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As mimikites mentions every apple from seed is a complete unknown bearing no resemblance to parents. Some will be edible, many will be horrible. Find an edible

As mimikites mentions every apple from seed is a complete unknown bearing no resemblance to parents. Some will be edible, many will be horrible. Find an edible one, keep that tree safe for grafts and cuttings! For instance all granny smith's trace back to a single tree somewhere in Australia. If you let a variety die, it's gone forever as you'll never recreate it. Which is my biggest regret of the way supermarkets want to sell us just a few "standard" varieties. Countless fine apples have been lost forever.

Jedd 8y ago
Yes, I understand. I grow about 25 varieties of apples, some of which are extremely unpleasant to eat, but have been selected over centuries to be perfect for jams (crab apples) and cider making. While a random specimen on an island in a lake is indeed most likely a seedling, my point was that assessing the quality of an apple is more nuanced than noting if one fruit at one point in time tastes nice.
- NeedMoreTea 8y ago
  OK, on that part we're in full agreement. One of my biggest regrets of modern food stores is the complete disappearance of local and more specialist apples - my personal favourites haven't been around for years. Which leaves few options for those without space for a dozen varieties.
  - Jedd 8y ago
    I'd love to have more, but they're tricky in my climate (too hot and dry), and in Australia there's about 200-300 varieties only AFAIK. If you're in / next time you are in the UK, be sure to get out to Brogdale - they have apple and cherry and cider festivals, with an astounding number of varieties (only two of each tree though). It is profoundly sad that it's such a painful process to get varieties through quarantine and into Australia - I tried a Braddick's Nonpareil there one time - my instant favourite apple ever. May be similar to a Sturmer Pippin (which is available in AU).

Jedd 8y ago

Yes, I understand. I grow about 25 varieties of apples, some of which are extremely unpleasant to eat, but have been selected over centuries to be perfect for jams (crab apples) and cider making. While a random specimen on an island in a lake is indeed most likely a seedling, my point was that assessing the quality of an apple is more nuanced than noting if one fruit at one point in time tastes nice.

NeedMoreTea 8y ago
OK, on that part we're in full agreement. One of my biggest regrets of modern food stores is the complete disappearance of local and more specialist apples - my personal favourites haven't been around for years. Which leaves few options for those without space for a dozen varieties.
- Jedd 8y ago
  I'd love to have more, but they're tricky in my climate (too hot and dry), and in Australia there's about 200-300 varieties only AFAIK. If you're in / next time you are in the UK, be sure to get out to Brogdale - they have apple and cherry and cider festivals, with an astounding number of varieties (only two of each tree though). It is profoundly sad that it's such a painful process to get varieties through quarantine and into Australia - I tried a Braddick's Nonpareil there one time - my instant favourite apple ever. May be similar to a Sturmer Pippin (which is available in AU).