[nafex] "Zoar" apple

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

I got my first good crop off an apple found in the wild by Mark Miller in
Ohio.  Named "Zoar", it seems like one of those types found in the woods
that was perfectly free of insects and disease there, but isn't when it gets
in cultivation.  In this case, the apples have some codling moth and a
little scab, but not badly at all.  What makes it really stand out is the
quality.  The flavor is definitely Mcintosh, but more intense and sweeter,
as well as more aromatic.  The shape is very much Mcintosh, too.  More
interesting, the apple is very nicely edible with that distinct flavor when
it is green with only a red cheek, but it gets even better when it colors
fully.  The first crop colored extremely well, but that might be due to the
tree being young.  Other traits of interest - hangs extremely well, to the
point that fully ripe apples are still very tight to the tree.  Stems are
nearly non-existent.  Flesh is very tender, but not mushy - crisp and juicy.
  One interesting thing was that the apples increased in size quite a bit as
they colored.  They were the size of a decent Mcintosh when they first had a
red cheek (and were already decent to eat), but are now about 1/3 larger now
that they are fully ripe.
    No measure of storage traits - not enough to store this year.
     Mark said it had taken more than -40 with no damage showing.
    If the production improves as the tree matures, this really could be an
excellent new Mcintosh type without some of the Mc flaws (dropping, in
particular) and with an excellent flavor for those who like that type. 
Seems to be slow to browning when cut, too.
    Of course it will need testing for fireblight, etc.  No mildew seen on
it so far.
-Lon Rombough
    

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