our long term plan is to grow at least 50 varieties by 2026 - follow us on this journey as we grow, literally !
King
A very old homesteaders apple. This variety has been around since the early-1800s. A late season apple usually picked by around October and can be used until December. Many of our King trees are over 100 years old, and still going strong ! We use these in our pressed sweet apple cider and apple jam varieties.
Duchess of Oldenberg
An early season apple with origins from the mid-1800s. This apple has beautiful pink-red stripes and can withstand cold. Not a good storage apple.
Edward VII
A late season apple with organs from the early 1900s. Can you tell we love royalty-themed things? ;-) A great cooking apple, yellow in colour, with a nice blush as it matures.
Fuji Red and Yellow
With origins from Japan in the early 1900s, these are a great late variety apple. Typically these are found in grocery stores, but we think these are keepers in our orchard.
Valentine
We are still cultivating these newbie trees, whose origins didn't begin until the mid-1960s. These apples however can withstand heavy cold and are a mid-season apple. Great for both baking and eating.
Golden Russet
This tree variety is the second oldest in our orchard, with origins from the 1700s. But these are by far the sweetest apples ever tasted along with a beautiful coppery colour. We don't pick these until late October and so can be enjoyed through the winter. Another variety used in our apple jams and cider.
Yarlington
This is a great cider apple. Another variety with British origins from the early 1900s, these are late ripeners but worth the wait. Our cider has this variety in its blends.
Fameuse
Also called a "Snow" apple, this variety is probably the oldest with origins even earlier than the 1700s. It is speculated that this variety may be the parents of the current MacIntosh apple but we don't know for sure. What we do know is that it's great to eat with its white puffy flesh and melt in your mouth taste.
Summerland
Origins from Summerland, BC, this is a Canadian apple through and through. A very nice mid-season apple, crisp and juicy flavour. Just like it's parents - the Mac!
Sunrise
The youngest baby of all the varieties in the orchard, this one is also Canadian. Born in the 1990s, Sunrise is a nice balance of sweet and tart, but it ripens very early, so it's often the first to emerge in the season.
Cortland
An Eastern North American apple from the early 1900s, this variety is a great eating apple as well as cider. It is very similar to a Mac, with a sweet, white melt in your flesh.
Pink Lady
Origins from Western Australia, this is certainly one of our favourite apples to eat. Vivid green in colour, with pinky blushes and creamy white flesh, this variety is a mid to late season apple.
Granny
This is a popular commercial apple, that's good for desserts and eating. But you will have to wait a while, for this is late season apple - we think it's worth it though. Another Australia import from the mid-1800s, we love this one too.
Ambrosia
Another home grown Canadian apple, from British Columbia. Originally discovered by accident, this variety soon became a favourite with this pinky blush nature and sweet aromatic taste. We are still cultivating this one and it will take take to produce, but already we feel it's a keeper.
Yellow Transparent
Did you the Yellow Transparent originated from Russia in the 1800s? That was a surprise to us! But these are the best for applesauce and pies, and like the Sunrise variety, they are early to emerge.
MacIntosh
This is a well known commercial apple. Several of our MacIntoshes have been around here on the Island for over 50 years, and still going strong. Also a mid season variety, and we add it to our cider to give it a nice balance in flavour. We use a lot of these for our organic apple chips.
Stokes Red
This is a great vintage apple used for cider. Also an English apple from the 1800s, usually these are picked late in November.
Northern Arrow
Another Canadian apple, this time from Saskatchewan. Bright cherry red fruit and early ripening. Similar in texture to a MacIntosh.
Valentine
Another prairie apple tree honouring our Ukrainian heritage and our ancestors that immigrated there. And just like our ancestors, this apple variety is very hardy and bears large fruit yellow-green in colour with a hint of red blush. Mid-season, good for eating and baking.
Manchurian (crabapple)
Native to Northeast Asian these smaller trees produce an abundance of small fruit. Provided the birds don't get to it first the apples should make a great juice and jelly.
Dolgo (crabapple)
These are a proliferative crabapple and makes a wonderful pink jelly. Of Russian origin, Dolgo's are early pickers, so you can get a headstart on these before all the other apple varieties come into maturity.
Floribunda (crabapple)
This beautiful pink-red flowering tree will pollinate anything ! But the crabapples from it are fantastic too. Great for jellies and jams.
PrairiFire (crabapple)
This tree when blooming produces a stunning pink-red flower show. Along with red-purple fruit that persist on the tree for months. Also great for jellies and jams.
Belle du Buskoup
A Dutch origins apple from the 1850s, this apple is a good addition to cider. A very late season apple.
Winter Banana
Crisp and juicy, with a great aroma. Excellent for cider and fresh eating.
Cox Orange Pippin
An English apple, with spicy, nutty, honey-like aromatic notes. A great balance of sweet and tart.
Honeycrisp
An extremely crunchy apple, low acid, excellent for fresh eating, and great cider.
Red Sparkle
A very hardy apple, so hardy it can survive Canada's harsh winters. We think it will definitely survive the mild coastal climates here.
Anatovka
A classic Russian variety which we are finally excited to have on the farm. Clean, fresh, crisp and tart. This is green-yellow apple with white creamy flesh. Can't wait for production. :-)
Roxbury Russet
Very large, very green, and very sweet. Like a few other varieties, this one makes an excellent dessert apple as well as for cider.
Easter Orange
A great dessert apple. Reddish-bronze in colour and very late in picking. Long shelf life, almost to Easter - hence the name.
White Jersey
Very small and yellow, with English ancestry, this variety is best only for cider. Available mid-season
Caville Blanc
The oldest descent tree in our orchard. This variety has origins dating back to Louis XIII in France. Very late in ripening and keeps for many months.
Noel DesChamps
Another rare one, best for cider only. Mid-season picking, and very juicy.
Julianna
Also originally from France just like Calville Blanc, this is mid season apple, and excellent addition to the cider combination we make.
Alameta (crabapple)
Lots of red flesh on this one. Very early crabapple, lots of bright red blossoms on this one. Doesn't keep a long time, so best to get it early.
Nicola
A late bloomer, this variety is sweet and aromatic. Outstanding shelf life with lots of juice. We can't wait for this one.
more varieties to come ... stay tuned
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