Keener Seedling *

Today's russet apple wears a jacket of brown with olive tones, rich and warm. 

That covers the entire apple. But one sample has an unrussetted patch that shows a subdued red blush over what is probably green. That blush is faintly filtered through perhaps half of the russeted area.

These are oblate and medium-sized, with many lenticels raised slightly from the surface.

There is only the faintest ribbing, and the calyx is open but unusually flat (not deep). Click to zoom:

The stem is pretty short.

A Study in Suede

Keener's light-yellow flesh is fine-grained and on the dense side, a little granular but firm and crunchy.

It has plenty of sweet but brings a nice lemony citric note along with some cream soda.

There is also a little chestnut vibe, pleasant but faint. Notable by its absence is any pear flavor, which is so often part of the russet flavor set.

The citric note is clearest around the flower end.

I like a good russet and this one hit the spot.

170 Years of Keener

Thanks to Wilhelm Kühner's research into his own family tree, the early days of this apple are exceptionally well-documented.

Source: The Newton (NC) Enterprise (26 April 1884) via "Kühner Kommentar an Amerika" and Newspapers.com.

Jesse Downs, who grew (and sent me) this apple, calls Keener "the most grower-friendly russet" at Down Home Farm.