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Apples on the Web:
National Gardening Association

APPLE DATABASE

Feel like an apple?

A drawer from a card file, full of cards

The National Gardening Association (U.S.) lists 1532 of them (as of this writing), with more added regularly.

The Association's searchable plants database has an apples section, listed in alphabetical order with a first-letter index and a search function.

What's Included

The cultivar listings are aimed at the home gardener, with information such as cold-hardiness zones.

Except for a photo, not always present, there is not much information about the apple itself. Here's an example listing, McIntosh.

Towards the end of each listing is, if known, the parentage of the cultivar. 
There is also a link to a page listing the children of the apple described. Some sports may be included on this page.

If the listing for McIntosh offspring is any indication, these may be incomplete, but still an impressive resource and a good place to start.

Limitations

The apples database is part of the greater plants database, which reflects an orientation towards flowers, bushes, and other plants that do not bear edible fruit.

Most of the information in each listing applies to all apples, such as springtime blossoms and a preference for full sunlight and a mesic (moderately wet) habitat.

Home growers might like to know when varieties are ripe. However, they must look elsewhere for this and other information about the fruits of these trees.

More

Its database is only one of many online resources the Association provides to the home gardener.



Comments

  1. Hi, Adam, your blog is the best I've seen! I've been reading this for a long time, I think it would be great if I sent you a couple of apples from Russia when the season comes! not Antonovka of course)) something interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ilya, that is a charming idea, and I honor you for it. I fear the logistical hurdles make it impractical though.

      Delete

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