Hello, I bought a bushel of Macintosh and a bushel of Jonathan from a couple up in Huntsville this fall(I only went up for the Jonathan because I'd never had a Mac I thought was worth eating). The Macs were good and made very fine sauce the Jonathan's were incredible so there are two I know for sure...

If you google specific heirloom cultivar names you'll be directed to many works from English pomologists of the 19th century. Many of them had quite distinct opinions about how to grow what where. So if there is an antique or two that seems from descriptions like your sort of apple go a little deepe...

Arkansas Black is also late reliable and tough, Winesaps are pretty durable too and came from New Jersey.

Heymikey, sorry I didn't see your post sooner you have some that interest me and I have some on your want list, maybe next year.

Gravensteins are triploid so maybe not the best advice unless you know of neighboring apples or crabs for pollination. People say very good things about zestar, another early apple. For cherries there are some fine "pie" varieties mostly all with a self fruitful reputation. Balaton is swee...

To go further about vendors, I have not bought from Kuffel creek. I have purchased from Century Farms and was mostly satisfied. I have also purchased Dave Wilson trees at retail nurseries and was satisfied. Maple Valley Orchard seems to be run by fine people and I plan to purchase from them this yea...

There are many nurserymen who don't subscribe to the idea of fully dwarfing rootstocks for a variety of reasons. Century Farms Orchard, and Kueffel Creek sell almost exclusively on 111 a large semi-dwarf. Obviously this simplifies their life but it wouldn't matter if their customers were dissatisfie...

You mention less water as important in your decision making, seems to me that a "nurse"ry would make your life easier. Controlling competition for at least that first season (weeds, critters, drought, disease) when your clonal rootstocks are still underdeveloped is going to be important. Y...

Good to know Mike, I have read c a r is a problem locally. Didn't see it this year but there are plenty of juniper and cedar in the neighborhood so I guess I'll be getting acquainted. Glad to have the feedback about blossoms and no fruit too I'll know not to be too agitated should I not get any frui...

Mike, in reference to your list, I planted 8 Calville this past spring. One yr. whips that I lopped off at 18" for a Belgian fence and still they blossomed, very exciting. No fruit set but no deaths either. The rest of the row is made up of spitzenberg, lubsk queen and Swiss limbertwig. Lost 2 ...

Mike,I used to pick Winesaps from an old farmyard wish I'd taken cuttings or planted seed. Don't know how true they might come but if you read the history lots of fine cultivars are supposedly winesap seedlings, don't know much about cox, besides what I've read. Lots of fine apples grown here along ...

Thank you for the link Mike, I have seen a similar description. I don't really s'pose it matters much barring somebody warning me that it's horrible to grow, I intend to graft a handful this spring and find out for myself.

Any experience with Quebec Belle please. Mostly I am curious if it is as tardy to bear as the rest of Northern Spy's progeny are reputed to be. Any knowledge of its quality would be good to see as well.