1. We have bought Honeycrisp apples from Christiansons in Skagit County. From your website, we like to hear that they grow well here in the N West of Washington. Great!

   We like Pink Lady (organic is a plus) apples. I buy the apples at Costco.
   I eat them in a Waldorf salad. They are a perfect apple. We also like to make cider from any apple that we have.
   Can I grow those apples also in my orchard?
   We live on Fidalgo Island, the first island of the San Juan Islands.
   I appreciate your response and I would like to talk to you in an email.
   Greetings,

   XXX

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   • I believe some people are growing them here in Sequim so it should be about the same for you.

     1. Wind protection needed.
     2. Pollinator needed. Graft on some other early blooming varieties.
     3. Perhaps not enough heat degree units on Fidalgo. Fox island/Tacoma they do fine. We simply have too much maritime night cooling IMO. The parent Macon apple does fine of course.

     http://homeguides.sfgate.com/problems-growing-honeycrisp-apples-43097.html

     Check with the fruit tree supplier and ask about the heat degree issue. Many of the new apples like Gala will not do well here.

     There also is a Northwest Fruit Tree Growers Association that you can check out. Sure the San Juan’s have some members.

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2. Hello,
   Many years ago we lived in Lakebay, WA on a finger of the Olympic Peninsula. We owned a small homestead that was first built in the early 1900’s. There was a large, old but thriving, Washington King apple tree that yielded an abundance of sweet, crisp, highly flavorful apples that were good for eating, apple cider, pies and crisps, applesauce – and kept very well. I have never found this type of apple again but would like to buy a tree. Do you have any information regarding this heirloom apple?
   Thank you for your help!

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   • Hi Dawn. Yes I remember that apple. Sadly, that with many others seems to be dying off unless you can find it in a local Heirloom fruit tree club. Locally, I just finished talking with a local grower (organic) who has some old varieties. Was unable to get scion wood and considering the age of these guys … these farms will soon disappear into more tract homes. Sad.

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   • Kaijas in Chehalis, Wa. sold them this year. I believe they are sold out but I know they get their bareroots from Raintree Nursery so you could see if they have any or put in an order for a fall shipment. Also, Stark Bros and Trees of Antiquity are top notch bareroot and potted tree sellers. My husband bought this for me for Valentines Day (because that’s the kind of girl I am) when he saw it because I too was harvesting apples from a tree that must be 40 years old on a rental propery we lived on in Oakville, Wa 5 years ago. I too made apple butter, apple sauce, pie filling and cider from it. Great all purpose apple. Hope this helps.

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     • Thank you Heather,

       I cannot speak to most suppliers but I do think Stark Bros. offers some unusual fruit trees and the trees have always come in fine.

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   • Hello Dawn, I bought a place in Home, WA, next to Lakebay, that has an orchard. One of the trees is supposedly a Tompkins King. My guess is that it was planted in the ’70’s. It’s not a huge tree, so I’m sure it’s not the same one. You are welcome to come take scion wood if you’d like.

     BTW, there is also a very large and unusual pear tree. I think it might be a Kieffer pear. Hoping to have it ID’d somewhere.

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3. This WWFRF (Research Foundation) has some great links.
   http://nwfruit.org/recommended-fruit-trees/

   Fruit tree suppliers and other links as well.

   Fruit tree ripening E Early, M Mid, L Late.
   BEST EATERS for flavor
   Honeycrisp, Holsein M Cox, Macoun, Rubinette ML Cox, Esopus Spitzenburg L. Jonagold.

   COOKS CHOICE
   Gravenstein, (problems) Elstar EM, Karmijn de Sonnaville M Cox, Jonagold, Belle de Boskoop. Bramleys is also in there.

   LAID BACK Orchardist – Easy care, disease resistant and good yields.
   Williams Pride, Akane EM Liberty M (mildew) Spartan ML, Enterprise L
   Sunrise E, Chehalis M (mildew)

   BEST KEEPERS
   Karmijn de Sonnavilel ML, Melrose L, Braeburn VL.

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4. There are many, many old apple trees on Orcas Island. Probably on Lopez and San Juan Island as well. Owners may allow propagation from their trees if asked.

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5. I recently moved to a Sequim property with more than a dozen apple trees of unknown varieties. I’d love to know what they are, would you be able to help if I brought you apples?
   Private

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   • Hi Ellen, I probably could ID a few of the trees, but you would do better to photograph them, whole and halved so the core and seed is shown.
     Bring to the local fruit tree society. Olympic Orchard Society. They usually have a Fall show at Carrie Blake … not sure about this year with COVID.
     But it is full of knowledgeable fruit growing fiends and usually display over a 100 fruit varieties every year.

     You certainly can come by and drop off an apple or two for me to take a stab at it. Good nurseries like the one at Sunny Farm might also be helpful.

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6. I first moved to Sequim four years ago and am (over)filling a two acre former cow pasture with as many different kinds of trees and berries as I can (probably far too many already and counting). Discovered your site when considering whether to add Gravenstein to my Rosy Glow, Ellison, Honeycrisp, Beni Shogun Fuji, Akane and Sansa plus a bunch of crabapples. I’d already established that my Dolgo would pollinate the Gravenstein, and your chart notes that my Akane will as well, so I may have my required triploid pollinators. Appreciate the tips.

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