delicious as pollinator.


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[Edcculus]

This is also an awesome resource for culitvars. He's based in the UK, so some of the information may be based on their climate etc.

http://www.cider.org.uk/frameset.htm

I did research a while ago, but I know there are nurserys in the US that sell certain cultivars of cider apples. You could probably find some with a quick google search.

 

[oljimmy]

+1 on planting real cider trees. In fact, another reason to plant them is that the explosion of interest in cider in the US means you might be able to sell a few gallons here and there at a huge profit!

 

[WVMJ]

Add St Lawrence nursery to your list of trees for the cold. Grimes Golden might be better as a pollinator and cider apple than GD. We are starting an orchard this year also, putting in some russets, their taste is awesome, you might want to find some tannic apples to improve your cider. WVMJ

 

[scottyd]

Ok. So after more research I will be planting whitney crabapple, golden grimes, dabinette, ashmead kernal, browns apple and golden russet. Feel confident about this variety. Thanks for all the input.


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[WVMJ]

Ashmeads and Golden russet are said to be kind of shy bearers, I have heard that Roxburry Russest gives more fruit, you only have a few trees so you want to maximize. Liberty is also supposed to be pretty good for cider, havent tried it yet but have some planted. Good on the Grimes Golden, we have a few and I think I am looking forward to tasting an apple from my own state very much. Wickson also a good crab apple they say for cider.

I think the American style cider can be higher in acid, the euro guys call apples with more than 0.45% acid sharps, that doesnt even begin to get in the wine range for white wines which can easily be double that and if you get a lot of acidic apples, I think the higher acid apples go just fine with a little tannin like from crabs.

WVMJ

 

[scottyd]

I was looking at the roxbury russet. Maybe get that one in the ground next year. What about yarlington mills and chisel jersey ?


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