Sunday, September 8, 2013

Nova Easygro apple (Easy Grow)

Today's variety is classically shaped, if on the squat side, with very little ribbing, medium-sized. One sample (photographed) grew wildly lopsided.

The blush is a thin red, just a bit dull, over spring green. Lenticels show light in the blush, dark on the green.

Note the mustard-colored strands of russet radiating from the stem well.
This apple grew up on an organic farm and has the usual marks of character. It's nice and firm and has a complex grassy smell.

The flesh of Nova Easygro is crisp and dense, white with green highlights. It is quite nicely balanced with both sweet and tart elements at a respectful distance.

There are some table grapes, a very little spice, and not much else, but it's still pleasant to eat.

The flavors don't last quite as long as the chew, leaving a disappointing grassy finish, but the final impression is refreshingly astringent. A second sample has stronger flavors, including some berries, that persist longer.

On balance, this mild apple ought to please all tastes.

I have seen photos of Easygro with more-saturated blush. Probably, mine are just a bit early: still good to eat, but not at their peak.

As you might guess from the name, these were bred in Nova Scotia for hardiness and blight resistance. They are a good pick for an organic orchard.


6 comments:

  1. The lopsidedness comes from incomplete pollination; the small side did not get pollinated and will have no seeds. This is why cross-pollination is important, even for "self-fertile" varieties as you get better quality fruit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin (Kuffel), I hadn't made the connection between shape and politicization.

      It is always interesting when parts of an apple reflects back to its life as a flower. For instance, finding the stamens inside the calyx of the mature fruit.

      Delete
  2. Hi, I'm Jack,

    Can you tell me to which flowering group this variety would belong ? This information would help me to get fixed. Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello, Jack. According to Orange Pippin, Novamac is in flowering group 4.

    The link includes suggestions for pollination partners.

    Good luck with your fruit!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nova easigro apple is sweet ? ( how much sweet scale 1 to 10 ) thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi @Unknown. Are you reporting that you find this variety to be sweet? I would not say it is very sweet according the modern tastes, but it has a good bit of balancing sweetness. It's a bit like a McIntosh.

      Perhaps it is sweeter in your part of the world.

      Delete

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