Apples

Permaculture-based consulting, education

and stock for today’s homesteader

Apples are the holy grail of organic growers east of the Mississippi. The host of diseases and insect pests that are drawn to this fruit makes it very difficult to harvest high quality fruit without resorting to synthetic pesticides. However, by planting new (and old) disease-resistant cultivars and more effective organic pest deterrents, it is possible to eat bright, shiny mostly flawless apples off of your own tree. Locally-adapted varieties/rootstocks and healthy growing conditions are also keys in the puzzle of organic apple production, and these only come through trial and error. Space dwarf apples 6-8’ apart; space semi-dwarfs 15-20’ apart. All grafted plants.

Rootstocks: Bud-9 is a full dwarf which grows a tree 6-8’ tall and needs to be permanently staked. M-111 is semi-dwarf reaching 18’ (but can be kept pruned to 14’), are self anchored (require no staking), do great on heavy clay soils, and are drought tolerant.

Pollination: All varieties we offer are early– or mid-season bloomers, so are compatible with each other for pollination (exception: see ‘Mutsu’ below).

Listed in order of ripening (approximate ripening dates are for our area)

Redfree: Early August. An outstanding disease resistant apple from the PRI breeding program. Cherry red over most of the apples; a few may have hint of green on shade side. More flavorful and crisp for fresh eating than most summer apples. Also a good farmer’s market potential due to its earliness and bright cheery color! Like most summer apples, not a good keeper—maybe 3 weeks with good cold storage. gallon pot $16

Mollie’s Delicious: Late August. A more southerly adapted apple, doing best in zones 5-8. Large, crisp and sweet. Pretty red blush over a yellow background. Said to have resistance to some diseases so has potential for organic growers. gallon pot $16

Liberty: Mid September. Touted as the most disease-resistant of the PRI apples, this tree has performed remarkably well for us, producing flawless shiny fruit. We recommend Liberty the most of all our apples. Fruit is deep red on the sun side and bright green on the shade side, having a flavor like a more sprightly and crisp McIntosh. Need to thin this variety heavily or fruit size can be small. A decent keeper in good storage. gallon pot $16

Chestnut Crab: Early Fall. Edible crab apples are beautiful bloomers as well as disease-resistant fruit producers. Chestnut Crab is famous for its incredibly sweet but complex 1-1/2” yellow with some red blush fruits. Perfect size for children to munch down if there’s any left for them! Good for a sweet, no-sugar added applesauce. White blossoms. Not the best keeper, about a month. gallon pot $16

Mutsu (Crispin): Mid October. Known for its refreshing crisp yellow delicious-type flavor that has a hint of licorice in the background. A greenish-yellow when ripe, fruit is large compared to most apples. Supposedly susceptible to some diseases yet we are offering it because it has been a star performer for us even with neglected care! Actually beats out some of the apples with known disease resistance. Decent keeper. [NOTE: Mutsu is a triploid variety; it does not provide viable pollen, and still needs a pollinator; plant with two other varieties to have fruit on all of them] gallon pot $16

Hudson’s Golden Gem: Late October. Hudson’s is a little more refined in surface appearance than other russet apples—yellow skin with light russeting. It is noted to have some resistance to diseases, and all russets are slightly more insect resistant due to thicker skin and harder young fruitlets. This apple is hard, dry and tart at ripening time but mellows out to a sweet pear-like flavor in storage. Good keeper. gallon pot $16

Arkansas Black: Early November. An heirloom apple most often noted for its disease resistance, general hardiness and outstanding keeping abilities. Very late to ripen, fruits are a gorgeous dark purplish-red and very hard at picking. Time in storage softens them a little and the flavor goes towards the sweet side. Extremely good storage apple; supposedly until March the following year! gallon pot $16

We do not ship plants. To reserve plants please either call us at 812-723-5259 or email us, and schedule an appointment to pick them up. We can also DELIVER for a fee to our general region.

Apples, Pears & Peaches, Cherries & Plums, Edible Landscaping, Berries, Grapes & Kiwis, Hardy Figs & Mulberries, Nut Trees & Pawpaws, Tree Guilds

Nursery Stock

Brambleberry Permaculture Farm LLC

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