Lovingly called "Ugly Lumpkins", this tree produces large, delightfully refreshing apples. It was a chance find near the farm where I work and unfortunately it is tall and spindly, which makes picking apples very difficult. I'll be pruning this one back to try to get it into a more appropriate shape for harvesting.
Tree Type: Dessert/Cooking/Cider
Harvesting Date: Late September
Tree Type: Dessert/Cooking/Cider
Harvesting Date: Late September
Location: Salem Twp, MI (CF)
Approximate Tree Age: 30-40 years
Tree Status: Chance seedling
Possible Tree Varieties: Could actually be a Fameuse or Fameuse seedling. Taste and texture are very similar, though size and shape are a bit more like Gravenstein.
Fruit size: Large
Shape: Irregular
Fruit color: Yellow/green skin with heavy striping and blushing, and large stretched lenticels
Skin: Porcelain thin
Flesh: White, and not very dense
Additional notes on appearance: The irregular shaping of this apple at first appears to be due to insect damage, but the fruit is almost uniformly lumpy and often unaccompanied by scarring, so I honestly believe this is just a beautifully lumpy apple!
Taste: Cidery and sweet, with hints of pineapple and caramel.
Scent: Not terribly scented, though mildly candy-like.
Texture: Crunchy and juicy, with medium flesh grain
Additional notes on taste: This apple reminded me of eating a candy apple. Its cidery sweetness goes well with its caramel notes.
Disease/Pest notes: This poor tree is plagued by all sorts of diseases typical of a wilding tree. Sooty apple spot, flyspeck, scab and codling moth. The tree is awkwardly grown, with rubbing branches and poor circulation, so it will require some intense pruning before it can begin to regain its health.
