Fall Red Apple Tree
- Zone 2
Characteristics of the tree
The Fall Red apple is medium-large, weighing 130g on average, and entirely red in colour, with some light pink background streaks. The flesh is white with a yellow-green tinge. It is firm, crunchy and juicy in texture, with an agreeable floral aroma. It has a fresh, somewhat acidic flavour, perfectly balanced with sweetness. It is agreed by all to be a delectable treat, especially when eaten fresh off the tree. Its full flavour also makes it excellent for cooking and juicing. It measures 12.4 Brix. Harvest time occurs in mid to late September, and the apple can be kept in cold storage for up to three months. However, during storage it loses its crispy texture, becoming more coarse and floury the longer it is stored. We have found it preferable to use it for cooking at this point, for which it is also well-suited.
The Fall Red apple tree is hardy to zone 2 and is resistant to fire blight. The tree is a vigorous grower and is grafted on standard rootstock. It has a tendency to bear biannually.
It can produce fruit alone, but fruit production will be much better with a pollinator.
Fall Red had its beginnings in 1986 at the Morden Research Station in Manitoba. It was born from a cross between the Duchess and Haralson varieties.
The illustration shows different stages of our apple trees growth up until the age of 20 years (as one rarely plans a landscaping arrangement with a longer time period in mind). At 100 years old, the apple tree will be even larger than shown here – it can reach 7 m in height and spread over 9m – while the house might no longer exist!
You should note that this illustration is meant only to give a general indication of what you can expect, and the growth of your tree might look somewhat different. The development of a tree depends on the soil type, irrigation, fertilisation and climatic conditions. What we show here is based on our observation of observations of the growth of apple trees in zone 4, in rather poor soil. In zone 2, growth will probably be slower, while in a rich soil it would be faster.
All our apple trees are sold bare-root, without pots. They have been cultivated directly in our soil. Bare-root trees must be taken out of the ground and shipped during their period of dormancy, which is why we only ship trees in the spring. A big advantage with these kinds of trees, is that they take up very little space, and can therefore be easily shipped by mail all over Canada!
This photograph shows a 2-3-foot apple tree, just like one that you might receive. Depending on the height you choose at the time of purchase, the tree might be a little smaller (1-2 feet) or somewhat taller (3-5 feet.)
All our apple trees are grafted on standard-sized rootstock, which we grow ourselves at the nursery. Trees that are grafted on standard-sized rootstock will become full-sized apple trees (as opposed to dwarf, or semi-dwarf.) While the life expectancy of a dwarf apple tree is only about 20 years, full-sized apple trees such as those we propagate have a lifespan of around 100 years. We believe it is of the utmost importance to plant for future generations, which is one of the main reasons we prefer these kinds of trees.
Besides this, standard-sized apple trees also have many other qualities that set them above dwarf and semi-dwarf trees in our view. For example, their deep and well-developed root systems allow them to draw water from deep underground during periods of droughts. They are more vigorous and resilient, which in turn also makes them more disease-resistant. They are very hardy, and last but not least, much more productive!
To learn more about grafting and the role of rootstocks, see our article here!
